Discover the beautiful intersection between art and nature with our 2025–26 Floral Sun Series: Art in Bloom!
Each month, explore the styles of a renowned artist or art movement and transform them into stunning floral arrangements. Let your creativity blossom as you learn, design, and bring masterpieces to life through flowers.
In November, get inspired by the intricate, dramatic still life art of Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch as you design lush floral arrangements that emulate her unique style. In this vibrant, hands-on class, explore her masterful use of rich color, dynamic composition, and botanical detail before creating your own arrangement. Learn to blend blooms with movement, depth, and contrast to evoke the elegance of a Baroque masterpiece. No prior floral experience needed—just a love for flowers and art!
Location
The Grove Studio 108
Instructors
Melissa Palmer
Melissa Palmer trained under Gregor Lerch in Germany and attended the Boerma Institute in the Netherlands, studying Dutch Master Design. Palmer teaches floral classes as an instructor at Delaware Valley University, and she is the educational director of Bucks Beautiful, a non-profit in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She travels around the area filming interesting topics dealing with nature and horticulture and writes articles on gardening and floral design.
Palmer is a Master Gardener, master beekeeper, and a mason bee specialist; as a proponent for beneficial insects, she lectures on the topic. Palmer owns her own businesses, Florum Flowers and Petaling Posies, where she grows and designs cut flowers on her New Jersey farm.
Supplies
All consumable supplies, including flowers, are included with your registration. Classroom tools will be available; students interested in purchasing their own tools should bring:
- Wire cutters
- Floral scissors
- Pruners
Looking for Supplies?
Look to our Floral Essentials Kit, available on The Garden Shop online. Designed for students taking floral design courses at Longwood, this kit includes high-quality tools and accessories for you to use during class and long after.
