|
Yates Arts In Education Magnet School
Students Learn Art of Floral Design
Free Program Offers
Lessons About Fresh Cut Flowers
 Next to a long row of large buckets
filled with brightly colored flowers, sat a room full of first
graders at Yates Arts-In- Education Magnet School, all blooming with
big smiles. On Wednesday, March 21 the two first grade
classes enjoyed a hands-on interactive lesson with a local floral
designer. In addition to learning about the basics of flower
growing and how to care for fresh cut flowers, the young students
learned the art of floral design and each made his own
colorful bouquet. The lesson, sponsored by Flowers for Kids,
was presented by Freda Yorganson, owner of The Firefly Florist and
Gift Boutique.
 Yorganson, one of the few local
floral shop owners to participate in the Flowers for Kids program,
said the lessons and information is good for kids. “Some kids
never even see how fresh flowers are cared for or arranged,” said
Yorganson. The educational program, which is free to schools,
was started by R.L. Penaheerera, a flower-grower in Ecuador who
teamed up with Seagroatt Floral Company to provide flowers for the
program
and schools at no charge.
“Most children have
very little or no contact with flowers,” said Yorganson. In
fact, she said most children are afraid of flowers. “When
children see an arrangement or bouquet of flowers they are often
told not to touch or stay away,” she said. “We want to
teach the students about flowers, how to touch them and care for
them while they are young.”
Looking after
your fresh
flowers
---------------
Begin with a clean vase. Fill with fresh
water.
Always add flower food to the water. This
nourishes flowers for maximum vase life.
Remove the leaves below the water line.
Clean water will hydrate and keep flowers healthy.
Cut
flower stems under water before placing them into the filled
vase or Remember the 5 second rule: cut in air and get
into the water within 5 seconds.
Flowers will live longer if not placed in direct
sunlight, in a draft, near fruit, or on a tv.
Every other day re-cut the stems, and change the
water and flower food.
Flowers for Kids recommends having quality
flowers cutters in your
kitchens. |
Yorganson and Yates
Teacher Richard Roe agree that the program fits in with the arts
theme of the elementary magnet school. Within the lesson, the
students are taught about arranging, framing, colors and color
combinations. They also agree that floral design is an
art.
As Yorganson pointed
to locations on the globe, she explained that cut flowers are
shipped to New York. “Flowers come
from South America, Ecuador
and some states in America such as Florida, California and the lower
parts of Washington,” she told the class.
Yorganson explained
and demonstrated how to make plant food, how to cut fresh flowers
and how to form an arrangement or “piece of art.”
“There are three types
of flowers in a bouquet,” explained Yorganson. She showed the
students examples of greens, fillers, line flowers and focus
flowers. “The greens frame your flower arrangement,” she
explained. Roe told the students to think about how their
artwork or pictures are sometimes framed.
As Yorganson held up a
handful of greens, she demonstrated how to cut the stem before
placing it in the vase. “Cut the flowers on an angle so they
can drink the water,” she said. “Then get the flower in the
water in five seconds.”
The group also talked
about the reasons why people give flowers to each other. While
most of the students said they wanted to give a bouquet to their
moms or dads, Andrew said he wanted to give flowers to his sister
“because she is nice.”
 Following the demonstration, each of
the students walked over to the huge assortment of flowers and
carefully hand-selected greens, fillers, line flowers and focus
flowers with an eye on making their own bouquet. Yorganson and
Roe spent time with each student as they carefully selected the
perfect flowers and arranged their own bouquets – which they each
took home in a floral sleeve.
Flowers for Kids and
Seagroatt Floral supply all the flowers, handouts, floral
preservatives sachets and sleeves. Yorgansen said she
attended a training session to receive certification to teach the
program at her shop and the local schools. She then sent
a letter to local schools with information about the program.
Roe responded with interest.
 Students in grades two and three
at Yates Magnet School will also participate in the Flowers
for Kids class.
The Firefly Florist and Gift Boutique
is located at 3396 Consaul Road.
back
|
