Gather & Create Recap: Build Your Own Summer Bouquet

Last weekend we hosted a ‘Build Your Own Summer Bouquet’ class led by Courtney Kett of Dixon Florist. The workshop started with a brief introduction of Courtney and the story of her family’s dreamy floral shop in Dixon. Then Rafael Galiano, lead designer at Park Winters, explained the lay of the land of our farm with guidance on how to use the clippers and pick flowers in our farm. Guests were welcomed to pick from a wide selection of flowers including zinnias, scabiosa, sunflowers, blooming cardoons, marigolds, love in a mist, snapdragon and much more! Rafael and Courtney accompanied everyone as they picked their favorite flowers giving them tips and tricks on how to pick them, where and how to cut, and how to easily trim the leaves off to be able to fit more in the vase. They even pointed out some dried flowers and plants that could be used to add texture to the bouquets.

Once all the flowers were gathered, the group headed to our dreamy old barn at our farm to begin the arranging portion of the class. Courtney explained two different techniques for arranging including by hand or adding them individually to the vase. She also provided tips on how to keep the bouquets fresh by adding sugar (not too much though!) and also explained when and how to dry the bouquets to make them last even longer! We were so impressed by everyone’s different bouquet that showcased their individual style.

You don’t have to be an avid gardener to appreciate and enjoy a day of picking and arranging flowers. Many of our guests loved how therapeutic it was to simply arrange flowers in a creative space with beautiful surroundings. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, join us at our next Build Your Own Summer Bouquet workshop taking place on August 15! Make it a day with friends and family to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a day out in the country connecting to nature and your inner-creative.