Creativity Blooms with Flower Arranging
- Kathleen Ganster
- Mar 3
- 5 min read
Flowers can brighten almost any day—plus there is scientific evidence that flowers and flower arranging can boost morale, reduce stress, enhance creativity and even improve cognitive function. “It is not a secret that plants and flowers lift moods. Flower arranging is a form of art. Many people take up flower arranging around their house because it is something that is not one size that fits all. You can create centerpieces for a dinner party with full creative abilities, or you may be working for a business that does weddings, funerals, etc., that requires a specific design,” said Emily Betler, owner of McCandless Floral.
“Flower arranging can be done with bought fresh florals, fresh florals from your yard, or dried florals; it just depends on each person’s vision. You have to have a vision, or your arrangement may not turn out how you hoped,” she said.
People take an interest in floral arranging for numerous reasons, according to Gabe Tilove, director of education and community outreach for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. “At its heart, people find a lot of peace and pleasure in working hands-on with flowers—it’s meditative, it’s creative, and it’s a chance to really focus on the beauty of the natural world. It’s also nice to have an arrangement that you can use to brighten your home, bring as a hosting gift, or deliver to a sick friend to let them know you are thinking about them.”
And fortunately, it is easy to begin flower arranging. “There are plenty of free tutorials online to help give you some basic direction. For someone just looking to get more comfortable with flowers for the home, I’d recommend looking up ‘vase arranging’ and see what styles and instructors catch your interest. Or take a class at Phipps,” he said.
Phipps offers a variety of both in-person and online classes that range anywhere from a casual, relaxed class to more “rigorous,” Tilove said. “In person, we provide all the flowers, containers and design tools, making it really easy to get started. Our instructor can provide one-on-one support to you to help you navigate any design challenges, and you also get to meet other floral enthusiasts,” Tilove said. For those just starting, a single class such as Traditional Bouquet or Spring Centerpiece may be the way to go, or you might want to take a multi-week design course such as Basic Floral Arranging or Study in Design Styles. “You can even earn a floral design certificate from Phipps with about 100 hours of coursework,” he said.
Phipps’ online classes include a five-week course called Living with Flowers. “We provide live instruction on design principles, and you can follow along at home with flowers that you purchase from your local store. The online classes are great for people who want the convenience of designing from home and like to pick their own flowers. Students also receive recordings of each class that they can rewatch,” Tilove said. “We’ve had families who are spread out across the country take classes together—it was their way to bond.”
Stephanie Kirby, owner and creative director at The Blue Daisy Floral Designs, said many like the creative aspects of flower arranging. “Floral design is its own unique art form, and the ephemeral nature of flowers means there is always room to create something new. Creating art with them is a great creative outlet and a way to bring joy to the everyday,” she said. “Studies have shown that flowers make people happy.”
Flower arranging is an easy hobby to start. “Take a design class. Or pick up some stems from your local florist or even take a few cuttings from your own garden and just start playing. It can always be pulled apart and rearranged. Once you’re ready for the next step, a design class is a great way to learn professional techniques and, most importantly, how to properly care for your flowers so they last as long as possible,” Kirby said.
The Blue Daisy offers a variety of design workshops. “Sometimes we focus on a specific type of arrangement, such as a hand-tied bouquet or a specific vase. In the past, we have also offered classes that focus on designing with a specific flower during its season. This style of workshop is great for an individual or small group to come in and flex their creativity. We typically have an instructor and a design assistant to demonstrate design techniques and offer additional assistance, so our students feel supported and free to get creative during their workshop,” she said.
You can also visit the shop and purchase flowers to create on your own. “We offer bundles of designer’s choice flowers and greenery that customers can either take home to arrange or reserve some time at our design table for what we call ‘open design studio.’ We welcome anyone to order one of these bundles and grab a spot at the table during our regular hours. We can offer some guidance here, but it isn’t a structured class, more of a chance to ‘play with flowers,’” she said.
The Blue Daisy, located on Rochester Road in the North Hills, will soon expand. “We have a second location in the works in Zelienople, so we will have more opportunities for workshops and flowers this year. We are aiming for a spring 2026 opening, so stay tuned,” Kirby said.
Flower Arranging Tips from the Experts
Thinking of diving into floral arranging? Our experts shared a few tips.
From Gabe Tilove, director of education and community outreach for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
“Here are a few basic tips that are good for any beginner to help extend the life of their arrangements. Select healthy flowers that are in the early stage of blooming, so you get the full life of the bloom. Give each flower stem a fresh cut on an angle when you get it home and put it immediately into cool water. Remove all the stem foliage that will sit below the water line of your vase and give your arrangement fresh water and a fresh stem snip every day or two for maximum life. You can use flower food when your flowers first go into water, but there is no need to use it when you replace the water.”
Tilove also suggested, “For any gardeners out there, I would highly recommend thinking about what shrubs, perennials and annuals you can add to your yard this year to complement your home arranging. Think outside the bloom, too. Unique and variegated foliage can be a great addition to a design.”
For a current list of classes offered at Phipps, visit: https://phipps.conservantory.org/FloralDesign.
“Some of our more ambitious students take classes so they can help with a family member’s wedding or graduation party or dip their toe into the water of a potential career change,” Tilove said.
The No. 1 tip from Stephanie Kirby, owner and creative director at The Blue Daisy Floral Designs, is to purchase a good pair of floral shears. “They’re specifically made to cut cleanly through stems and will make it a lot easier than kitchen scissors,” she said. For more information on The Blue Daisy Floral Designs, visit: https://thebluedaisyfloral.com/ or contact 412-367-5810.
Emily Betler, owner of McCandless Floral, suggests, “I would recommend learning about the color palette and specific design styles before you start creating your own floral designs,” she said.
For more information about McCandless Floral, visit: www.mccandlessfloralinc.com or call 412-367-8708.
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