"Open your mind to every form of beauty."  —Constance Spry

Embrace an aesthetic where nature is the guiding principle. Floral designer Constance Spry embraced forging for natural materials and influenced Hillwood's "wilder" floral arrangements. This floral arrangement will be wild and a little non-traditional. By embracing native plants, materials can be found in your own backyard, supplemented by beautiful blooms from local flower farms.

Ami Wilber shares a step-by-step guide to create your own arrangement with plenty of time to ask questions. Supplies are not included, but a materials list will be shared in advance, should participants wish to follow along at home. 

OPTIONAL MATERIALS FEE
For an additional $65 fee, participants will receive all necessary materials, including flowers, greenery and a container. Materials are limited to twenty.

Exact supplies may vary based on availability due to coronavirus-related supply chain issues, but expect to see:

• FLOWERS & FOLIAGE
  • 10 stems rudbeckia
  • 5-7 stems hibiscus foliage
  • 5-7 stems sunflowers
  • 1 bunch vines - tbd
  • 5-7 stems nigella pods
  • 3-5 stems corn flower (echinacea)
  • 1 bunch lacinato kale
• OTHER SUPPLIES
  • ceramic compote container (6" x 5")
  • Chicken wire (18" x 11") to secure stems
  • floral tape

If you wish to gather materials on your own, you may wish to gather alternate flowers such as yellow daisies, mums, zinnias, Japanese maple branches, ninebark, yellow gerbera daises, yellow lilies, jasmine vine, ivy, honeysuckle, thistle, purple aster, curly leaf kale, mustard greens, chard, or collard greens.

Participants will also need water and floral shears or scissors.

Interested participants must pre-order their materials by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 16, and collect them from Hillwood the morning of the program. Contact-free pickup is available between 10 a.m. and noon on July 30.

CONNECTING WITH ZOOM
This virtual workshop begins at 1:30 p.m. and is presented live via Zoom. Participants are encouraged to join with video; questions can be submitted via the chat feature. After Ami's demonstration ends, participants are invited to stay and share their own arrangements. Please note that this workshop will be recorded. 

Registered participants will be emailed a link to join this Zoom program. To get started, please download Zoom on your chosen device and explore the Frequently Asked Questions. 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Ami Wilber became the floral and event décor designer at Hillwood in November 2016. Ami has over twenty-five years of experience as a floral designer. She received a bachelor's degree in fine art from Miami University of Ohio and a Master's of Fine Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts. Prior to joining Hillwood, Ami created sculptures and exhibited her installations at galleries and public spaces in Washington, DC.