by Kate Jonuska
pick some posies and practice these techniques for floral design
WITH ITS GORGEOUS WHITE COVER stamped with gold foil and the full-color interior blooming with flowers, “The Flower School: The Principles and Pleasures of Good Flowers” by Joseph Massie might be the most beautiful book you will ever make grubby with use. While it would certainly fit in on the most stylish coffee tables, Massie’s book is more than half full of step-by-step tutorials for flower design and will likely spend more time on your worktable, perhaps highlighted and bookmarked.
The author started a career in flowers by chance, picking up a part-time job at a flower stall as a teenager. Massie writes that with “The Flower School,” he’s intentionally creating “the very thing that I wish I could have had back when I was a 14-year-old, desperate to learn as much as I could about something that I loved, and still love to this day.”
Indeed, the book covers the basics of floral tools and how to “condition” flowers (meaning how to trim, feed and otherwise prolong life). You’ll learn the elements and principles of floral design, including the fascinating differences between classic and contemporary floristry.
However, most of the book is handson instruction with clear accompanying photos of how to arrange flowers—for the home, for entertaining, for celebrations and even for weddings. The projects clearly explain foundational techniques like using taped vases and pin holders as structures, then build in difficulty toward wreaths, bouquets and large installations.
With this straightforward and stylish collection of Massie’s expertise, a novice florist could progress through this comprehensive book toward mastery for years to come, making “The Flower School” a wonderful gift for anyone dabbling in the art of flowers.
