Floriculture Department

During the hectic flower giving holidays, florists are hard pressed to find enough talented trained individuals to properly assemble and arrange expensive orders. Rather than rely on hit-or-miss part-time workers, florists now look to a reliable source of extra help during holiday seasons: the local floriculture department at neighboring universities, community colleges and technical schools. Certificates and degrees in floricultural science are a growing phenomenon on campuses throughout the country. The demand for floral services, landscaping, and flower breeding is driving demand for students interested in this type of career. Florists often use interns from local programs to fill in during peak holiday seasons. That's because one major skill taught by a floriculture department is flower arrangement and presentation. Here are some examples of the holiday specific flower arrangements needed to satisfy choosy customers:

• Thanksgiving flowers - Chrysanthemums are a perpetual favorite at Thanksgiving. They are eye-catching not only for the wide variety of colors available, but also the varied size range of specimens. Arrangers like to construct a beautiful bouquet of mums using flowers with sizes extending from miniature to colossal in three or more complementary colors.


• Christmas flowers - Red poinsettias are a striking tradition during the Christmas season. When tastefully arranged with green foliage, a stunning basket will deliver the traditional color palette associated with the yuletide. Arrangers must use a sufficient density of poinsettias to establish the theme, but also work in enough green leaves and white secondary flowers to create a stunning tableau.


• Valentines flowers - You don't want roses, you want ROSES! A mere dozen won't make the knock-out impression you are seeking. An artistic arrangement of three dozen red roses will certainly work magic on this magical holiday. And for older married couples, white or yellow roses are equally beautiful and can make a profound statement about the verities of a long-term relationship. A nice twist favored by some arrangers is to include live rose bushes, so that the romance can go on and on.


• Mothers Day flowers - Florists are swamped around Mother's Day. A well-staffed florist is a lifesaver for when you've forgotten about Mother's Day until the last minute. Trained arrangers help you stay on your Mom's good side, especially when they construct your order for a large bouquet or planter using her favorite flowers. Gardenias, lilacs, roses and other strongly scented flowers will make a terrific impression, and your Mom's house will smell great.

Next time you see an unfamiliar face helping out your florist around the holidays, chances are it's an intern from a local floriculture department. A few encouraging words from you can help motivate them to excel in their chosen specialty.