Floral Design
The Floral Design Certificate program offers the most extensive course of study available in the region, covering all aspects of floral design. The history and progression of floral design is integrated into each class so that students know how and why arrangements are done in a particular way. Participants are also provided with a strong foundation for building upon their own creativity and imagination.
For more details about our programs, or to receive personalized class recommendations from our helpful staff, please feel free to contact us at edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
Confirmations will be emailed the day before each class, including a Zoom link for virtual classes. Please check your spam/junk mail folder, and if you have not received the link, email edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
Virtual classes are recorded and made available to all registered participants for one month after the program.
Cancellation policy:
Contact edu@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-441-4442 ext. 3925 to cancel a class registration.
- Up to two weeks before the class (or the first class date, for a multi-session class), you may receive a full refund minus a non-refundable $10 adminstrative fee.
- Up to 72 hours (3 days) before the class or the first class date, you may receive a 50% refund.
- Less than 72 hours (3 days) before the class or the first class date, there are no refunds.
- Special events like conferences will have a separate cancellation policy and refund deadline.
Mask and COVID-19 Policy:
Masks are optional and welcome in Phipps classes when the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level in Allegheny County is in “Low” (green) or “Medium” (yellow). You can check Allegheny County’s current status here. Masks will be required when the level is “High” (Red). People with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should refrain from attending classes.
All times are Eastern Time Zone.
Want to sign up with a gift certificate?
Contact Phipps at edu@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-441-4442 ext. 3925 with your choice of class to sign up with a gift certificate. If there is a remaining balance for the class or a remaining balance on the gift certificate, we will discuss those details.
Current Classes
Click titles for full details
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Colors of Spring and Summer Series | Kaitlyn Caramela
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Colors of Mid-Summer: July 11 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Colors of Late Summer: Aug. 29 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Fascinating Fascinators | Korkey Noah Kibbey | Wednesday May 24 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. | Registration for this class is now closed.
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Phipps Flower Club | Polly Berginc AIFD
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Early Season | Wednesdays: May 31; June 14, 28 and July 12 | 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Registration for this class is now closed.
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Late Season | Wednesdays: Aug. 9, 23; Sept 6, 20; Oct. 4 | 7 – 8:30 p.m.
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Tropical Flower Design | Polly Berginc AIFD | Tuesday June 13 | 6:30 -8:30 p.m.
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Events and Large Scale Workshop: Centerpiece Style Tablescape Floral Design | Korkey Noah Kibbey | Thursday, June 15 | 6 – 9 p.m.
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Floral Crown Series | Kaitlyn Caramela
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Half Floral Crown | July 18 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Full Floral Crown | Aug. 15 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Events and Large Scale Design Workshop: Guerrilla Floral Installations | Korkey Noah Kibbey | Saturday, July 29 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
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Bouquet Design Series | Kaitlyn Caramela
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Traditional Bouquet | Aug. 1 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Cascading Bouquet | Aug. 8 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Loose and Airy Bouquet | Aug. 22 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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Language of Flowers | Korkey Noah Kibbey | Wednesday August 16 | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Detailed Listings
Phipps Flower Club: Early Season | Polly Berginc AIFD
Wednesdays: May 31, June 14, 28, July 12 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
$270 members | $285 nonmembers
Live webinar through Zoom, pick-up in person at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park*
Fill your home with flowers this summer with Phipps’ local flower subscription program. Pick up a fresh, bountiful bucket of seasonal flowers every two weeks from Phipps – supplied by local farmers, Cherry Valley Organics. Then tune in as Phipps’ lead floral instructor, Polly Berginc, demonstrates how to turn your flowers into a beautiful vase arrangement. Polly will guide you through proper flower care, working with foliage, vase design styles, color theory, local foraging, and helpful tips for enjoying your custom arrangement at home. Floral Design certificate elective
Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors. *Pick-up can take place the Tuesday afternoon, day before class (4-6 pm) or Wednesday the day of class (9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)
Registration for this class is now closed.
Tropical Flower Design | Polly Berginc AIFD
Tues., June 13 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
$45 members | $50 nonmembers | $65 material fee
Objective: To be able to design an arrangement using tropical flowers and foliage
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Basic Floral Design
Learn to design with exotic flowers and foliage, plus proper care and handling of tropical varieties. The vibrant colors and textural materials bring visual impact to these unique yet simplistic arrangements. Create your own ‘Island flair’ design with these stunning blooms from the tropics. Floral Design Certificate elective course.
Events and Large Scale Workshop: Centerpiece Style Tablescape Floral Design | Korkey Noah Kibbey
Thurs., June 15 | 6 - 9 p.m.
$125 members | $145 nonmembers
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to design and install a tablescape suitable for an upscale event
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Prerequisite: Basic Floral Design or Contemporary European Design
Tablescapes will be center stage in this workshop study. Participate in a group format that will expose the layers in creating a cohesive tablescape. Please be aware that this will be a physically challenging class that includes indoor production and installation time. This installation will be displayed for the Garden Center “Flora Celebration” exhibit event. Students will not have a take home project .Floral Design Certificate elective
Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors.
Colors of Mid-Summer: July 11 | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., July 11 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $40 supply fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Join Kaitlyn Caramela, Owner of Steel City Florals in our Colors of Spring, Mid- Summer and Late Summer workshop where we dive into color theory, one of Kaitlyn’s favorite topics. In this class we will experiment with using different color combinations to invoke the different feelings and different portrayals of spring and summer and base the palette of subtle hues of nature for the time of year. We will discuss why certain colors are associated with the season, the different types of flowers typically available around the spring and summer months and how to achieve a color balanced floral design. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Floral Crown Series | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tuesdays: July 18 and Aug. 15 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$55 members | $65 members | $80 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Weddings, baby showers, or just for fun – floral crowns are beautiful ways to make someone feel special. Learn the mechanics and best practices for creating your own stunning floral crown. Choose from these two fun workshops or take them both! Floral Design Certificate elective.
Half Floral Crown (July 18): In this floral crown workshop, students will design and build an every-day wear floral crown with the floral materials concentrated in the front of the crown (temple to temple) connecting with ribbon at the back of the crown.
Full Floral Crown ( Aug. 15): For this workshop in a different color palette students will create an Editorial, Artistic crown ready for a photo shoot! Floral material will go full circumference of the head and finished with ribbon.
Half Floral Crown | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., July 18 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $35 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create wearable crowns decorated with flowers
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Weddings, baby showers, or just for fun – floral crowns are beautiful ways to make someone feel special. Learn the mechanics and best practices for creating your own stunning floral crown. Choose from these two fun workshops or take them both! Floral Design Certificate elective.
Half Floral Crown (July 18): In this floral crown workshop, students will design and build an every-day wear floral crown with the floral materials concentrated in the front of the crown (temple to temple) connecting with ribbon at the back of the crown.
Events and Large Scale Design Workshop: Guerrilla Floral Installations | Korkey Noah Kibbey
Sat., July 29 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
$60 members | $70 nonmembers
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: Design and install an artistic temporary floral display for public viewing
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Prerequisite: Basic courses must have been completed
Guerrilla installations are temporary flower installations in unexpected public spaces. Participate in a group format and construct an exhibit for public viewing. This physically challenging class will have indoor studio and outdoor production time. This installation will be displaying during the Bach, Beethoven & Brunch Sunday event which is a Mellon Park feature. Students will not have a take home project.
Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors.
*Floral Design Elective
Bouquet Design Series (Full Series) | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tuesdays: Aug. 1, 8 and 22 | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Full Series: Members: $85 | Non-members: $95 | Material Fee: $135
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create beautiful bouquets in a range of popular styles.
Level: Traditional Bouquet: Beginner | Cascade and Loose and Airy: Intermediate
Pre-requisite: None
Traditional Bouquet (Aug. 1): In this hands-on workshop, students will construct and arrange one of the most classes bouquet styles, a traditional tight bouquet, while becoming familiar with commonly used floral tools and flowers, and learning the essential tips and tricks of bouquet design. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Cascading bouquet class (Aug. 8): Building on the skills covered in Traditional Bouquet class, or other floral design classes, this class will elevate your design skills to create different forms with your flowers. Cascading bouquets have been a very popular style over the last 10 years and offer a fuller, more interesting look than your traditional bouquet. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Loose and Airy bouquet class (Aug. 22): Looking to challenge your floral design skills a bit more? Our Loose and Airy bouquet workshop is designed to take your basic floral knowledge skills to the next level by adapting your techniques and flower choices to create a more organic style bouquet, one of the most highly requested and difficult bouquet styles. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Bouquet Design Series: Traditional Bouquet | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., Aug. 1 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $45 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create beautiful bouquets in a range of popular styles.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Traditional Bouquet (Aug. 1): In this hands-on workshop, students will construct and arrange one of the most classes bouquet styles, a traditional tight bouquet, while becoming familiar with commonly used floral tools and flowers, and learning the essential tips and tricks of bouquet design. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Bouquet Design Series: Cascading | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., Aug. 8 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $45 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create beautiful bouquets in a range of popular styles.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: None
Cascading bouquet class (Aug. 8): Building on the skills covered in Traditional Bouquet class, or other floral design classes, this class will elevate your design skills to create different forms with your flowers. Cascading bouquets have been a very popular style over the last 10 years and offer a fuller, more interesting look than your traditional bouquet. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Phipps Flower Club: Late Season | Polly Berginc AIFD
Wednesdays: Aug. 9, 23, Sept. 6, 20, Oct. 4 | 7 - 8:30 p.m.
$335 members | $355 nonmembers
Live webinar through Zoom
Live webinar through Zoom, pick-up in person at Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park*
Fill your home with flowers this summer with Phipps’ local flower subscription program. Pick up a fresh, bountiful bucket of seasonal flowers every two weeks from Phipps – supplied by local farmers, Cherry Valley Organics. Then tune in as Phipps’ lead floral instructor, Polly Berginc, demonstrates how to turn your flowers into a beautiful vase arrangement. Polly will guide you through proper flower care, working with foliage, vase design styles, color theory, local foraging, and helpful tips for enjoying your custom arrangement at home. Floral Design certificate elective
Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors. *Pick-up can take place the Tuesday afternoon, day before class (4-6 pm) or Wednesday the day of class (9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)
Full Floral Crown | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., Aug. 15 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $45 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Weddings, baby showers, or just for fun – floral crowns are beautiful ways to make someone feel special. Learn the mechanics and best practices for creating your own stunning floral crown. Choose from these two fun workshops or take them both! Floral Design Certificate elective.
Full Floral Crown (Aug. 15): For this workshop in a different color palette students will create an Editorial, Artistic crown ready for a photo shoot! Floral material will go full circumference of the head and finished with ribbon.
Language of Flowers | Korkey Noah Kibbey
Wed., Aug. 16 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
$45 members | $50 nonmembers | $35 material fee
Phipps Garden Center
Objective: To be able to interpret and construct Victorian bouquets
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Students in this course will learn history of floriography, with particular emphasis on the Victorian era, a time when it was often used for secret communications. This class will have a presentation followed by a hands-on project.
Tools needed for this elective (must be self-provided): Floral knife, stem pruners, wire cutters and scissors.
Floral Design Certificate elective
Bouquet Design Series: Loose and Airy | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., Aug. 22 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $45 material fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Objective: To be able to create beautiful bouquets in a range of popular styles.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: None
Loose and Airy bouquet class (Aug. 22): Looking to challenge your floral design skills a bit more? Our Loose and Airy bouquet workshop is designed to take your basic floral knowledge skills to the next level by adapting your techniques and flower choices to create a more organic style bouquet, one of the most highly requested and difficult bouquet styles. Floral Design Certificate elective.
Colors of Late Summer: Aug. 29 | Kaitlyn Caramela
Tues., Aug. 29 | 6:30 - 8 p.m.
$30 members | $35 nonmembers | $40 supply fee
Phipps Garden Center in Mellon Park
Join Kaitlyn Caramela, Owner of Steel City Florals in our Colors of Spring, Mid- Summer and Late Summer workshop where we dive into color theory, one of Kaitlyn’s favorite topics. In this class we will experiment with using different color combinations to invoke the different feelings and different portrayals of spring and summer and base the palette of subtle hues of nature for the time of year. We will discuss why certain colors are associated with the season, the different types of flowers typically available around the spring and summer months and how to achieve a color balanced floral design. Floral Design Certificate elective.