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 

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. 

Register

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.  

Register

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. 

Register

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.

Register (Both Sessions)

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.

Register

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

Register

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.

Register (Full Series)

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.

Register

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.

Register

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.)

Register

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.

Register

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

Register

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.

Register

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. 

Register

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