06/08/2026
What an incredible 9 days in College Station at Benz School of Floral Design - Department of Horticultural Sciences at TAMU! 🌿🌸
I started my journey in the Leaf & Foliage Manipulation class, where we learned how to transform ordinary greenery into extraordinary designs through folding, braiding, weaving, painting, dyeing, and staining. We even learned how to create graduation plants using palms and other foliage when ferns aren't available. Considering the fern shortage we've experienced this year, that knowledge would have been a lifesaver!
Monday through Friday, I participated in the Event Planning and Parties class. Our class designed and created over 100 floral arrangements for three different events happening around College Station. We had the opportunity to work with some truly unique and beautiful flowers, including locally grown lisianthus, marigolds, cosmos, dahlias, and zinnias from BellaVista Farms. It was an amazing hands-on experience that challenged both our creativity and teamwork and we had Ashley & Co. come speak to us about Linens and Setups, Such Great INFORMATION!
The final two days were dedicated to preparing for the Certified Floral Designer (CFD) hands-on and written examinations. The hands-on portion is intense! We are given a scenario and have just two hours to create three designs: one piece of floral jewelry and two arrangements. The challenge is that we don't know what flowers, greenery, or containers we'll receive until the test begins. We cannot talk, use anything other than the materials provided and our tools, and must rely completely on our design knowledge and creativity.
Honestly, it felt a lot like what my students experience during Floral Cup competitions. The pressure, the time constraints, and the need to think creatively on the spot were all very familiar! Our work is evaluated, and only then are we given the green light to move forward with certification testing.
I'm grateful for the knowledge, friendships, and experiences gained over these nine days, really the past year from Mrs. Wendy Osburn, Mrs. Cristi and Mrs. Barbara Volk-Tunnell at Benz. Floral design is truly a lifelong learning journey, and I'm excited to bring these new techniques and experiences back to my students. 🌿💐✨
🚨🚨GREAT NEWS.. 🚨🚨
I was given the GREENLIGHT to take the test sometime in September for my Hands- On Testing for my CFD Credentials! ✅
Bullard ISD Career and Technical Education
Bullard FFA
Bullard ISD
Bullard High School