Dried Prairie Flower Arranging Programs

Seven students attended Volo Bog's first ever Dried Prairie Flower Arranging Class on Saturday, November 8. 2008 The ladies were skeptical when we told them they would be using mainly materials from our prairie gardens.  By this time of year, all the flowers have died back and only stems, dried leaves & seed heads remain.  And it was drizzling.  However, at only about 1/2 hour into their work, the excitement began to grow.  By the end of the class, everyone was quite amazed at how beautiful their arrangements were!  To be honest, Sharon had pre-harvested some flowers from her garden, dried them at home and brought them in for everyone's use.  However, the bulk of each arrangement was from plants picked that day in the damp prairie gardens right outside the door!  It was heartening to see the level of confidence and pride each student had at the end of the session.  We will make this workshop an annual event in early November, just in time to make a home-made, Made-in-the-USA, I-did-that!, something special, for the holidays! Instructors: Sharon Loris, is a professional floral designer from Laura's Flowers in Lindenhurst & Volo Bog Prairie Gardener Volunteer. Stacy Iwanicki, Volo Bog Naturalist, brings 3 years of floral design experience from way back in her high school & early college years. sudents: Patty Bigoness, Kathy Fisher, Bernadette Haase, Helen Kronin, Norma Leonard, Ginny Millar, and Jane Richards

Gathering the materials for the arrangements from the Volo Bog’s Prairie Gardens
Working artistically on the arrangements

The proud artist show off their beautiful creations
Left click on each picture to enlarge and ID artist

Sharon’s Craft Sign	The Class	Completed arrangements
Left to Right in back row Kathy, ?, ?, Bernadette, and ? Left to Right in front row Sharon, Jane, Stacy, and Peggy
Photos by Bernadette Haase

We had 15 arrangers in 2009 join our instructors Sharon Loris, her mother Bernadette Haase, & Site Naturalist, Stacy Iwanicki. Sharon’s occupation is flower arranging, etc. and she is very good at her craft. The class is free, the dried prairie plants are from our own gardens, but you bring your own container. The students cut their own plants for the arrangements from our prairie gardens, which is allowed because it is for a educational class sponsored by the FOVB. The program has been so successful, that we are thinking that next year we will have both a morning class and second one in the afternoon to accommodate everyone who wants to join us. It is a hands-on class, and you have a flower arrangement to take home with you.

Cindy Goulet		Rosemary Smith			Gail Goeke		Jane Richards			Helen Kerner
Diane Huckstadt		Lauren & Meredith McLane			Natalie McLane		Carol Wilson & Linda Simmons			Hannah Psomas
Linda Haman		Stacy Iwanicki			Lisa Schaefer		Marsha Czarny & Pat Ranallo			Sharon Loris
Everyone is working hard to complete their beautiful creations
Some of the completed arrangements
Photos by Bernadette Haase								Left click on photos to enlarge

We had 14 arrangers in 2010 join our instructors Sharon Loris, her mother Bernadette Haase, & Site Naturalist, Stacy Iwanicki. Sharon’s occupation is flower arranging, etc. and she is very good at her craft. The class is free, the dried prairie plants are from our own gardens, but you bring your own container.

Left click on photos to enlarge
Photos by Bernadette Haase

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