Looking for a fun spring activity? These workshops let you try your hand at floral design

With the arrival of spring, having fresh flowers in your home is a wonderful way to brighten up your space. But rather than just buying a bunch, having a go at your own floral design is a fun activity to do with friends, or even just for a relaxing afternoon by yourself.

The Flowersmith Studio in Cork is the place to go to try flower arranging or wreath design, with lots of options to choose from. As well as their fresh and dried floral creations for gifts, weddings and events, they also run in-person floral design workshops and have DIY Floral Design Kits you can try at home, all using eco-friendly foam-free methods.

Whether you want a quiet afternoon of wreath-making as a treat to yourself, or want to organise a get-together with a few friends, it’s a lovely spring activity, held in their studio’s peaceful, walled courtyard garden in Glanmire, Co Cork. Plus, you’ll learn some new skills and have a gorgeous wreath or bunch of flowers for your home.

They have several special events coming up, including special Mother’s Day sessions on Saturday, March 26. You can choose either the morning or afternoon session and even add on a delicious organic homemade brunch or lunch from Niamh’s Larder.

They have also teamed up with Hayley Power Wellness to offer a Flower Arranging & Wellness Retreat. Choose from March 19 and April 30 from 10-2pm. The day will include include Smudge Stick making, Ikebana-inspired Flower Arranging, and a sound bath with Hayley including meditative breath work and pressure points, as well as a delicious homemade and nourishing brunch from Niamh’s Larder.

For those with a deeper interest, they are also running a 5 Week Fundamentals of Floral Design Course.  Running from May 4 – June 1 from 6 – 8:30pm every Wednesday, it’s perfect for beginners with a love of nature and flowers who would like to learn a modern, natural and eco-friendly style of floristry, with a  focus on colour, texture and seasonality.

Topics covered will include Fundamentals of Design and Colour Theory, Foam-Free Floral Mechanics, Flower Selection/Care and Vase selection, How to Style a Table, and How to Create a Garden Inspired Bouquet, a Table Centrepiece, a Table Runner, a Wreath, and an Urn Arrangement (and all flowers, vessels, mechanics, and tools are included).

If you can’t make an in-person Workshop, The Flowersmith Studio also offers a range of DIY Floral Design Kits, each with access to a private online, step-by-step video tutorial. They’re lovely as a way to carve out some mindful creative time by yourself, as well as with groups of friends and colleagues to create together.

The Flowersmith Studio’s in-person workshops are hosted by Kelly O’Sullivan in their studios’ peaceful, walled courtyard garden in Glanmire in Co Cork, making a workshop a truly memorable experience. Workshops are available all year round and are updated seasonally.