BILOXI, Miss. -- A new floral design course intended to enhance skills and inspire community volunteerism is now easily accessible to floral enthusiasts statewide.

The Master Floral Designer course is now available as a hybrid course that combines video and face-to-face sessions. The first course begins Aug. 19 with online classroom instruction. It is a program of the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Jim DelPrince, Extension horticulture specialist, will guide students through the basics of floral design in three phases. Participants who successfully complete the course and 40 hours of volunteer service will earn the Master Floral Designer certification.

Phase one of the hybrid course is presented online and teaches participants the basics of floral design, including use of accessories, numerous design mechanics, and proper care and use of fresh and dried flowers.

Phase two is an intensive, four-day, hands-on classroom session in which students practice the concepts learned in phase one. This class session will be held on four consecutive days at Extension offices in Starkville, Hattiesburg, Stoneville and Vicksburg in spring 2020. Individuals must successfully complete phase one before signing up for phase two.

Phase three consists of 40 hours of approved volunteer service, such as teaching others and designing for public spaces.

Participants must complete 20 hours of volunteer service each consecutive year after course completion to maintain certification.

Registration for phase one is $395 per person and includes the textbook and access to all instructional videos. Registration for phase two is $795 and includes materials for hands-on projects.  

DelPrince taught students in the MSU floral design program for 20 years before joining Extension. He has nearly 40 years of experience in the professional floristry industry.

He is a laureate of the American Institute of Floral Designers and has published numerous books and articles on floral and interior plantscaping design. An expert in 19th century horticultural studies, he has held research fellowships at the Smithsonian Institution and Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware. His floral design work has been featured at the New Orleans Museum of Art; Temple Heights in Columbus, Mississippi; and George Walter Vincent Smith Museum in Springfield, Massachusetts.

To register, visit the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center’s website at https://bit.ly/2X24xn7. For more information, visit the Extension website at https://bit.ly/2Xxppa2 or contact DelPrince at 228-546-1011 or j.delprince@msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation, please contact Jim DelPrince at 228-546-1011 or j.delprince@msstate.edu.