Flowers are often the only reminder of nature in a big city. Not only are they beautiful, they are instantly grounding, and have a habit of promoting positivity–especially after a long day of work in NYC. Our Newsette Network recently had the opportunity to attend a class at Flower School New York, in a mission to learn how to make the perfect flower arrangement. Not only one of the most Instagrammable places in the city, the school also has famed teachers such as Shane Connolly, who was the ‘Artistic Director of Flowers’ for the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 and is one of the most sought-after designers in England. Talk about impressive!
If that information left you feeling intimidated, don’t fret! Flower School offers classes for everyone, from beginners to experienced professionals. I’m definitely not a flower specialist–but as someone who buys fresh flowers every week, I was thrilled at the chance to learn how to arrange them like a pro. I had a blast–and so did the rest of the Network, who created stunning arrangements they took home. If you’re not in NYC, or haven’t joined out Newsette Network yet, we’ve compiled helpful tips we learned from the class, straight from some of the world’s most qualified professionals.
Firstly, we’ll start with the exact type of flowers we used, and the order in which we arranged them:

  1. Citronella– this grass-like plant was our base. We placed this around the rim of the base and continued to twist the vase around so we got an even amount around the entire perimeter.
  2. Seeded Eucalyptus–this is a green plant with lots of little leaves.
  3. Cockscomb-a stunning coral-like plant you have to see to believe. Seriously, Google it. You won’t be disappointed.
  4. Kalancho-tiny flowers that grow in a variety of pretty shades.
  5. Hybrid Tea Roses in “Orange Crush”-this had to have been one of my favorite flowers used. It looks just like it sounds–an orange rose–but something about it looks mythical.
  6. Local Dahlias-stunning flowers with long, thin leaves. Another one to Google.
  7. Pink Calycina-a long plant that screams fall.


Of course, the best way to learn how to make the perfect flower arrangement is to visit Flower School (which has locations in both NYC and LA). However, if you’re trying this at home, here are the top tips from the Flower School staff:

  1. Always have the stems touch the bottom of the vase–this way, as the water goes down they will be able to continue to drink for as long as possible.
  2. Change your water at least every other day for flower longevity.
  3. Begin with the foliage first and then move to your biggest blooms, finishing with your most delicate stems.
  4. Cluster flowers of similar varieties to give a great impact to your design.
  5. Your arrangement should be 1.5 times the height of the vase overall.
  6. Pick flowers in different shades of one color to always have an arrangement that looks great.
  7. Put flowers in on an angle to keep an open, full design.

For a fall event you won’t forget, grab your friends and book a class here.