December Reflections in the Garden
Topic: Floral Design for the Holidays
Master Floral Designer program leader Dr. James DelPrince presents an inspiring demonstration of holiday floral design, highlighting creative techniques, seasonal materials, and the artistry of transforming natural elements into elegant arrangements. This program explores ways to incorporate fresh flowers, foliage, and decorative accents into distinctive holiday expressions. Participants will discover memorable seasonal designs and gift ideas that enhance the home, celebrate nature’s beauty, and bring sophistication to holiday entertaining. Blending horticultural knowledge with professional floral design principles, this program offers inspiration, practical ideas, and an appreciation for the season’s creative possibilities.
Speaker: Dr. Jim DelPrince, Associate Extension Professor, Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center
About the Speaker:
Dr. Jim DelPrince is a horticulture specialist with MSU Extension and is the leader of the Master Floral Designer program, a new area of study which is one-of-a-kind in the U.S. With MSU Extension, he has also developed a comprehensive certificate program for professional florist training. Jim began his career officially in 1979 when he started a floral design business in the basement of his parents’ home in Ashtabula, Ohio, selling flowers to schoolmates, relatives, and neighbors. He has been on the MSU faculty since 1992 has received several honors over his career, and has taught floral design to over 5,000 students and professional florists. At MSU Coastal, he has developed educational and research programs benefiting flower growers, florists, and floral enthusiasts.
He is a Laureate Member of the American Institute of Floral Designers and the Professional Floral Communicators-International. Dr. DelPrince delves into both the scientific and artistic world of flowers. Research during and after the writing of his dissertation on Victorian floral design earned him grants for fellowships at Winterthur in Wilmington, Delaware, and the Smithsonian Institution for 19th century horticulture studies. As an artist, he was the solo floral designer in seven performances of “Concerto for Florist” in Mississippi, California, and, most recently, Ashland, Oregon, using locally grown flowers from Joan Thornton of La Mera Gardens.
His historical floral design work has been featured at the New Orleans Museum of Art and the George Walter Vincent Smith Museum in Massachusetts. Dr. DelPrince has delivered talks and written about the flowers of Tennessee Williams’ plays, including an interactive talk at the Tennessee Williams in Europe Conference at the University of Nancy, France.
Event Details:
December 7, 2027 from 12 pm to 1 pm at the Ione Burden Conference Center (4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809)
Reflections in the Garden is a monthly "lunch and learn" series presented by the Friends of LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens. The lectures are generally held on the first Monday of the month at noon at the Botanic Gardens.
Reflections in the Garden is live-streamed to members of the Friends of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens through Microsoft Teams. In-person attendance is open to both members and nonmembers with registration.
