Give the Gift of Flowers
Horticulture & Turfgrass
Christina Lueking
Horticulture Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Woodlawn
Abstract
What makes you smile more than receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers? Illinois Extension surveyed local communities, with results indicating increased interest among our local flower enthusiasts and gardeners seeking to deepen their knowledge of growing techniques to produce more blooms and give back to their communities. There was also an economically motivated desire to grow cut flowers at home in backyard garden beds to achieve cost savings and to improve the mental health of local community members. A four-part series titled "Give the Gift of Flowers" was created for the gardeners of Jefferson County, Illinois, who were interested in growing cut flowers, herbs, and foliage plants to create colorful bouquets using the blooms from their own backyard garden plots in a sustainable and economically friendly way. The purpose of the workshop is to focus on best seasonal cut flower gardening practices, understanding spacing and support structures, caring for plants, and following post-harvest and design techniques. From April through July 2025, the Horticulture Educator offered a 4-part workshop series, concluding with an art-inspired floral design challenge to prepare participants to complete the stem count of harvested stems from garden beds and to send a picture of the designed and donated bouquet to a community member. Each class included informational PowerPoint presentations, recipe cards for bouquets, and hands-on demonstrations. Participants received seeds or transplants, planting trays, support netting, and floral snips, as well as educational materials and resources related to the flowers, herbs, or possible insect pressure for the items they would be growing and harvesting. Thirty-nine participants attended the series, and all 39 responded to a post-program survey, yielding a 100% response rate. Five participants reported using their knowledge to create and plant their flower garden beds during the summer.
Additionally, 98% reported stem counts from harvested blooms and pictures of bouquets delivered. Finally, 96% planned to plant more backyard flowers for the physical and/or mental health benefits. As a result, a 90-minute presentation and art-inspired design workshop was requested for Illinois Extension Horticulture Educators to share with Master Gardeners statewide.
Authors: Christina Lueking
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Christina Lueking Horticulture Educator, NACAA, Illinois, 62898