Guides — how-tos, care, seasonal flowers

The guides section is our reference library — practical evergreen writing on how to build arrangements, how to keep cut flowers alive, and what's actually in season in each part of the year.

If our journal is opinion and the academy is structured training, guides is the manual. Everything here is step-by-step, actionable, and written to be re-read.

How-to guides

Techniques we teach at the academy, broken down into standalone tutorials you can execute from your kitchen counter.

• How to make a hand-tied bouquet — our signature spiral technique, 11 steps
• How to wrap a bouquet — 5 wrap styles with materials and step-by-step instructions

More how-tos coming — spiral bouquet variations, centerpiece construction, compote arrangements, and the mechanical techniques (grid taping, chicken wire, kenzan) that let modern florists build without foam.

Care guides

Getting cut flowers to last as long as they should is a matter of four principles: conditioning, clean water, correct food, and the right environment. Get all four right and your bouquet lasts as long as a florist's does.

• How to keep flowers fresh — the four principles — the complete care system, plus species-specific tips
• Homemade flower food recipes — three tested recipes, plus what actually happens when you use Sprite, aspirin, or a copper penny

Seasonal guides

Which flowers are in season in which month — cross-referenced by hemisphere. We publish detailed guides on individual varieties as they come into peak season.

• Peonies season — Northern and Southern hemisphere calendar, 8 varieties, sourcing routes, substitutes
• Tulips season — three supply channels explained (greenhouse, field, French), full-year availability
• Dahlia season — the September flower, regional seasons, Café au Lait sourcing, wedding applications

Coming soon

We publish guides continuously. Next up:

• Ranunculus season
• Sunflower season
• Rose varieties for wedding work
• Sweet pea season
• Wedding-flower price benchmarks by market

Who these guides are for

Home flower enthusiasts who buy bouquets and want them to last, or who occasionally build their own arrangements from grocery-store flowers.

Newly-working florists who need reference material outside a formal course — the guides are the closest to a working-florist handbook we publish for free.

Students of our academy who use the guides as companions to the course modules — every technique in our floral design course is either covered here or scheduled for future publication.

Related sections

• Academy — for the full structured floral design course
• Journal — for editorial writing on floristry, business, and sustainability
• Weddings — for wedding-specific guidance and services