ON-THE-FARM DESIGN WORKSHOP

‘Dahlia Daze’ Design Workshop

Nestled in the heart of the White Mountains our farm boasts scenic views, abundant blooms, and a pristine landscape. Throughout the summer months our gardens are bountiful with seasonal flowers used for bouquets and event design. Our blossoms are sustainably-grown from seed, harvested, and brought straight from the fields into our design studio. If you are looking to have fun, learn the fundamentals of design, and have an opportunity to work with beautiful farm-fresh flowers then this workshop is for you!

Dahlias are the queen of our gardens from August through September. We grow over 30 varieties ranging from Dinner Plate to Ball, both in the greenhouse and outside in the fields. Our workshop will teach you how to arrange with the different varieties and shapes of these multi-layered blooms in a beautiful ceramic vase. This workshop will take place during peak dahlia season and you will get a chance to harvest these much-desired blooms! You will also learn the proper technique for cutting as well as tips on our post harvest procedures. We will also have an abundant display of late summer blooms, herbs, and foliage cut and hydrated for you to add to your composition with your dahlias!

About the Workshop

The workshop will include a walking tour of our farm where we will discuss our crop choices and operation. While our farm stand is open to the public, our gardens will not be, which will provide participants a private tour. We hope that seeing the gardens will inspire your floral composition. You will also have the opportunity to cut your own blossoms as well as learn tricks to cutting and our post harvest procedures. After the farm tour at Tarrnation, we will head down to Ski Hearth Farm, our neighboring farm and home to our 87-foot greenhouse filled to the brim with dahlias! You will have the opportunity to see this private space as well as cut your own dahlias. The workshop will take place in the former nordic center at Ski Hearth where you will be greeted with a dazzling display of precut flowers, refreshments to snack on, and your stations set to design. Vanessa will demonstrate a dahlia inspired composition and then set you to create your own. There will be support to help as you design with tips and tricks to making your arrangement unique and beautiful!

This workshop is even more special as it will be documented by the talented New England based photographer, Jackie Fox. Jackie is a master at her art and we look forward to her capturing this special mid-summer workshop. She is one of a kind behind the lens and will make you feel comfortable and at ease as she works behind the scenes!

What’s included

Class includes all materials you will need to create your take home arrangement, including our favorite brand of clippers and beautiful ceramic vase. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided. You will also receive a packet detailing our favorite tuber sources, most inspirational books, and design tips and tricks. Ages 18+ and flower lovers of all levels are encouraged to join! This makes a great gift!

Workshops are meant for all levels of design skills. We will be going over our operations during the farm tour, but these ARE NOT farming workshops. Class will be rain or shine and is held at a farm, please wear comfortable clothing and footwear that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Please arrive 15 minutes early so workshop can start on time.

Date: August 14, 2021
Time: 10:30 am–1:30 pm
Workshop fee: $300 Non-refundable. Space is limited, so sign up early!
(These farms do not have handicap access at this time)

This workshop is sold out! Please stay tuned for 2021 holiday workshops and 2022 design workshops!

Meet the Instructor

Vanessa Tarr is owner, grower, and lead designer at Tarrnation Flower Farm. She has been working the land with her father since high school and has also worked on farms in Spain, Panama, Washington, and throughout New England. She has been in the floral industry as a farmer and designer for the past 16 years. Vanessa has studied in person with some of the top designers and farmers in the country including Nicolette Camille (of Nicolette Camille Floral), Jill Rizzo (of Studio Choo), and Erin Benzakein (of Floret Flower Farm). She has also taken online courses with Jennie Love (of Love N’ Fresh Flowers) and Sue McLeary (Passion Flower Sue). She has extensive knowledge in workshop preparation and has assisted in eight Floret workshops and has taught her own workshops for the past 2 years. She is excited to be teaching and sharing her knowledge while inviting students to her farm for a hands-on experience!

You can find Tarrnation Flower Farm featured in Country Living, Design New England, Ruffled Blog, Seacoast Weddings, Business New Hampshire, New Hampshire Home, Threads by Garnet Hill, The Chronicle WMUR, New Hampshire Bride, & Vermont Bride Magazine.