It’s a a statement we all know to be true: Flowers make people happy. Whether they are given to you as a gift from a loved one or they grow in your garden, the bright shades, decadent smells and vibrant presence of a well-crafted bouquet is a welcoming one.
And with the cooler weather rolling in, there are plenty of opportunities for you to warm up the place with a pop of color in the form of this season’s most popular flowers. Here, we share exactly where to go for a DIY lesson on floral arrangement in NoVA.
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UWIB DC Presents: Make Bouquets and Sip Rosé
Sept. 4, 6:30-8 p.m.
Following Labor Day, continue to relax with this evening bouquet-making class that serves as an ode to the end of summer. While you learn from florists of local shop Little Acres, you can sip on some of the season’s best rosé and chat with other female entrepreneurs from NoVA. While you don’t get to keep your creation, you can feel content in the fact that each bouquet will be given to a woman at the Mary Marshall Assisted Living facility. // MakeOffices – Clarendon: 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 200, Arlington; free
Back to School and Blossoms at Blend Coffee Bar
Sept. 5, 6-9 p.m.
With the start of school and new daily routines, it becomes more challenging to find time to go shopping for flowers to fill your home with. Not to worry, though, because for one night only, you’ll have the chance to make your own bouquet to take home, all while snacking on some light bites from Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn. // Blend Coffee Bar: 43170 Southern Walk Plaza, Suite 120, Ashburn; $64
“Fall” in Love with Flower Arranging at Calico – Arlington
Sept. 7, 11 a.m.
Head over to the furniture store Calico in Arlington for a morning of learning, fun and great results at this floral arrangement course. There’s no need to bring anything, as the folks from Alice’s Table will provide all necessary materials to help you create a beautiful arrangement that reflects the spirit of fall. // Calico: 6400 Williamsburg Blvd., Arlington; $65
Summertime Wind Down with Athleta and Alice’s Table
Sept. 8, 6-9 p.m.
Held within Reston Center’s Athleta, this floral arrangement course will serve as an ideal introduction to autumn. Come with friends or family and be ready to organize some of the season’s most durable and beautiful flowers in a three-hour evening class. // Athleta: 11923 Market St., Reston; $65
Coral: Pantone Color of the Year
Sept. 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
While coral is a common color on the ocean’s floor, Helen Olivia Flowers is here to help you bring the bright, welcoming shade to your table this September through this workshop, in honor of the tone being chosen as Color of the Year by The Pantone Color Institute. Can’t make this one? No worries, this shop in Alexandria is hosting several other workshops this month. // Helen Olivia Flowers: 1519 Leslie Ave., Alexandria; $105
Wine and Design – Arranging Florals in Glass Vase, Lacing Style
Sept. 12, 6-8 p.m. & Sept. 29, 2-3 p.m.
Hosting a dinner party? This time, you’ll be able to skip the market and make your own arrangements, thanks to this extensive course hosted by floral designer Carol Caggiano. By the end of the evening, you’ll know how to properly handle flowers and foliage, understand basic design principles and create a lace layering in a vase to make the arrangement stay beautiful for longer. Plus, refreshments will keep you motivated all night long. // Metro Flower Market: 4151 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 110B, Chantilly; $65
Fall Blooms at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea
Sept. 14, 1-4 p.m.
Some Saturdays call for a few hours of girl time, and this September it’s time to gather your closest friends for an afternoon tea time followed by a floral arrangement course at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea. Come hungry, as there will be pastries, hot sandwiches, soup and more for your enjoyment before class begins. // Ridgetop Coffee and Tea: 21631 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling; $65
Early Autumn Bouquet
Sept. 26, 6-8 p.m.
Three days after the official start of fall, head over to Boxwood in Old Town for an evening of floral design. Staff from the neighboring business, The Enchanted Florist, will be on-site, sharing their knowledge on how to craft a cohesive arrangement that reflects the bright colors of the new season. // Boxwood: 128 S. Royal St., Alexandria; $95
Fall Floral Arrangement Workshop
Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m.
Come the end of September, the plants from local gardens will be more than ready to be transferred into a decorative container for your enjoyment. With this afternoon workshop hosted by the experts at Merrifield Garden Center, you’ll learn how to create a fresh floral arrangement using garden-sourced, seasonal blooms that add a little life to your kitchen counter. // Merrifield Garden Center – Fair Oaks: 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax; $60