Peony Workshop

The best part about June? Hard to know – the length of the evening? The fireflies? Many people would add to the list peonies. June is high peony season. At Bear Creek Farm, we cultivate beauty from the ground up. Our full-day Peony Workshop is designed to enable peony aficionados (aka those who love peonies - truly madly deeply) – to make best use of their devotion to beauty and sustainable botanical growing practices. From good, clean earth, spring the most beautiful peonies.

Our peony workshop for 2023 is Saturday, June 10. Our farm is not open to the public, so this is a real opportunity to experience its beauty, see its operation and learn about the flow, movement and texture of flower arranging.  

The day begins with a springtime tour of Bear Creek Farm so here is the opportunity to peek behind the curtain. As we stroll amongst the blooms, you will learn about our growing techniques which include an amalgamation of both old and new. The tour is led by Bear Creek Farm Founder and industry leader, Debra Kaye, who will focus on tips to give peonies the best possible start, and general pro tips/trade secrets we love to share - because why hoard experience? Always there will be ample time for a question-and-answers, as well.

Post-tour, there is a scheduled lunch break. This is an opportunity to let the lessons of the morning percolate in preparation for the afternoon peony flower arranging session. During lunch, we encourage friendships to spring up as participants sit in the sun, drinking it in - while appreciating beauty and flowers. 

At Bear Creek Farm, there is room for everyone to learn together. We recognize the central fact that nature, as a metaphorical flowering meadow, offers everyone a chance to experience personal growth. As such, workshops at Bear Creek Farm are both collaborative (we learn from one another) and deeply personal (we create a space for personal reflection about how one fits in nature, and the lessons it delivers when one listens quietly).

Following lunch, Bear Creeks Farm’s very own Kristi Zunk, Manager and Director of Floral Design, leads a workshop on how to arrange peonies. Kristi believes in the use of found foraged materials, seeing opportunities to use native plants/branches to amplify the velveteen petals on a peony. In her mind, an openness to this possibility may enhance depth to petals as they unfurl; and add dimension to the varied subtle colors peonies deliver – but which may sometimes be missed by the casual observer. According to Kristi, much of the fun of Bear Creek Farm rests in the ethos of the farm - taking risks and engaging in experimentation in sustainability on the 38 plus acres of meadows and open space. 

From the novice (those who, perhaps stopped to admire peonies at a local farmer market) or who may even belong to the Bear Creek Farm CSA - to the most expert of grower, this day long Peony Workshop offers participants the opportunity to learn still more. Horticulture design evolves – it needs new and young eyes on. Beauty is never static – and Kristi is here to share her vast hands-on experience in arranging peonies. No need to bring anything but yourself and your imagination – all supplies and flowers are included.

Bear Creek Farm workshops are intimate affairs so that all participants receive the individualized instruction which enables them to develop and express their own aesthetic. For this reason, avoid disappointment and register now.

What Will be Featured?

• On-site Tour. Included in this full day will be a personalized tour welcoming participants to the farm.
• Participants will then be instructed on two deep-dive classes on peonies. Debra will lead a detailed discussion that provides guidance on how to grow and harvest peonies. Giving peonies a good start early in their life can make an extraordinary difference in the type of bloom one experiences. Takeaway teaser: though easy to grow, there are just a few tips that can make all the difference in the plant’s long life.
• In the afternoon our floral arranging workshop takes full advantage of the bounty of the peony season using the singular blooms Bear Creek Farm provides. Kristi will be sharing her approach to designing with peonies specifically in mind. Using additional foraged natural adornments to create a natural, organic look, the workshop will focus on how to create variations in depth and texture to show that everyone can create floral magic.
• Afterward you will design your own arrangement. No need to worry about supplies as everything will be provided for you!
• Complete your day with photo memories of the event. A professional photo scene will be set for pictures of your work.

 What’s Included 

• Luxury value in flowers for each individual floral arrangement;
• all materials for arrangement including compote and knife;
• breakfast and lunch;
• take-home reference guide;
• discount for 2024 Bear Creek Farm dahlia tuber purchase; and
• very limited class size to enable personalized attention in a supportive environment.

Who Will Benefit and Bloom from Our Workshop?

Floral designers with any level of experience

• who want to learn from a design expert at the top of her game
• who want to understand more about growing peonies

Flower lovers/hobbyists

• who want to “play with flowers” and learn pro techniques along the way
• who wish to have a successful peony patch in their backyard

Flower farmers

• who are interested in corporate design or weddings who want to next-level their skills 
• who want to enhance their peony knowledge and understand differences in peony type

Details
Full day workshop is $595.00. Class size is strictly limited to allow for personalized attention in an environment that is small and supportive. For FAQ regarding workshops, please go to resources on the website. 

Referral Discount
When you and a friend sign up together, we will extend a 10% off discount to each of you! Email us at info@bearcreekfarm.com for more info.