Floriculture | Illinois 4-H

Welcome to the colorful world of 4-H Floriculture, where you'll discover the art and science behind growing beautiful flowers and creating beautiful landscapes! Whether you're designing stunning bouquets, learning to propagate your favorite blooms, developing functional landscapes, or creating eye-catching garden displays, this project will help you develop both your green thumb and creative skills. You'll explore everything from seed germination and plant care to floral design principles and flower judging, all while connecting with nature and expressing your artistic side.

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Exploring 4-H

Exploring 4-H Floriculture

Spark Activity: Flower Arranging 101

4-H Floriculture is all about flowers - from selecting your favorite flower to plant, nurturing them as they grow, and then enjoying them when they bloom. Gather your supplies to make a beautiful floral arrangement.

Supplies you’ll need:

Flower vase
Assorted flowers
Shears / scissors
Gloves (if working with thorns)

Study and define the six basic principles of flower arrangement: balance, scale, dominance, rhythm, color and orientation.
Choose a unique re-purposed container.
Select your flower/foliage collection. This may require some travel around your city/town if it’s not peak season in your own garden.
Arrange your flowers in a creative and visually appealing way utilizing the basic principles.
Take a photo of your arrangement and make a social media post, highlighting the ways in which you tried to apply the six basic principles.
Share your arrangement with a mentor or expert to get feedback

4-H Project Levels and Goals

Beginner

Pick out flowers (color/size) to plant in a container garden
Learn basic facts about plants and how they grow
Grow and maintain a garden
Learn basic garden tools

Intermediate

Design a garden space using at least six different types of flowers
Determine the best flowers that will grow in sun/shade
Learn about soil and fertilizer/ plant food
Choose containers appropriate for different types of floral arrangements

Advanced

Learn about garden fertilizer and nutrients that plants need
Start a compost bin or a rain bin
Design and plant a garden space using at least 12 different types of flowers
Design and plant container gardens for indoor or outdoor spaces

Put Your Project Into Action

Show Your Skills

Display of a flower with all parts identified
Exhibit of containers and appropriate types of flowers - for planting or arranging
Comparison of shade vs. sun plants

Service and Leadership

Plant flowers in a flower pot at your school, park, library or local fairgrounds
Adopt a flower bed at a park or nursing home
Fill planters on your town’s downtown street
Design a wheelchair accessible garden
Organize a perennial exchange
Start a flower arranging group then take arrangements to the nursing home
Teach your club how to identify flowers

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