Join the Floral Sprays Floral Workshop on Saturday, September 26, at 10:30am-12:30pm, a two-hour workshop from the Worship the Ground Series: A Brief History of a Sympathy Floral Practice with a Hands-on Workshop hosted by Rachael Watman from Swann’s End Flowers.
This workshop will begin with a 30-minute presentation that traces the history of funeral flowers from the Civil War to the modern day, noting the influence of Victorian floriography and the symbolism of flowers used in the American South. Participants will learn why cemeteries, like Hollywood Cemetery, prohibit artificial flowers and encourage nature-based tributes.
After the presentation, the 60-minute hands-on workshop will teach participants how to make a small tied funeral spray with locally sourced greenery and flowers, as well as foraged items from Swann’s End Flowers farm. Participants will be encouraged to think about specific ways to tailor their sprays to represent the life of one who has died.
This workshop costs $40 per person, which includes a $25 donation to Friends of Hollywood Cemetery. No refunds or transfers. Spaces are limited to 12 participants. To RSVP, click here.
Rachael Watman, MSW, is a gerontological social worker, death doula, and long-standing advocate for quality end-of-life care. Rachael is also a master gardener, growing, designing, and selling flowers via her farm, Swann's End Flowers in Powhatan, Virginia.