Designing with flowers is a wonderful skill to learn and can bring immense enjoyment to various aspects of life, opening doors to a world of creativity and fulfillment. Toronto Botanical Garden’s Floral Design Program offers a dynamic educational experience focusing on floral design. Whether it’s for beautifying your own home, creating stunning arrangements for a wedding, or exploring a potential career in floristry, the uses of floral design are diverse and rewarding.
This series of hands-on integrated courses is taught by accredited floral design judges from the Garden Clubs of Ontario.
To achieve the Floral Design Certificate, students are required to complete eight courses of instruction in four years. This includes five mandatory courses and any three elective courses chosen (totaling 96 hours of in-class learning) in a four-year period.
Students must first complete Floral Design Fundamentals I and then continue with Floral Design Fundamentals II as these provide the foundational knowledge and are prerequisites to all other mandatory courses. Please see the full Course List and Descriptions PDF below.
FAQ
Are there any prerequisites required to participate in the Floral Design Certificate Program?
There are no prerequisites. Students must first complete Floral Design Fundamentals I and then continue with Floral Design Fundamentals II as these provide the foundational knowledge and are prerequisites to all other mandatory courses.
Those pursuing the Certificate are able to take the classes at their own pace and keep track of the courses they have completed.
What are the fees for the Certificate program?
The cost of each course can vary, but they are typically $240 (plus taxes and fees). For TBG members, the cost is $190 (plus taxes and fees). Each course is four weeks long.
Course fees do not include flowers or supplies unless otherwise stated. Students are encouraged to find a local flower shop or grocery store to purchase flowers. A materials list will be e-mailed before the start of each class. Material fees can range from $10 to $75/week depending on the source of the materials and your choice.
How long does it take to complete the Certificate Program?
The program has ongoing registration so participants can start at any time. We make every effort to include a wide variety of programs throughout the year to ensure that students can graduate in a reasonable timeframe. Some participants take as many programs as they can and finish in a year or 18 months. Others take their time! You can certainly sign up for the following class while still enrolled in the pre-requisite.
Is attendance mandatory for all classes?
To get the most of each course, students are highly encouraged to attend all classes. If you miss one class, you can work with the instructor to make it up outside of class hours. If two or more classes are missed, students pursuing the Certificate must retake the course for it to count towards the Certificate.
I do not want to complete the Floral Design Certificate; can I still take the classes?
Certification of the Floral Design program is optional. Registration for the certificate is not mandatory to take Floral Design courses for fun/personal achievement.
Participants who are not interested in completing the certification are still required to complete Fundamentals I and II in order and will be required to have both Fundamentals I and Fundamentals II completed prior to taking any of the other mandatory classes. This ensures that all participants have the same knowledge base and helps to increase both learning and enjoyment in the program.
I think I have completed the Certificate, what do I do next?
If you believe you have completed the requirements for the Certificate, please email programsupport@torontobotnicalgarden.ca. We will confirm with our records and let you know the next steps. We typically host a Graduation Ceremony annually in the Fall.
I have completed the Floral Design Certificate, are there more courses I can take?
Students who have completed the Floral Design Certificate may continue to take the offered electives.
Upcoming Floral Design Courses
