Pioneer Valley High School’s Floral Design Pathway students recently embarked on a Field to Vase learning experience through the San Francisco floral industry.
Guided by Tyler Dickinson, agriculture instructor/FFA advisor, five advanced floral design students participated in a two-day tour that brought classroom concepts to life through hands-on workshops and industry engagement.
Participating students were Khristine Joy Inay, Jaelah Melena, Ashley Pantoja, Getzemany Garcia Ziga, and Guadalupe Pompa Mondragon.
The trip featured behind-the-scenes access to several of the Bay Area’s leading floral destinations, including a hands-on centerpiece design workshop at Le Bouquet, a boutique floral studio known for its art-inspired arrangements and use of sustainable design practices, the school said.
Students explored the newly reopened San Francisco Flower Market, one of the nation’s most historic wholesale and retail floral markets, and talked with with local growers, wholesalers and artisans.
They also participated in a pressed flower-framed art workshop, where they transformed seasonal blooms into lasting botanical art while learning design composition, color theory, and presentation techniques.
Students met directly with professional florists, designers and entrepreneurs, gaining insight into the challenges and opportunities of today’s evolving floral industry, the school said.
“This trip gave our students a real-world look into what it means to build a career in floriculture,” said Dickinson.
“From the growers who cultivate each stem to the designers who bring them to life in arrangements, students gained a holistic understanding of the field-to-vase process and the creativity, business skills, and craftsmanship that make this industry thrive,” he said.
“Seeing where our flowers come from, meeting designers, and creating our own arrangements allowed me to see how connected the floral industry is,” said Floral Shop student leader Khristine Joy Inay.
The Pioneer Valley Floral Design Pathway, part of the school’s award-winning agriculture education program, provides students with hands-on training in floral artistry, business operations, and event design.
“Opportunities like this San Francisco experience help bridge classroom learning with career readiness — empowering students to explore future roles in floral design, horticulture, and agricultural entrepreneurship,” Pioneer Valley FFA said.
Pioneer Valley FFA thanks the following education and industry partners for making the trip possible: San Francisco Flower Market, Jeanne Boes; Mayesh Wholesale; Floral Supply Syndicate; Le Bouquet; Studio Floras; and Andrea Felder Lee, director of career technical education.
For more about the Pioneer Valley Floral Design Program or upcoming student projects, email Dickinson, tdickinson@pvhspanthers.org.