Sixth- and seventh-grade students at King Middle School tried their hand at floral design on April 9 in a collaboration between the Make It Happen (MIH) Program and King’s after-school Craft Club. 

First MIH students took a field trip to the Portland Museum of Art’s amazing spring Art in Bloom exhibit – an annual event in which the museum comes alive with fragrant blooms, extravagant displays, and incredible floral installations of all types, each inspired by an artwork from the museum’s collection. The exhibit inspired the students.

Next, King librarian Kathy Hanley decided to find a way to bring a florist to King. The plan came together very quickly. A King parent paved the way for Hanley to get some flowers donated by Trader Joe’s, leaving a small budget to buy a few more. King’s MIH coordinator Jen Shyka and Hanley also took advantage of the broken trees behind the school to cut willow and flowering apple branches.

Visiting florist Katie Lovins, designer and owner of CLO Floral, talked about her education in art and sculpture, and how a job for a florist led her to becoming a floral designer. As she created her sample arrangement, Lovins spoke about design, placement of flowers, balance of color and heights, and ways to put it all together. 

She then walked around the tall tables handing out flowers, branches and filler stalks to students and staff who were participating. It was an exciting time for all involved, and Lovins’ coaching helped everyone feel successful!