September

The excitement of the first day of school has begun to settle, and you’re finding your rhythm with a new group of students. You’ve spent the past few weeks establishing routines, getting to know your students and creating an environment where they can feel comfortable. This is such an important time in the year as you begin to discover your students’ strengths, build their confidence and set the tone for everything that lies ahead. We know how much time and energy goes into creating a successful classroom, and we’re here to support you along the way.

Planning Is Underway for Floral Education in 2027

TSFA is already planning exciting things for you in 2027 and welcomes your recommendations! As several committees and the TSFA Board of Directors meet this fall, your input can help inform decisions about educational programming for the coming year. Please take two or three minutes to provide your feedback and suggestions via this short survey.

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Texas Floral Showcase, Waco — Sept 24

This Texas Floral Showcase features designs and business insights you can immediately implement to strengthen 4th quarter sales! Join Ann Jordan, AAF, AIFD,CFD, MMFD, for a skill-building floral design workshop, dinner and design presentation at the Baylor Club in Waco on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Hands-on Workshop — Building Your Holiday Collection

In this three-hour workshop, you will craft three fall holiday designs and discover effective ways to market the collection.

Dinner Presentation — Designing a Season to Remember: Planting Seeds for 4th Quarter Success

There is no better time than the present to lay the groundwork for a successful fourth quarter. Gain expert tips to help you translate your creativity into record holiday sales. Contact the TSFA office for special discounts for students and groups!

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Ashlyn Childress, CFD, TMF, Passes PFDE

Congratulations to TSFA member Ashlyn Childress, who recently passed the Professional Floral Design Evaluation® (PFDE) and will be inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers® (AIFD) next summer at the AIFD Symposium. Childress was awarded an AIFD Foundation CFD Scholarship, making it possible for her to participate in TSFA's Formative Design Objectives course, presented by J. Keith White AIFD, CFD, CEJ, in May.

Are you a Texas Master Florist (TMF) interested in earning the Certified Floral Designer® (CFD) credential? The AIFD National Executive Board now offers two application windows: Aug. 1-Dec. 1, and March 1-31. Those who hold the TMF designation may contact the TSFA office and request that your information be shared with AIFD as part of the application process.

Level 1 and 2 Certification Benefits

What are the benefits of providing your students with a Level 1 Floral Certification?

Demonstrates Job Ready Skills — Students must demonstrate their ability to create a symmetrical floral arrangement and a boutonniere while showing proper mechanics, design techniques, tool use and time management. This gives employers evidence that the student can perform fundamental floral design tasks — not just complete a classroom assignment.
Builds a Competitive Advantage for Students — A certification gives students something concrete to add to their resume, portfolio and job applications. It distinguishes students who have successfully demonstrated industry-standard skills and can give them an advantage when applying for floral shop positions, internships, work-based learning opportunities or entry-level floral design jobs.
Provides a Pathway for Career Advancement — Level 1 is more than a stand-alone credential — it establishes the foundation for continued growth. Students can build on their Level 1 certification by pursuing TSFA Level 2, developing more advanced skills and experience as they progress toward a career in floral design.

Click the links below to register for the Teacher Level 1 Certification Training.

Lubbock — September 29-30

Pittsburgh — October 20-21

Loading Now — Virtual Reality Enhanced Certification Training

Students will step into the future of floral education with TSFA’s Floral VR Experience for certification candidates. This immersive program provides guided virtual reality training and practice exams for the symmetrical triangle arrangement and boutonniere, helping users prepare for the TSFA Level 1 Floral Certification Exam through hands-on learning, instant feedback and repeated practice in a realistic virtual environment aligned with TSFA standards. This product is now available in the Meta Store and on the TSFA website.

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Preview of Element of Design poster "Line." Poster is green with 26 visual representations of the different forms of line.

Element of the Month — Fragrance

Fragrance is the pleasant scent of flowers and an important sensory element of floral design. Scent can strongly influence emotions and create lasting memories. Designers should consider how fragrances work together, using principles such as harmony, contrast and dominance. Fragrant flowers can enhance an arrangement, but their scent should also be appropriate for the setting. For example, avoid strong fragrances at dining tables where they may compete with food, or in spaces, such as hospitals, where intense scents may be unpleasant. When thoughtfully selected, fragrance can add beauty, meaning and emotional impact to a floral design.

A 24"x36" PDF poster, a worksheet and a printable of this visual are available on the TSFA Member's Only Info Hub.

Info Hub

TEXAS in Bloom — September 2026

The September 2026 issue of TEXAS in Bloom highlights the creativity, innovation, leadership and career opportunities found throughout the floral industry. As you read, you will explore topics that include competing with yourself to improve, using floral designs to tell a story through Hanashi, reimagining familiar floral mechanics, developing strong leadership skills and discovering the many career paths available in the floral industry.

A worksheet related to this month's articles, "Take the Competitive Lead and Bloom, Hanashi, Member Spotlight and The Leadership Balance” is available on the TSFA Members Only Info Hub. Consider using it to accompany lessons in your classroom.

TEXAS in Bloom

Info Hub

Crescent shaped floral design with large Gerbera daisies as the focal area. The crescent line is created with wired Equisetum and Bottle brush flowers. Design is in a cube vase.

Flower of the Month Club

September's Flower of the Month Club design is a topiary design. This arrangement displays an complementary color harmony. The recipe for this design is as follows:

6 — Alstroemeria.
2 — Sword ferns. (Bottom half of foliage stripped.)
1 — Leatherleaf fern.
1 — Daisy pom.
1 — Purple mini carnation.
1 — Green mini carnations.
1 — 5” Terracotta pot.
1 — Faux bird pick.
Strip of ribbon to decorate the rim of the pot.
Bind wire.
Waterproof liner for inside of terracotta pot.
⅓ brick — Wet foam.

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What's Budding at TSFA?

Texas Floral Showcase, Waco — September 24.
Level 1 and 2 Certification Training, Lubbock — September 29-30.
Intermediate Sympathy Design Workshop, TSFA Office — October 17.
Level 1 and 2 Certification Training, Pittsburgh — October 20-21.

Texas State Florists' Association

P.O. Box 859

Leander, TX 78646

512.528.0806

tsfaadmin@tsfa.org

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