Celebrate National CTE Month

February is National CTE Month, the perfect time to highlight how floral design programs prepare students to work in industry. Floral education builds creativity alongside essential skills in design, business, communication and entrepreneurship. This opens doors to careers such as retail florist, event and wedding designer, floral instructor, wholesaler and grower.

This is also an ideal moment to promote your floral program within the community. Share student work, highlight career outcomes, invite counselors or administrators into your classroom and connect with local industry partners. A little visibility during CTE Month can go a long way in growing awareness, support and enrollment for your program.

A 16x24" PDF poster of this visual is available on the TSFA Member's Only Info Hub. 

Level 1 Rubric Updates

The Level 1 Floral Certification rubric has been updated with minor wording changes to improve clarity. These revisions appear on both the printed and online versions of the rubric. The overall grading of the designs will remain the same as theTexas State Florists' Association strives to provide clear feedback to students who are testing. The Level 2 rubric wording did not change; it was simply reformatted to align with the Level 1 rubric style. View the updated rubrics below.

Seed to STEM - Free Professional Development — Applications due March 6, 2026

Hosted at the stunning Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, Seed to STEM is a FREE, immersive program designed to connect educators with industry and strengthen pathways for students. Thirty selected teachers will participate in a blended virtual and in-person experience from May to July, with the in-person immersion taking place June 14–18. Educators receive a $750 travel stipend, and all meals, lodging, and on-site transportation are fully covered.

This year’s program focuses on horticulture and floriculture, offering behind-the-scenes access to nurseries, greenhouses, public gardens, the floral cold chain and more. Hosted by Longwood Gardens, a global leader in horticultural innovation, this experience showcases the plant professionals who inspire millions through extraordinary design, science, and education.

Texas Floral Spotlight at Bill Doran Company

Dallas — February 25

Register now for the Texas Floral Spotlight at Bill Doran Company in Dallas on Feb. 25. Kari Gaudet AIFD, CFD, will present Wedding Wearables, Prom Personals, Petite Pieces — a hands-on workshop with very limited seating. Secure your spot before this sells out!

Learn what will be trending this spring as Gaudet highlights four distinctive palettes: Fresh and Natural, Sweet and Modern, Calming Neutrals and Vibrant and Bold. Registration is required for the presentation and the workshop. It takes just moments to reserve your seat.

Texas Master Florist In-Person Classes —

March 13-16

TSFA is proud to offer one of the most comprehensive educational programs in the floral industry — the Texas Master Florist (TMF) program. Developed to benefit all floral professionals, from sales staff to designers and shop owners, the TMF program provides a standard of professional excellence recognized throughout the industry. It includes three segments: design production, design management and professional florist certification.

Enrollment in the Texas Master Florist (TMF) Program is required to attend the following courses. The TMF exam will be given only to those who have taken all three in-person and seven online courses. TSFA membership is required to earn and maintain the TMF designation. The following courses will be offered at the in-person class.

• Celebration of Life and Sympathy Design 
• Wedding Florals: From Consultation to Completion 
• The Elements and Principles of Floral Design

2026 In-Person Testing Dates

Students can test for their Level 1 and Level 2 certifications at one of TSFA’s testing events:

3/4/26 — Tyler Rose Garden in Tyler, TX

Registration due: Feb. 13

3/26/26 — Region 17 Education Service Center in Lubbock, TX

Registration due: March 6 

4/9/26 — Tony Burger Activity Center in Austin, TX

Registration due: March 20 

4/16/26 — Klein ISD Multipurpose Center in Klein, TX

Registration due: March 27 

4/29/26 — City of Seguin Coliseum in Seguin, TX

Registration due: April 10 

Level 1 exams can also be taken virtually — learn more at tsfa.org.

Element of the Month — Color

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

Flower of the Month Club

February's Flower of the Month Club design is a vertical floral design. This arrangement displays a monochromatic color harmony. The recipe for this design is as follows:

• 2 — Freedom roses.
• 3 — Pink Scabiosa (flowering).
• 2 — Heart picks.
• 2 — Honey bracelet.
• 1 — Mini carnations.
• 2 — Pittosporum.
• 1 — 4”x4”x4” cube vase.
• ⅓ brick of floral foam.
• 1 — 18” Aspidistra leaf ribbon.