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Vermont is a small New England state with a population of 643,000.
It’s full of quaint towns, historic landmarks, and beautiful forested areas.
These forests are overflowing with seasonal flowers and other floras that make being a floral designer in Vermont an exciting prospect.
As you probably know, floral designers are professionals that arrange flowers for various occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and other celebrations.
They also arrange sympathy and funeral items.
A good floral designer will be creative, and imaginative, pay attention to detail, be a good listener, and know how to deal with the public.
If you’re interested in becoming a floral designer in Vermont, read on for some useful information.
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Steps To Becoming A Floral Designer In Vermont
The state of Vermont does not have any specific guidelines for floral designers.
No license is needed nor is any specific education.
However, most employers do have certain requirements and, therefore, it’s helpful to follow these steps if you’re interested in becoming a floral designer in Vermont.
Get your high school diploma or its equivalent.
Most employers would prefer that you have this credential.
It’s also needed if you decide to take floral design courses at the college level.
Enroll in floral design courses.
These classes could be anything from local design workshops to those leading to certificates and degrees.
The more knowledgeable you are, the better it is for your career advancement.
Get a job at a local florist shop or garden center.
This will give you some great (and free) training while getting paid at the same time.
Consider becoming a certified floral designer.
This involves taking a written test, as well as performing a demonstration.
The test costs about $1,600 but will put you among an elite group of professionals.
Floral Designer Programs/Classes For Floral Designers In Vermont
1. Vermont Academy Of Floral Design
About The School
The Vermont Floral Academy is Vermont’s only professional floral design school.
They offer an intense certificate program for both beginners and advanced students.
The beginners’ program is $1,695.
Topics are covered through lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on learning.
Course Offering
Throughout the course, students will learn about the care of flowers, the design process, how to price for profit, design styles, wiring and taping, bow making, and shop arrangement.
The second part of the course will focus on sympathy flowers, casket sprays, baskets, bouquets, hand-tied, body flowers, and weddings.
Students will often get to pick their own flowers from the school’s private garden, which includes over 300 varieties of flora.
Address: 9845 Loomis Holl Rd. Waterbury, VT 05676
Phone: (802)2448322
Website: https://vafd.com
2. Vermont Zen Center
About The Facility
The Vermont Zen Center was formed in 1988 as a place for people to come and practice Zen Buddhism and commune with nature.
Their beautiful grounds are open to the public.
It’s just requested that you call ahead.
Course Offering
The center believes that part of Zen practice is communing with and respecting nature.
Zen meditation has a special relationship with a flower arrangement.
So the staff at the center runs a unique flower arranging class.
With a combination of lectures and demonstrations, using flora from their own gardens, instructors share their knowledge of the design process.
Topics covered include depth, placement, color usage, containers, and materials, as well as the deeper meanings of a number of flowers.
Address: 480 Thomas Rd. Shelburne, VT
Phone: (802)9859746
Website: https://vzc.org
3. Maple Flower Farm
About The Facility
Maple Flower Farm is a working flower farm that was built in 1903.
The house, barn, and other structures are all original to the farm’s inception.
Course Offering
This workshop is meant for amateurs and professionals that want to experience a real flier farm and cutting gardens while having fun and learning new techniques.
The workshop begins with a learning tour of the cutting garden.
Then students will be able to cut their own flowers for their arrangement.
When the stroll is done, the class will retreat to the open-air barn to have a home-crafted meal and beverages.
The class will then continue with students learning various techniques and making their own arrangements.
Address: 3340 Christian Hill Bethel, VT 05032
Phone: (802)2346576
Website: https://www.mapleflowerfarm.com
Floral Designer Schools in Vermont – Summary Table
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Vermont Academy Of Floral Design | 9845 Loomis Holl Rd. Waterbury, VT 05676 |
| Vermont Zen Center | 480 Thomas Rd. Shelburne, VT |
| Maple Flower Farm | 3340 Christian Hill Bethel, VT 05032 |
Salary For Floral Designers In Vermont
The average salary for a floral designer in Vermont is $43,000 per year.
However, some floral designers in the state report salaries as high as $64,000 per year.
Many factors can affect how much money is made in the floral profession, like location, experience, education, and reputation.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Burlington | $53,798 |
| Essex | $53,798 |
| Rutland | $54,172 |
| Colchester | $53,798 |
| South Burlington | $53,798 |
| Bennington | $55,134 |
| Barre | $53,307 |
| Milton | $53,765 |
| Hartford | $55,570 |
| Brattleboro | $55,389 |
Regional Salary in Vermont
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 70 | $34,100 | $16.39 | $41,320 | $28,240 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the state of Vermont or local governments require any special certificate or license to be a floral designer?
No.
There are no state or local regulations in place that govern floral designers in the state.
You would only need to obtain the proper permits and licenses if you were to open up your own business.
What cities pay floral designers the most in Vermont?
Arlington and Burlington pay the most.
What are some jobs you can find in Vermont as a floral designer?
Besides working in a traditional flower shop, floral designers can also find work in retail stores doing displays and arrangements around the space, grocery stores, farmer’s markets, event and wedding planners, and entertainment venues.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Floral Designer
Floral Design by State