What to Expect at a Bouquets + Bites Workshop (Hint: It’s Not Your Grandma’s Garden Club)

Okay, here’s the thing. If you’re picturing a sterile classroom filled with prissy clippers and a floral foam demo led by someone named Linda who takes her rose placement very seriously… you’re in the wrong place. This is not your grandma’s garden club (unless your grandma is wildly fun, partial to charcuterie, and loves a slightly chaotic creative moment — in which case, bring her).

Hand tied dahlia bouquet with summer grasses

Bouquets + Bites is a hands-on, full-sensory floral experience that happens right here at the Grey Dog Flowers farm stand — surrounded by blooms, buzzing bees, laughter, and an unreasonable amount of cheese. It’s messy in the best way, it’s heartfelt, it’s a little bit feral, and it’s designed for people who want more out of a workshop than a Pinterest-worthy centerpiece (although, spoiler alert, you’ll definitely leave with one).

So if you’re wondering what exactly goes down at a flower arranging workshop in Asheville that promises snacks and a sprinkle of chaos, here’s everything you need to know — from what to wear to how many kinds of salami we’re serving.

The Vibe: A Floral Experience Like No Other

Imagine this: you pull up to a flower farm on a Saturday morning. The sun is out, there’s music drifting from the stand, and you’re greeted with a cold drink and a table piled with

locally-sourced snacks. There are flowers spilling out of buckets, people laughing, and that feeling of summer slowing down just enough to savor it.

This is Bouquets + Bites. It’s a little like your dream garden party collided with a make-your-own-bouquet bar and decided to invite only the coolest people (hi, that’s you).

You don’t need to know a single Latin name. You don’t need to have “an eye for design.” You just need to be willing to dive in and play with color, texture, and whatever flowers are peaking that week (hello, dahlias). Whether you're coming with friends for a girls day out in Asheville, celebrating something special, or just need an excuse to do something beautiful with your Saturday — this is for you.

This isn’t a passive demo or a sit-and-smile situation. You’ll be up, moving, choosing your own stems, eating, laughing, arranging, and getting your hands full of flowers and your heart full of connection. And maybe cheese.

What You’ll Actually Do

Here’s how the day flows — more or less (I reserve the right to wing it slightly).

Arrival

You show up around 11am and I hand you something cold to drink (possibly sparkling, probably local, definitely delightful). You wander the flower stand, meet your fellow floral mischief-makers, and we kick things off with snacks and introductions. Not formal, not awkward — just a little “who’s here and why are we all obsessed with flowers.”

Flower Picking & Inspiration

I’ll walk you through what’s blooming, what’s fresh, and how to think about building a bouquet. You’ll get to pick your palette, choose your favorites from the harvest buckets, and start planning your masterpiece. No two bouquets ever look the same — that’s the whole point.

The Main Event: Bouquet Making

I’ll give you a quick, no-pressure crash course in spiral technique, choosing focal flowers, and balancing color and texture. But really? I’m here to guide, not prescribe. Want to make something wildly asymmetrical and moody? Great. Want to go full cottagecore? Love that for you. There’s no wrong way to do this.

And yes, I’ll be circulating to help troubleshoot any floral flops and celebrate your wins.

Charcuterie + Connection

At some point in the chaos, we’ll all sit down for a little snack break. Expect locally-sourced bites - fruit, cheese, nuts, crackers, something sweet, more cheese - you know, the usual. The idea is simple: flowers feed your soul, food feeds the rest.

Optional Add-Ons

If you signed up for the upgraded ticket, you’ll get:

• Your very own set of clippers for your cutting garden

• Grey Dog Flowers' Gardeners Hand Salve

• Custom canvas Farmers Market bag

• A mini professional photo shoot with your bouquet (and yourself, if you want) in our photogenic little corner of the farm

Who This Is For

This workshop is for:

• The flower-obsessed and the flower-curious

• Beginners, hobbyists, and semi-professionals who just want to play

• Birthday celebrators, bachelorette squads, girls-day-out adventurers

• Locals who’ve driven past my stand 100 times but never stopped (I see you)

• Travelers looking for a true Asheville floral experience

You don’t need to bring a thing (except maybe a sunhat and your best friend). I’ll provide the clippers, the stems, the snacks, and the vibes.

Logistics: The Nitty Gritty Details

Date: Saturday, August 16

Time: 11am–2pm

Location: The Grey Dog Flowers Farm Stand,110 Grey Haven Dr, Mills River

Capacity: 12 people max — because we like it cozy, not chaotic

Cost: See Reservations Page for pricing. (Group discounts available for 2+ people)

Included with every ticket:

• All flowers and materials

• Use of tools

• Guided instruction

• Charcuterie-style lunch

• A hand-tied bouquet to take home

Upgrades available:

• Professional photo shoot

• Extra goodies to take home

• Group discount for bringing friends

What to bring:

• Comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes (it’s still a farm)

• A water bottle and phone/camera

• A readiness to laugh, snack, and floralize

  
  

Environment: We will be outside, but we will be in the shade and if it's super sweltering there will be a fan(s). Plan for warm weather (we all know what it's like in August. I wish I could control the weather but that's a lot of responsibility).

Parking: On-site and easy

Accessibility: Gravel parking area and grass walkways. Let me know if you have any mobility needs - we’ll make it work!

*If tickets are sold out, hop on the waitlist - I’ll reach out if anything opens up.

Why This Workshop Is Different

Let’s be honest: a lot of flower classes feel like adult education with slightly better lighting. That’s not what I’m about.

At Bouquets + Bites:

• There are no rules about what’s “right”

• We use seasonal, farm-grown flowers — no imports, no dyed babies-breath

• You’re supported but never micromanaged

• We focus on connection, not perfection

• And we eat good food while doing it

You're not here to impress anyone. You're here to experience flowers — and maybe surprise yourself with how good you are at making beauty out of stems and snacks.

Book Your Spot (Before the Flowers Run Out)

Tickets are live now and going faster than I expected - this event is capped at 12 people, and a few spots are already gone. If you’re ready to claim your seat at the flower table, grab your spot here.

Coming with a group? Snag that 15% discount for 2 or more.

And if we’re already sold out? Join the waitlist. I’ll email you personally if something opens up - or if I decide to run another session (no promises, but you never know).

See you at the charcuterie table.

Yours, debating changing the name to Dahlias + Cheese

Ilana at Grey Dog Flowers