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Hi all, after passing C&G level2 last year I have just started a 3 year degree course in commercial floristry!! 1st assignment has been set! I have to research a period of floral history (georgian, victorian, tudor, rococo, dutch and flemish) then prepare a historical setting, floral display & written assignment! Just ondered does anyone have any knowledge of any of the above and which woul be a good one to go for?!
Cheers!
x

Blimey Hells you're a glutton for punishment, what period did you cover for your level 2. I'm just about to sit and do my Georgian assignment (which has to be in tomorow). We have to touch on baroque, rococo and neoclassical. Have found quite a lot of info out there on Georgians, don't really know about the others although I imagine Victorian wouldn't be too hard to find. Good book to get hold of Flora Domestica covers all the periods and the flowers.

Good luck.

I'd go with Victorian. Not sure how in depth your assignment has to be but the Victorian Head-Gardener was also the florist of the house (though he rarely got his hands dirty). Neighbouring house's gardeners would compete with each other raising new hybrids (often naming them after the familys they worked for). The houses and dining tables were awash with flowers (and other clutter!) so pictorial evidence should be realitively easy to find and the display you make could be very lavish! Also, the Victorians were the explorers so it was during this era that we found and started to import most of our non-native plants and flowers (and fruits and...)

The era is just so rich in change that i would think it would be relatively easy to find a theme to lose yourself in.

Just my tuppence - i'm sure all the others are as good - victorian britain simply fasinates me.

Susie
p.s. I have a Victorian timeline i did (major events year by year) - if you would like a copy pm me.

I'd go Victorian too, theres loads of info out there about it. God, I dont envy you lot, I remember doing the baroque etc Frizzytwig! I visited the Brighton Pavilion for my research.

Actually just had a look at the BBC gardening website, Georgian is good too cos you can touch on the gardening thing and how it influenced flower style. I remember writing a load of old waffle about Capability Brown and symettry. Another good page filler is historical paint samples that you can get from DIY shops. Sorry if you've done all this already!

As a 2nd year C&G student we've just completed the same project, we had to do the Victorian period, howeve we had to take in architecture, clothing etc. But I learnt a lot doing the research, there were some great pioneers who brought back lilies, orchids, ferns etc from all over the world, so you would get lots of info and lots of nice flowers and foliage for your display. Try Flora Domestica the book itself is boring to read from cover to cover, but the info about flowers etc is good.
Good Luck