Nature Writing Classes & Floral Workshops
Classes to Celebrate Our Connection to Nature
Riverside Botanicals is a local floral studio in Madison that also offers creative, hands-on classes, connecting nature writing with botanical design. We believe our writing and floral designs are gifts that can nurture our own well-being or be shared with others. Most of our classes are one-time sessions, but we also offer 2- or 4-part series for those who want to dive deeper.
In the past, we’ve offered a variety of writing classes through our partner organization On the Yahara Writing Center, including the Mary Oliver Society, Writing Mindfulness, Reading Sound Aloud, Eco-Poetry Pioneer Series, Touching the Earth, and Poem-a-Day. We’re always open to collaborating with others who share our passion for writing and botanical art!
Keep an eye on this page for upcoming classes and registration!
“Direct, visceral, sensory experiences in nature–including experiences of awe and wonder at the beauties, mysteries, and sometimes terrors of nature, especially through personal encounters with nonhuman organisms–are a common pathway to kinship sentiments and ethics.” – Bron Taylor, from Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations
Upcoming Classes
***dates coming soon***
Arranging Words, Arranging Flowers: Mary Oliver’s Blue Iris and Floral Design
This class starts with reading and dissecting a few Mary Oliver floral poems. We then switch over to the students looking and handling flowers to create a 3 dimensional interpretation of the poetry through the meditative practice of floral design. Finally, you will write your own short poem to attach to your arrangement for yourself or the perfect gift to give someone.
Floral-poetry Card and Flower Arrangement
Students will be given a selection of flowers and instruction on how to create an arrangement based on the principles of floral design. We will then read poetry that has to do with some of the materials we are handling, and wrapping up with our own interpretation of our experience through your newly created poetry.
Floral Forage to Poem: Pick and Press your Own Flowers, Poem
We will start off with a brief instruction on how to forage and press your own flowers. We will then hear a few poems read aloud for inspiration as we proceed to create our own cards with a selection of pressed leaves and flowers. The final step is to create your own poem to complete your piece.