Floral Careers students also presented governor with floral birthday cake
While the event may be called “Holly & Ivy,” Kirkwood Floral Careers students went far beyond the traditional Christmas-time decorations to get the governor’s mansion, Terrace Hill, ready for the upcoming holiday season.
Kirkwood Floral Careers faculty member Lora Dodd-Brosseau was asked to bring a group of students to decorate part of Terrace Hill for the 15th annual Holly & Ivy tour through historic homes in Des Moines. The students were asked to decorate the main tree and stairway in the mansion.
“To work on the tree and main staircase was really an honor,” said Dodd-Brosseau. “When guests walk through on the tour, they will see the tree and staircase as a focal point of the house. Our students are proud of the work they did, that so many Iowans will see.”
Students in Kirkwood’s Floral Careers program primarily volunteer their services to Kirkwood events, which keep them busy throughout the year. Dodd-Brosseau said there are a few events that pop-up outside of Kirkwood, that she can’t pass up for her students. “We decorated for the governor’s inaugural ball for the last two governors.
Being that the students were in Gov. Terry Brandstad’s home on Nov. 17, his birthday, they also presented him with a cake made out of flowers. “We decided to go beyond just the decorations for his home. How many people can say they got a birthday cake made out of flowers? It’s pretty neat.”
The Floral Careers program is a one-year diploma and is the only floral program in the state of Iowa. Iowans can see the work of the students if they tour the Victorian historical mansion December 2-4, 2011. The tour includes four historical mansions. For more information call 515-274-1777.