Editing Floristry (section)

{{Short description|Production, commerce and trade in flowers}}
{{Redirect|Florist|the band|Florist (band)}}
{{Redirect2|Floral shop|Flower shop|the album|Floral Shoppe|the video game|The Flower Shop}}
{{wiktionary|floristry}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
[[File:A Parisian Flower Market.jpg|thumb|''A Parisian Flower Market'' by [[Victor Gabriel Gilbert]]]]
[[File:Bridal.jpg|thumb|A wedding [[Flower bouquet|bouquet]] of [[cymbidium]] arranged by a florist]]

'''Floristry''' is the production, commerce, and trade in [[flowers]]. It encompasses flower care and handling, [[floral design|floral design and arrangement]], merchandising, production, display and [[flower delivery]]. Wholesale florists sell bulk flowers and related supplies to professionals in the trade. Retail florists offer fresh flowers and related products and services to consumers. The first flower shop in the United States opened prior to 1851.

Floristry concerns the [[floriculture|cultivation]] of flowers as well as their arrangement and sale. Much of the raw material supplied for the floristry trade comes from the [[cut flowers]] industry. Florist shops, along with [[online store]]s, are the main flower-only outlets, but [[supermarket]]s, [[Garden center|garden supply]] stores, and [[filling station]]s also sell flowers.

[[Floral design]] or floral arts is the [[art]] of creating flower arrangements in vases, bowls, baskets, or other containers, or making [[Flower bouquet|bouquet]]s and compositions from cut flowers, [[leaf|foliage]]s, [[herb]]s, ornamental [[grass]]es, and other [[plant]] materials. Often the terms "floral design" and "floristry" are considered synonymous. Florists are people who work with flowers and plants, generally at the [[retail]] level. Floristry differs from [[floristics]], the study of distribution and relationships of plant species over geographic areas. Floristry also differs from [[horticulture]], which more broadly relates to the cultivation of flowers and plants so they will remain fresh as long as possible, and would be desirable for purchase, which also involves knowledge of customers' requirements and expectations. The ability to create a variety of floral designs such as [[wreath]]s, [[Flower bouquet|bouquet]]s, [[corsage]]s, [[boutonnière]]s/'buttonholes', permanent arrangements, and other more complicated arrangements are also important.

Education, both formal and informal, is another significant segment of the floristry industry. Established floristry designers and artists impart their craft to students interested in floral design as hobby or career. Courses are generally available through community colleges, private post-secondary vocational schools, and professional florist trade associations.

In the Netherlands, the first horticultural college was founded in 1896 in [[Naaldwijk]]; the second horticultural college was founded in 1897 in [[Aalsmeer]]. In 1926, the first national professional qualification examinations in floristry were held in the Netherlands. The horticultural college in Aalsmeer celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1972 and in 1997 its 100th anniversary. Since 1926 is the horticultural college in Aalsmeer was called the Rijks Middelbare Tuinbouw School (RTMS). The first professional floristry education started at the RMTS in 1968. The first professor in floristry at the horticultural college in Aalsmeer was Mr. Theo Boerma. In 1972 Theo Boerma started teaching professional evening courses for the floristry diploma: vakdiploma Bloemist-Winkelier. In 1980 Theo Boerma and his wife José Boerma founded the first privately owned floristry school; Boerma Instituut International Floral Design School in Aalsmeer. The floristry diploma was recognized by the Dutch government until 1996. When the borders of Europe opened, the diploma was no longer needed but professional training for Dutch and international students is still organised by the Boerma Instituut.

The floristry business has a significant market in the corporate and social event world, as flowers play a large part in the decor of special events and meetings.  Centerpieces, entryways, reception tables, bridal bouquets, wedding [[chuppah]]s, and stage sets are only a few examples of how flowers are used in the business and social event settings. Flowers are also traditionally used in ecclesiastical settings and their arrangement is often done by skilled church volunteers.