At Frenship High School, there are eight floral design classes including three Advanced Floral Design classes. With a little over 200 students, it is easy to see how Kelsea Jones classroom was covered in ribbon. Every student was given one flower, three backers, a couple trinkets and basic ribbon to design a mum. They were also able to bring whatever trinkets or colored ribbon to make it unique to them.  

With this year being Jones’ first year and homecoming falling so early in the year, they did not advertise mums for sale. However, they sell sold a few mums to teachers and staff members, only to those reached out to them. In the future the Advanced Floral Design class will sell them to all staff members and their children at the high school. 

In addition to making mums, floral design students learned about the long history of mums. Homecoming has been around since the 1950's and originally incorporated a real Chrysanthemum flower, however in the 1990's they transitioned into the artificial mum that is used now because of the wear and tear on the mums. The real flowers were used then because that's when they would be harvested, in the fall. Mums were traditionally given as a token of gratitude from one male to another female. 

“I have absolutely loved getting to assemble the mums and let the students use their own creativity when designing their mum to make it unique to who they are and the things they are involved in school,” said Jones. “It has pushes them to think outside of the box when arranging ribbon colors and designing the entire mum.” 

Jones stated that her first year of teaching Floral Design is already off to a magnificent start and she is excited to help her students reach their highest creative ability.  

“I love that we have the ability to expose each of these students to agriculture all while being able to be artistic and creative in the same setting. This class is so much fun it doesn't feel like work, and I am very much looking forward to an amazing year in the floral design classes.”