Flower Arranging Workshop in Greenpoint: $105 Wreath Class

Brownstone Botanical runs its flower arranging workshops from its studio at 173 Green Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The next public classes are Holiday Wreath-Making on Thursday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8 pm, and Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 3:30 pm, at $105 per person. You finish with a 14-inch wreath made from fresh evergreens, with a ribbon you choose yourself.

Brownstone Botanical is a woman-owned flower shop and design studio led by founder and lead designer Molly Halpin. According to the shop's About page, Halpin launched the business in 2020 after more than a decade in wedding floral design, selling bouquets from the bed of her vintage 1972 Ford pickup truck, which she named Louise. The truck still appears in the shop's branding as the Flower Truck.

In 2024 she opened her first retail flower shop in Greenpoint. Greenpointers reported at the time that the 275 square foot space at 173 Green Street had previously belonged to Field Trip Flowers and was taken over by Brownstone Botanical that spring. The studio is small, which is why public classes are limited in size and why dates fill before you expect.

The address is 173 Green Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222, on a residential Greenpoint block a short walk from the East River. The shop's phone is (607) 353-3936. Flower delivery runs Monday through Saturday, and pickup orders are available Monday through Friday.

The wreath class is the one to book if you are searching for a flower arranging workshop in Greenpoint this winter. It costs $105 per person and runs on two dates, Thursday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8 pm and Sunday, December 6, from 1 to 3:30 pm. The Thursday session is 90 minutes and suits a weeknight, while the Sunday session is a longer 2.5 hours and leaves room to slow down.

The ticket includes everything you need: a 14-inch wreath form, fresh evergreen foliage, seasonal botanical materials, natural accents and a ribbon selection for personalizing the finished piece. All tools and supplies are provided, so you bring nothing but yourself. The finished wreath goes home with you, and 14 inches is a convenient size to hang on a door or use flat as a table centerpiece.

The lesson covers selecting and preparing evergreens, building the wreath, balancing and filling it, adding accents and finishing with ribbon and bow-making. That last step is the part most beginners underestimate, because a good bow takes practice. The page warns that spots fill quickly for this annual workshop, so decide on a date early rather than waiting for a free evening. The workshop is described as annual, which means the Thursday and Sunday dates are the only two chances before the holidays.

Further out, the shop lists a Valentine's Day Floral Arranging Workshop on Sunday, February 14, 2027, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at 173 Green Street. Tickets start at $160 for one person, and a two-ticket option saves $10. You learn flower selection, arranging techniques, sustainable practices and how to keep flowers fresh, then design your own arrangement in a small ceramic compote.

Fall workshops have already come and gone. The Fall Bouquet-Making Workshop in October was priced at $105 and is marked sold out on the workshops collection, which is a useful signal about demand. The studio also takes private bookings for groups, which is the better route if you want a bachelorette party or a team outing rather than a seat at a public class.

Because the studio is only 275 square feet, expect a close, hands-on format rather than a lecture. In a room that size the instructor can look at every stem you cut. If you prefer a larger classroom with a rooftop and dozens of dates, a school in Chelsea is a better fit.

The $105 wreath class is the better deal of the two public classes, because it includes a finished 14-inch wreath you can hang the same night. The Valentine's workshop at $160 is the pricier option, and its ceramic compote makes a nicer keepsake but a smaller arrangement. Pick the wreath if you want something bold and seasonal.

Skip the weeknight session if you are traveling from far away, because a 6:30 pm start on Thursday means rushing from Manhattan at rush hour. The Sunday session starts at 1 pm and leaves time for lunch first. Neither class is a substitute for a professional course, and Brownstone Botanical does not present them as one.

If the dates sell out, the closest alternatives are Stems Brooklyn in Bushwick, where a Signature class is $150 and a Bud Vase hour is $50, or Il Fiorista in NoMad, where a $140 holiday centerpiece class on November 21 includes a drink. Neither makes a wreath, so the wreath is the unique reason to book this one.

Green Street runs toward the East River, and a few minutes on foot gets you to the waterfront, where the Manhattan skyline across the water makes a good backdrop for photographing a finished wreath. Franklin Street, one of Greenpoint's main commercial strips, is a short walk away and has plenty of cafes for a coffee before the Sunday afternoon session.

Getting there is easy by subway. The G train stops at Greenpoint Avenue and at Nassau Avenue, both within a ten-minute walk of the studio, and the ferry landing at India Street is close if you are coming from Manhattan by water. Karpo APP can suggest a coffee shop or an early dinner nearby that works around your class time.

Practical Notes: Brownstone Botanical, 173 Green Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222. Phone (607) 353-3936. Workshops are listed under Workshops on brownstonebotanical.com, with the wreath class priced at $105 and the Valentine's class from $160. All wreath supplies and tools are included. Delivery runs Monday to Saturday and in-store pickup runs Monday to Friday.