Floristry has a rare quality — it works instantly. Even the darkest space is transformed, and people’s moods shift. In everyday life, a bouquet of flowers is a simple way to express feelings that are difficult or awkward to put into words. Yet behind the external beauty of flowers lies a far more complex and precise language than a simple declaration of love.
Scientific research confirms that contact with natural materials reduces stress levels, improves mood, and helps cope with anxiety. It is this principle that underpins floral therapy — a practice that is gaining popularity among women as a way to restore inner balance through creativity.
The floral therapy practiced by Vladyslava Nahorna — a florist, member of the Society of American Florists (SAF), and owner of the “Why Not Flowers” flower boutique in Florida — teaches women not only how to cultivate inner peace, but how to express their emotions through flowers, create beauty with their own hands, and see the results of their work immediately.
Vladyslava Nahorna, florist, owner of the “Why Not Flowers” flower boutique (right)
When Canvas Meets Petals
In October, Vladyslava Nahorna held a unique workshop in Jacksonville, FL, combining painting and floral design into a single therapeutic practice. The participants — women of different ages and professions — came not simply to learn how to create arrangements, but to connect with their inner selves, own emotions, and the beauty of living materials.
“When we combine painting and floristry, something greater happens. Women gain the opportunity to express themselves in two languages at once — through paint and through living plants. It is a powerful therapeutic practice,” says Vladyslava.
How It Works
The workshop was structured in two stages. First, participants created paintings — each woman expressed her mood, emotions, and inner experiences on canvas. There were no right or wrong brushstrokes, only the sincerity of the moment.
Then came the second stage — floristry. Vladyslava demonstrated how to complement the painted canvas with live flowers, creating a three-dimensional composition. The flowers were attached directly to the artwork, transforming a flat image into a multidimensional piece of art.
Three Dimensions of Healing
“I deliberately make my workshops layered and immersive,” Vladyslava explains. “This is not just floristry training. It is comprehensive therapy through creativity: art therapy through painting, color therapy through working with shades and pigments, and floral therapy through interaction with living materials.”
Working with flowers has a special power. Living plants require attention, slowing down, and presence in the here and now. When a woman holds a stem in her hands, chooses where to place it, at what angle, next to which color — she learns to listen to her intuition and trust her own vision.
“Floristry develops what I call visual literacy and inner discipline,” says Vladyslava. “You begin to see balance, feel proportions, and understand when to add something and when to remove it. These skills transfer into life as well: the ability to set priorities, create harmony around yourself, and know the right measure.”
A Space for Feminine Energy
Vladyslava Nahorna’s workshops become a safe space where women can breathe freely, let go of everyday concerns, and devote time to themselves. No judgment, no competition — only creativity and support.
Her approach to workshops reflects a deep understanding of the psychology of creativity.
“At my workshops, I see how women change,” Vladyslava shares. “At first, they are afraid of doing something wrong. And they leave with shining eyes, holding a piece they created themselves. It is not just a painting with flowers. It is confidence in oneself, materialized.”
Floristry as a Philosophy of Life
Vladyslava believes that floristry can and should be accessible to anyone who wants to bring beauty and mindfulness into their life. Flowers cease to be mere decoration when understanding appears — when a woman learns to see in them not only beauty, but language, therapy, and a way of self-expression.
“I want women to discover floristry as a tool for transformation,” says Vladyslava. “It does not have to be a profession. It can be a self-care practice, a way to create beauty around and within yourself. Because in the endless race of tasks, we often forget about ourselves — and flowers gently bring us back to sensation, to the moment here and now. Floristry teaches grounding and reminds us of our own inner resources.”
