viola flower school
Where creativity, beauty, and floral artistry come to life.
education in full bloom
At Viola Floral, we believe flowers have the power to spark joy, foster connection, and create moments of calm and inspiration.
Viola Flower School is our newest evolution - a space where floral artistry meets mindful learning and intentional practice. Designed for budding florists, curious creatives, and anyone craving beauty and stillness in their day, our workshops and immersive courses invite you to slow down, create with purpose, and reconnect through flowers.
Our Santa Monica studio is both a working flower shop and a hands-on learning lab. You’ll design with premier blooms, master foundational and advanced techniques, and gain insight into the inner workings of a floral business. With passionate educators and practicing designers at the helm of our curriculum, Viola Flower School is the most comprehensive floral design program available.
From weeklong professional masterclasses to foundational and advanced workshops, each course is thoughtfully crafted to build confidence, awaken creativity, and deepen your relationship with floral design.
Our Offerings
Workshops
Hands-on floral workshops designed for creative exploration, seasonal inspiration, and joyful learning. Each session offers guided instruction with premium blooms in an intimate, welcoming studio setting – all while drawing focus on the mental health and wellness benefits of flowers. Perfect for solo creatives, date nights, friend-dates, or team outings. All experience levels are welcome, and private bookings are available.
BLOOM ACADEMY
An immersive, multi-session professional masterclass designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of floral design and the business behind it. Through structured coursework, mentorship, and real-world practice, participants develop technical mastery while refining their personal design style. This program is ideal for those who want to design confidently and/or explore a professional path in floristry.
SALON EVENTS
Thoughtfully curated gatherings that blend flowers, art, conversation, and community. Each Salon Event is a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring special guests, live demos, and intimate conversations that leave you inspired. Our events bring together creatives, designers, and flower lovers for inspired dialogue, meaningful connection, and shared moments of wellness and beauty.
Upcoming Workshops
Coming Soon!
Bloom Academy
Bloom Academy is Viola Floral’s signature professional masterclass – a premier educational program that transforms curious creatives into confident floral designers.
This comprehensive design program is ideal for those who want to confidently design for their own events or explore a professional path in floristry, while understanding the business behind it.
Grounded in artistry, technique, and emotional expression, Bloom Academy blends the structure of a traditional education program with the inspiration and hands-on experience of a working floral studio.
Bloom Academy is created to give people something that has been missing in floral education: a place where creativity, craftsmanship, and personal growth intersect with real-world practice. Each weeklong masterclass culminates in an earned design certificate from Viola Flower School.
Meet Your Instructors
Jelena Trifunovic, M.Ed., Viola Floral Founder
Jelena is an entrepreneur, former science educator/professor and mother of three. Jelena’s passion for floral design is centered around the special bond she shared with her late mom, Luby, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2016.
Jelena delights and inspires audiences with her flower arranging workshops — talking about the abundant mental health and wellness benefits of flowers, tips and tricks of how to arrange like a pro, and how flowers remind us to live in full bloom.
Jelena’s combined love for flowers, education, and the beauty of life inspires those around her as she continuously reinvents how we experience flowers. Viola Floral workshops are so much more than a “flower class” — they are a sharing of joy and love, a reminder of our connection to nature, and a practice of self-care and self-love.
Elise Piatkowski, master floral designer and instructor
Weary of the daily grind of commuting to her Manhattan office job, Elise sought a change. With the support of friends and the invaluable guidance of talented mentors, she transformed a passion for floral design into a full-time profession.
Almost a decade later, Elise has honed her skills and cultivated a distinctive, authentic style. Her expertise spans a diverse range of projects, from intimate gatherings to grand-scale events. Beyond her own creative endeavors, she enjoys sharing her knowledge through workshops and teaching experiences at Viola Floral.
do something you love
Boost Mental Health
Flowers improve mental health - they lower anxiety, improve stress and promote mindfulness.
Design mastery
Master the art of flower arranging by learning how to design with confidence.
creative exploration
Stimulate your senses and tap into your creative potential through tactile, hands-on design.
Bonding Experiences
A meaningful way to celebrate life’s moments together, bond with like-minded creatives, and make new friends.
Petal It Forward
A percentage of your purchase goes to support local cancer and mental health/wellness non-profit organizations.
