THE BATTALION
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1980
Page 7
Local
Florist wills estate to A&M
Floral art blooms on campus
Jim Johnson teaches students the finer points course. Johnson s most recent class included
of floral arranging in a two-week intensive students from as far away as California.
By CINDY GEE
Battalion Reporter
Buddy Benz sent flowers to Texas
A&M University early this summer
when he retired, but his wasn’t just
any average bouquet. They haven’t
wilted and are blooming bigger than
ever.
/ Benz, a Texas A&M alumnus and
floral design specialist, made flowers
his life. In fact, his theories of floral
design, world-wide lectures and de
monstrations made him famous.
By the time Benz was ready to
retire, his estate included a re
nowned school of floral design which
had operated since 1945 and the
copy rights and publishing rights to
three successful books on floral art.
But none of his heirs were interested
in taking over the business, Benz de
cided.
KThat’s when Texas A&M, his alma
mater, came into the picture, and
became the sole heir of the estate.
■The three books are the only ones
B the floristry field that have ever
been reprinted, and are recognized
around the world as the best, florist
Jim Johnson said.
KBenz chose Johnson, his former
student and florist for 14 years, to
teach his course at Texas A&M.
r Johnson said he felt there is
enough training for people entering
floristry, so he decided to sell his
business in Indiana and move to Col
lege Station.
■‘There’s nothing better than
working with Aggies, " he said, twist
ing his curly mustache. “They’re en
thusiastic and they really seem to
know where they’re going and what
they want. They’re the fuel of my
batteries, that’s for sure.”
||Benz’ floral design course, a two-
week, intensive study from 9 a.m.-5
p,m., teaches students the design
and mechanics involved in making
flower arrangements.
“It’s one thing to know proportion
and line and rhythm,” Johnson said,
“but it’s another to know how to
anchor those flowers.”
' Seven students, from California to
Louisiana, completed the first class
held at Texas A&M in August.
“It’s been like money in the bank
for me. I learned so much,” said one
of the students, Joel Baker, who
worked at a San Antonio florist shop
for six months.
“I didn’t know if I would be that
good,” he said, “and now I do all the
designing. It gave me the confidence
I needed.”
“Johnson is a real asset to (the)
school. lie got us interested in art.
You’ll start to see things that you’ve
never noticed before. Even if you
don’t become a florist, it’s worth tak
ing the class just to know Mr. John
son and let him open your eyes.”
The floral designer works with his
medium, flowers and plant mate
rials, just like an architect works with
concrete, steel and glass, and like a
painter works with oil or a clothing
designer with silk and wool, Johnson
said. The principles are the same no
matter what medium is being used.
Johnson teaches flower arranging
by making an example in the class
room applying the principles of de
sign. The students then make up
their own designs. Eighty percent
of the students’ time is spent stand
ing at their desk and making ar
rangements, Johnson said.
“All of the human emotions are
expressed through flowers, so a flor
ist needs to know how to deal with
people,” he said. “What could bp
more emotional than funerals, wed
dings, having a baby, getting a prom
otion or celebrating an anniversary?
We talk a lot in our class about deal
ing with people. ”
“It’s one of the few businesses in
the world where you still work with
your hands and with people on a one-
to-one basis, and where you can be
creative and express your managerial
talents all at once,” he added.
The two-week course is offered
through the Office of Continuing
Education, but students who would
like to take floral arranging for an
elective credit can do so on a semes
ter basis.
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