Succulent Design Workshop

On a warm June afternoon at Lavender Hill Farm in Boyne City, Michigan, the century-old Barn fills with the scent of lavender and the focused chatter of people crafting living art. The Succulent Design Workshop offers a two-hour, hands-on session where local floral artist Sydney of Boyne City walks participants through designing, planting, and caring for a compact succulent garden inside a ceramic planter. All materials are provided: a ceramic planter, curated succulents, potting mix, and design tools, so students can focus on composition instead of supplies.

Check-in takes place at the Ambassador Stand between the red barn and white farmhouse; parking is in the Drying Shed Parking Area. Organizers recommend arriving ten to fifteen minutes early. The workshop is suitable for ages twelve and up, and children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Pre-registration is required and closes forty-eight hours before the event; space is limited. Sydney structures the class as a series of short demonstrations followed by one-on-one coaching. She covers design basics—balancing height and texture, using negative space, and arranging focal plants—then guides each student as they place roots, layer soils for drainage, and secure decorative top layers.

Succulents chosen for the class lean toward low-water, architectural varieties that tolerate indoor conditions common in northern Michigan homes. Instruction includes care essentials: potting mix ratios, seasonal light and watering adjustments, how to spot pests or rot, and simple propagation techniques to grow a collection beyond the planter you take home. Beyond the craft itself, the workshop is rooted in place.

Lavender Hill Farm operates as a small-scale agricultural and events property; the century-old Barn and adjacent Farmhouse Boutique display regional craft and seasonal goods. That sense of locality turns a tabletop class into a short cultural outing: many attendees browse the boutique, sample farm-grown products, or stroll the grounds afterward. The setting makes the workshop a welcome addition to a Boyne City weekend, especially for visitors who want an indoor, weatherproof activity that still connects to rural material culture.

Practical details to note: the listed price is $60 per person and all sales are final unless Lavender Hill Farm cancels the class, in which case refunds are issued. Bring a phone or camera to record your arrangement, and plan to cradle your planter in both hands—freshly planted arrangements can be top-heavy until soil settles. Wear closed-toe shoes to navigate gravel paths from the Drying Shed Parking Area, and consider a light jacket; while the Barn is enclosed, Michigan weather can change quickly.

This workshop is a good pick for a solo creative afternoon, a gift-making session, or a small-group outing; reserve early, since seats fill fast. For workshop questions contact Sydney at 231-330-7979 or email [email protected] directly.