“Designing Christmas” with Laura Dowling Comes to the Community Center
Written by Diane Helentjaris | Photos courtesy of Laura Dowling
On Thursday, October 23, the Piedmont Garden Club will host a floral arranging seminar and demonstration with former White House Chief Floral Designer Laura Dowling at the Middleburg Community Center. This ticketed event, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon, will include a coffee reception, book signings for Dowling’s “Designing Christmas” and “Floral Diplomacy,” and a silent auction of floral arrangements.
Of Dowling, who worked under the Obama administration, Kristi Germinario from the Piedmont Garden Club says, “We’re just excited… to have someone with six years [of experience] as chief floral designer.” She adds, “Laura Dowling’s style is different, unique, using a lot of natural elements with a French flair,” which should be “appealing to our community… Christmas in Middleburg is a big deal.”
The Piedmont Garden Club was founded in 1931. “We like to concentrate on projects within the community,” Germinario says. Proceeds from the “Designing Christmas” event will be used to fund these efforts.
Dowling, a native of Chehalis, Washington, worked in strategic communications until a 2000 trip to Paris. Enchanted by the French perspective on floral design, she jumped onto a new career path. After grounding herself with studies in France and Germany, she created a floral design studio operating out of her basement kitchen. She went on to successfully compete for the position of White House chief floral designer in 2009, which she held for six years. In 2019, she was commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service to design a collection of four holiday wreath stamps. Her unique floral designs are featured in magazines and television, and she has authored multiple books.
In advance of her forthcoming event, Dowling shared her thoughts on all things floral design with Middleburg Life:
ML: You note that you draw inspiration from the Hunt Country aesthetic. In your opinion, what defines Hunt Country style in the world of flowers?
LD: For me, Hunt Country style, especially here in the heart of Virginia, is inspired by the beauty of the forests, fields, and meadows — a natural, traditional approach to flowers and décor. I love combining woodland flowers, fruits, and berries with fresh evergreens, and weaving grasses and gilded leaves into wreaths and baskets. To capture the true spirit of the style, I layer these natural materials with classic sporting motifs — stags, hounds, horses — along with tartan and velvet ribbons. The result is a rich, festive look in red, green, and gold, warmed by candlelight and gilded touches, creating a sense of tradition and warmth that is perfect for the holiday season.
ML: Your unique style appears to draw from the Northwest in a very special way, overlaying with traditional, Old World designs. Is that how you would describe your personal aesthetic?
LD: I think you’re exactly right. Growing up in Washington state, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, my aesthetic comes from those early impressions of nature — the towering evergreens, orchards heavy with fruit, and gardens filled with rhododendrons, lilacs, and roses. That kaleidoscope of colors and textures gave me a lifelong sense of awe at the beauty of the natural world. Over the years, through my floral studies in Paris and my love of antiques and traditional interiors, I’ve sought to blend that wild, untamed spirit of the Pacific Northwest with a refined, artistic sensibility. My goal is to create designs that feel both artful and natural, a harmony between the grandeur of nature and the refined principles of classical design.
ML: Your original career path is quite different from what you do now, at first glance, yet the idea of “flower diplomacy” depends on sensitivities and knowledge of cultural nuances. Do you feel the first part of your career has influenced the second part?
LD: It’s true, at first glance my career path might seem like quite a shift, but in reality, my policy background was the perfect preparation for my work with flowers. As a policy analyst and communications strategist in Washington, I learned how to break down complex issues into their component parts, to problem-solve, and to craft messages that resonate — skills that translate directly into design. Creating a bouquet or planning a state dinner is really the same kind of process: conceptualizing an overall vision and then bringing the details together in harmony.
To me, every step of my career has been a building block to the next, and I believe we all have the power to leverage our experiences in unexpected ways. “Floral diplomacy” is exactly that: the art and science of using flowers as a language of diplomacy to honor visiting dignitaries, convey history and culture, and celebrate traditions. My background gave me the framework and confidence to use flowers not only as decoration, but as tools for communication, connection, and inspiration.
ML: What’s next for you? Are you working on a new book, project, or direction you’d like to talk about?
LD: It’s a very exciting season for me. In the immediate future, I’ll be embarking on a nationwide book tour with stops in Highlands, New Orleans, St. Louis, and Santa Barbara before returning to Nashville to decorate the Cheekwood Estate for the holidays, beginning with our preinstallation “crafting days” and then the full installation in November. After the holidays, I’ll be focusing on a special project for America’s 250th anniversary: a “Great American Road Trip” installation featuring a vintage Dodge LeFemme bedecked in flowers, a floating hot-air balloon to capture the spirit of adventure, and a giant U.S. map highlighting iconic roadways and destinations. I’m also helping my husband finalize his book “Old Town Style,” a celebration of 45 historic homes and interiors in Old Town Alexandria, which will be published in December. And looking ahead, I’m already sketching out ideas for my next book — perhaps a second volume of “Bouquets” or a new concept focused on entertaining and celebrations — because I see my books as part of an ongoing conversation with readers. Above all, my goal is to create beauty and inspiration wherever I go, and I look forward to many more exciting projects, both here and abroad.
ML: What’s the best part of what you do now?
LD: For me, the best part is sharing my story, how I went from being a part-time florist to becoming chief floral designer at the White House, and hopefully inspiring others to follow their own passions and dreams at any stage of life. Flowers have given me the chance to meet and collaborate with people from around the world, both during my years at the White House and now through my current projects. I feel so grateful that my work allows me to spread beauty and inspiration while connecting with people across the country.
ML: What would you like folks to know about your work and this upcoming event?
LD: For me, flowers have always been about more than decoration; they’re a way of creating beauty, telling stories, and bringing people together. This event is especially meaningful as it marks the debut of my new book, “Designing Christmas,” and I look forward to sharing both the joy of the season and the inspiration behind my work. My hope is that guests leave feeling uplifted, with fresh ideas to bring a little extra beauty and celebration into their own homes and traditions this holiday season. ML
Tickets and additional information about the event are available at laura-dowling.eventbrite.com.
Published in the October 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.