MERIDIAN, Miss. -- Gardening and floral design enthusiasts and professionals can enjoy a floral design demonstration and reception at Merrehope in Meridian.

Petals & Prosecco will feature Jim DelPrince, a horticulture specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He will show attendees how to make 19^th century-style mantel garlands.

The event will be held April 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the historic home, located at 905 Martin Luther King Junior Drive.

Advance tickets are required and cost $40 per person. Seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased by calling Merrehope at 601-483-8439.

After teaching students on the MSU Starkville campus for 23 years, DelPrince joined the MSU Extension Service in 2015. Based at the MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center, he offers classes, workshops and other educational opportunities to amateur floral enthusiasts, professional designers and members of Mississippi’s green industry.

DelPrince developed and leads the Extension Master Floral Designer program, a one-of-a-kind certificate program for volunteers. He also developed and delivers a comprehensive certificate training program for professional florists.

DelPrince’s research benefits cut flower and cut ornamental foliage growers and producers. This year, he is working with MSU faculty to help Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama Christmas tree growers build their value-added product business by selling and marketing wreaths, swags, garlands, and arrangements.

A laureate member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, DelPrince was recently inducted in the Society of American Florists’ American Academy of Floriculture. In 2016, he was granted the Award of Service to the Floral Industry from the American Institute of Floral Designers.

He is the author or co-author of books on floral design, interior plantscaping, floristry history, and floristry terminology, including the most popular floral design textbook in North America. He is also the author of numerous scholarly articles and Extension publications.

MSU is an equal opportunity institution. For disability accommodation or other information, contact Jim DelPrince at j.delprince@msstate.edu.