Rose of Sharon builds sustainable woodland gala design for Thaden School

By AI, Created 4:57 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio created a sustainable woodland installation for Thaden School’s annual Bentonville gala, marking the studio’s fifth straight year designing the event. The build centered on a 20-foot living tree, locally sourced materials and chef-integrated centerpieces that matched the fundraiser’s growth-and-sustainability theme.

Why it matters: - The installation showed how event florals can double as an environmental statement, using reusable living elements and foraged materials instead of a purely disposable build. - The design helped shape the guest experience at Thaden School’s annual fundraiser, where atmosphere supports fundraising and donor engagement.

What happened: - Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio completed the floral design for Thaden School’s annual gala in Bentonville, Arkansas. - The event carried the theme “Together We Grow.” - This was the fifth consecutive year Rose of Sharon designed florals for the gala. - Event Designer Laura Hammarstrom led the creative direction. - Althea Wiles, founder and creative director of Rose of Sharon, translated the concept into a woodland-style installation.

The details: - The design used living plants that can be reused at future events. - The team incorporated locally grown flowers and bamboo foraged from a local stand already marked for clearing. - Bamboo plates served as eco-friendly disposable containers for floral arrangements. - The entry installation featured layered moss and textured greenery, including plumosa, bear grass, Sea Star Fern and Sticherus Fern. - The color palette stayed in whites and greens with orlaya, stock, viburnum, green hydrangea, wax flower, campanula and veggie roses. - Centerpieces were built with the catering team so appetizers could be displayed within and among the florals. - Those arrangements included white dendrobium orchids, local white snapdragons, green trachelium and veggie roses. - The focal point was a statement tree behind the bar. - The tree used metal framework, bamboo and smilax. - The installation stood more than 20 feet tall and anchored the room. - The event also involved Alchemy Event Rentals, Woodstone Craft Pizza, Forge Productions and Accents by Ovation.

Between the lines: - The use of living plants, reusable materials and cleared bamboo points to a wider shift in event design toward lower-waste builds. - The food-and-floral crossover in the centerpieces suggests a more integrated guest experience, not just decorative styling. - The scale of the tree installation signaled a desire for a single high-impact visual centerpiece that could define the room.

What’s next: - Rose of Sharon says images from the event are available through Kaity Whitman of Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio. - Professional event photography by Alex Villar of Villar Photo Co. is available for feature coverage upon request. - For more information, visit the company’s website, or follow Rose of Sharon on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

The bottom line: - Rose of Sharon turned a gala floor into a sustainability-focused woodland scene, with a 20-foot tree and reusable floral elements doing most of the visual work.