Centerpiece of Houston’s floral education industry blossoms in new role at director of Houston School of Floral Design

By Erika Durham Hargrove
Professional Writer-Houston, TX

 With the revere of a rose, esteem of a Bluebonnet, and brilliance of a sunflower, renowned Texas Master Florist Pat Hermes blossoms in a new direction as she steps down as the owner of Houston School of Floral design, and steps into an expanded role as the school’s director and principal instructor.

With the change in leadership, Hermes is now reigning second-in-command at the school she founded 28 years ago — well kinda.

New owner, Houston businessman Jim Lerdal, isn’t shy about the fact that he will frequently lean on Hermes’ expertise, experience and passion as he attempts to manage and market one of Houston’s best kept secrets.

“Pat is a nationally recognized expert in floral design and has done a tremendous job with the school for nearly 30 years. How can the school move forward independent of Pat? It’s not possible. I am excited about building on her legacy,” Lerdal said.

Until now, Hermes has practically run a one-man show. She served as the chief executive officer, director, business manager, curriculum director and principal instructor of the school. Whew! — a lot to manage, even for the multi-talented Hermes.

With Lerdal now at the helm, together they will usher in a new era in the history of the school, the only proprietary school for floral design approved by the state of Texas. 

So why the change in ownership?

“I absolutely loved the vision that Jim presented for the school. Our partnership will result in the Houston School of Floral Design becoming an even greater resource to floral professionals,” Hermes said. “With Jim’s arrival I will be able to focus on what I love most, teaching high-quality design to future florists.”

Now that Hermes can focus on what she is best known and respected for, the potential for the curriculum is incredibly exciting. Plans are in the works to add a Advanced Arrangement  classes and casual learning to the already comprehensive catalog of courses. Thought of the school’s impact on the greater Houston community a year from now makes Hermes and Lerdal smile in unison. 

“This school has been my joy. I enjoy passing on my knowledge of flowers to those who truly have a passion for the craft,” Hermes said. “I think we have been successful because we have made our students our top priority. We use the highest quality of products, such as fresh flowers and live foliage. We believe it teaches our students the importance of using high quality products in their own arrangements when they begin practicing the art casually or working on orders for their customers.”

Twenty-eight years as the owner and director of a floral school has certainly taught Hermes a thing or two, but her love affair with flowers began long before opening the school. Hermes was introduced to the beauty and opportunities that existed with flowers by her grandmother, also a florist.

She caught a fever for floristry and started a 12-year career as a retail florist and later a floral designer for weddings. Although designing and selling was enjoyable for Hermes, she most enjoyed teaching others the details of her craft, which, in essence, is how the Houston School of Floral Design was born.

“I had taught some continuing education courses at Rice University and enjoyed floral education so much that the start of the school was inevitable,” Hermes said. The rest is history, as they say.

Over the following decades Hermes educated thousands of people from across the city, state, nation and world. Lerdal hopes to rejuvenate the collaborative work Hermes once did with international designers in the 1980s and 90s. In the school’s early years, Hermes brought in top name European designers for programs and co-sponsored international floral tours. In addition to these efforts, Hermes smiles at the memory of the trip she took to Monet Gardens in France with Texas A&M University. 

Jim Johnson, director, curator and instructor of the Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A & M, has worked with Hermes in some capacity for the past 20 years and appreciates Hermes’ excellent connections and dedication to floral education.  “We have Pat Hermes to thank for many of the qualified students that enter our program. She consistently sends students our way, all of whom who perform extremely well in our courses,” Johnson said. The Benz School of Floral Design offers a 70-hour certificate program in floral design education.

“It is fair to say that Pat Hermes has graduated more students in the industry than anyone else in the greater Houston area. She understands the importance of developing positive relationships, which helps when the students are looking for jobs.” Johnson adds that she is so devoted to her students that she thinks of them in every situation.

One of the many relationships Hermes has formed in her career is with Ted Weisgal, co-founder/co-director of Leisure Learning Unlimited, Inc., where Hermes teaches several continuing and casual learning courses.

“Pat is one of the most upbeat and positive people I know. Not only do people love her, but in many cases interacting with her is a life changing experience because many of her students because they decide to go into floral design as a career,” he said.

Weisgal added that once many of the students complete Hermes’ courses with Leisure Learning they then go on to take some of the more advanced classes that the Houston School of Floral Design offers. And continuing their floral education with Hermes is undoubtedly the best move for them — more Hermes never hurts.
 
“Pat is so passionate about the subject she teaches, which is apparent in the qualities of many leisure learning teachers, but she is the personification of that passion.  She is a wealth of knowledge and travels all over the world to the floral capitals to improve on her craft. Without a doubt, the passion she has for the subject is contagious,” Weisgal said.
Linda Gay, director of Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, couldn’t agree more and added that it’s not only Hermes’ passion, but also her technique that makes her such an effective teacher. “Pat is the most gently critiquing person I know. She is always so non-judgmental, giving and patient with her classes.