i was attending Massachusetts College of Art & looking for a job. i walked into a flower shop at the prudential center in boston 26 years ago this week and was basically hired on the spot. i swept floors for ages, learned the ropes from the old timers and after some time spent watering dish gardens and processing roses… thousands of roses… i was given a floral knife ( NEVER clippers ) and was ‘taught’ how to make a bud vase.
things have changed a TON in the industry. i moved on after spending 6 years at that shop to the ‘big city’ doing hard time working full time & freelance, as i again learned the ropes of the NYC event world.
i wouldn’t change a thing. my ‘apprenticeships’ gave me the foundation to be able to design my way through many adventures the last 2.5+ decades from Holland to the Virgin Islands, west coast to east…floral emergency? no worries… i’m a floral EMT when it comes to reviving that wilting hydrangea, hydrating gardenia blooms, wiring a bouquet of Lily of the Valley or making an old school Glamilea Bouquet – which you won’t catch me doing… EVER, but i can 😉
things have shifted in both the industry and my life. this year you won’t find me in a flower shop answering a phone, taking orders and sending out bouquets to sweethearts counting the minutes to see if their dear remembered them on the ‘big day’ ( 10 days and counting people! )
this 26th year after walking into that flower shop and going through floral combat training i will be adventuring on in alaska while i take a little hiatus from life and think about the next big adventure…
for those of you looking for a great floral artist to create something lovely for your sweetheart here are a few of my favorite shops around the country….
ALASKA – Bloomsbury
BROOKLYN – Seaport Flowers
LOS ANGELES – Ace of Vase
NORTH CAROLINA – PRICE DAVIS
SEATTLE – Juniper Flowers
if your town isn’t here check out B.Brooks for a fine florist in your location!
do you have a favorite shop we should know about? please share!
