Team Red

I think it's about time for me to introduce you to the wonderful, creative and talented women I have the pleasure of working with here at Red Fragrance.

I admire their creativity, and am inspired by their approaches to what is available to them for each order. I am grateful for their outgoing personalities, kindness and quirky senses of humour that make the long (and occasionally stressful) hours so enjoyable.

Amy

Hello! I’m… Amy

I’ve been a florist since… 1998!...wow that was ages ago!

And part of the RF team since… February 2010

The story of how I became a florist goes something like this… Since I was about 10 I had my own part of the garden where I grew cornflowers, poppies, sweet peas and snap dragons. I would arrange them in vases around the house so when I got to year 10 my parents suggested I do work experience in a florist. Loved it and still do!

A day at RF for me… Means discovering what goodies we got from the markets, unpacking the van then picking what flowers suit which orders best. And when spring comes it's weddings,  weddings, weddings!

My favourite thing about being a florist... Being able to be creative all day long and working with beautiful flowers. I love working with colour, shapes and textures.  

My least favourite thing about being a florist is… Having yucky workman/woman hands! I’m probably up for some arthritis when I’m old!  

My favourite flower is…Waterlilies, peonies, sweet peas, gardenias, gloriosa lilies, lily of the valley and lilac.

But I’m not such a fan of …Emu Grass and pine foliage.

because…pine stinks and emu grass is rigid and ugly

If I wasn’t a florist…

I’d work at a zoo or join the circus.

Emma...

Helloo! I’m…Emma

I’ve been a florist since… 2012

And part of the RF team since… April 2012

The story of how I became a florist goes something like this… It’s a classic case of a sudden career change – I decided to follow my lifelong passion for flowers and make the call to train and work doing what I love.

A day at RF for me… Starts with discovering all the new fresh flowers from the market tucked safely in the back of the van, marvelling over some new type of flower that Charlie has unearthed. From then on it’s working with fabulous colours and smells as we create arrangements for orders and customers. 

My favourite thing about being a florist is… Seeing people’s faces when they love a bouquet or arrangement you’ve just put together for them; trying out new combinations as the seasons change; and setting up event spaces. I love a bit of theatricality.

My least favourite thing about being a florist is… Getting lily pollen on my face and looking like I’m wearing asymmetrical orange eyeshadow.

My favourite flower is… Anything that comes from a cottage garden like my Grandma’s. Dahlias, sweet peas, poppies, cornflowers, anemones, ranunculus.

But I’m not such a fan of …Alstromeria and gerberas.

because… I think they are overused.

If I wasn’t a florist… I’d probably run away and live in the country growing flowers and vegetables.

Emma (Yep, we have two!)...

 

Hello! I’m… Emma

I’ve been a florist since… never. I’m RF’s “floral transportation logistics coordinator” 

And part of the RF team since… Valentines Day 2011 

The story of how I became a florist (floral transportation logistics superstar) goes something like this… RF needed all hands on deck for Valentines Day 2011 so I gave them a hand. I enjoyed it so much that they couldn’t get rid of me!

A day at RF for me… involves smelling lots of yummy things, smiling a lot and getting in everyone’s way

My favourite thing about being a floral transportation logistics superstar is… seeing all the amazing flowers that come in and the mind blowing arrangements that Charlie and the girls make out of them! It always smells good and everyone’s always happy.

My least favourite thing about being a floral transportation logistics superstar is… feeling nervous about driving lots of delicate glass and precious cargo

My favourite flower is… really? One?! Phalaenopsis orchids, sweet peas, jonquils, rusty coloured dancing lady orchids, hydrangea, etc etc etc etc etc

But I’m not such a fan of … bromeliads and gerberas

because… bromeliads are really spikey! I just don’t like gerberas…

If I wasn’t a floral transportation logistics superstar … my Monday mornings would be super boring and unhappy because I’d go straight to uni instead.

Now, I don't like asking people to do something if I wouldn't be prepared to do it myself, so...

 

Charlie 

Hello! I’m…Charlie

I’ve been a florist since… About 2005

And part of the RF team since… The doors opened in June 2009

The story of how I became a florist goes something like this… My Mum suggested that for year ten work experience, I should do something unusual and fun, “because you’re probably not going to make your career from this”. I spent the week at our local flower shop, walked home on Friday afternoon and told my family that I was going to be a florist. Very unexpected, but I’ve never looked back!

A day at RF for me... Means waking up at 3.45am to go to the markets and buy all the beautiful flowers we’ll be working with for the next two days. I make my way back to the shop, where we unpack the van and stock the display. From then on, it’s filling orders and serving all our local (and not so local!) flower lovers.

My favourite thing about being a florist is… Spending my day surrounded by all these amazing flowers, being creative and hearing so many beautiful stories about why each arrangement is being ordered. We hear some lovely things!

…did you really mean just one? …

My least favourite thing about being a florist is… Getting teeny tiny thorns in my hands from the field roses. How can something so little hurt so much?!

My favourite flower is… Sweet peas. And phalaenopsis orchids. And dahlias. And tuberoses. And field freesias. And blossom… 

But I’m not such a fan of …Geranium foliage

because… It smells weird And too strong.  (To me… lots of people love the smell of geranium foliage, but I think they might be crazy!)

If I wasn’t a florist… I’d be very sad. Maybe I'd try something involving gardening... Who knows?!

Hairy legs don't go to the beach.

hairy legs don't go to the beach.

Over the last couple of weeks, the poppies have been showing their handsome faces at the markets, and I simply can't resist bringing them back to the shop.

I love putting these bunches of hairy little caterpillary buds into vases, keeping secret their colour until they start to open, when they drop their cases in two neat halves so a beautiful flower can unfurl. Just gorgeous!

The arrival of the poppies serves as an excellent reminder for me to pass on a fabulous snippet of information that I learnt in my first couple of weeks at college:

Hairy legs don't go to the beach.

Now, I don't really mind how hirstute your legs may or may not be when you step into your bikini or boardies once the weather warms up. This memorable advice applies to flowers.

Flowers with hairy legs (stems) don't like to be placed in vases filled to the brim with water*. Instead, they'll be much happier if you fill the vase up just a little bit, and keep it nice and clean. There is science behind this, but all you need to know is that if you over-fill the vase of a hairy-legged flower, you are going to end up with some very icky water, very quickly.

Don't forget to change the water every second day, and keep it sparkly clean. (Sunflowers are surprisingly thirsty, so make sure the water doesn't run out!)

*Native flowers with hairy legs, for example Kangaroo Paw, are the exception to the rule. They're very thirsty little flowers, and will appreciate a vase half full (again kept clean and changed regularly).