10 things I’ve learned in 10 years as a Florist

Last month, my sister and sister-in-law (thank you Christina and Kalynn!) threw me a surprise anniversary party at Blanc Champagne Bar, celebrating 10 years since I first touched flowers. What started out as small side hustle in flower shops and freelancing for other designers, turned into something that eventually grew into Floraloom.

Christina and Kalynn created a booklet (you can peruse it virtually HERE) filled with photos, starting with my very first arrangement in the stairwell of my apartment in Pasadena, California, all the way to today. Sitting with those images, I found myself reflecting not just on how far things have come, but on everything this work has quietly taught me along the way.

Here are 10 things I’ve learned in 10 years as a florist:

1. This is just the beginning

Floral design is a lifelong practice. It takes years to develop your eye, your technique, and your voice, and even then, you’re never really “done.” Trends evolve, seasons shift, and I’ve learned that the most important thing is staying curious. The moment I think I’ve mastered something is usually the moment I stop growing.

I’m excited about the next 10 years of continuing to refine my craft. I’m endlessly grateful for the clients who trust me with creative freedom and allow me to explore new ideas. Their trust means the world to me.

2. There will be uncertainty, but flowers always find a way through it

Like anything rooted in nature, this industry has its cycles. There are busy seasons and slower ones, moments of abundance and moments of uncertainty.

But flowers endure.

During the pandemic, when events came to a halt, I pivoted to shipped wreath-making kits for corporate teams. That shift not only sustained my business…it expanded it. During that unpredictable year, I moved to Kansas City without knowing anyone, yet those kits evolved into a workforce development opportunity and a whole community of creatives and entrepreneurs opened up to me. I began teaching residents at Newhouse Shelter floral design and e-commerce, hiring them to assemble and ship kits, and eventually bringing them into weekly floral production for Billie's Grocery.

Flowers have a way of opening doors if you’re willing to adapt, pivot, and keep going.

3. Flowers are about community

This work may look solitary from the outside, from hours in a studio processing stems or designing 50+ arrangements for an event, but it’s anything but.

The relationships matter: flower farmers, wholesalers, vendors, freelancers. Building those connections not only strengthens my business, it sustains me as a person. Some of the most meaningful moments happen outside of work: taking a pottery class together, visiting an arboretum, or sharing inspiration beyond deadlines.

My ideas expand because of the caring, creative people I surround myself with.

4. You’re only as good as your vendors

No large-scale installation happens alone. Behind every successful event is a network of people who show up, problem-solve, and deliver.

The vendors I work with are my collaborators and my safety net. Not only do they supply materials for projects, they also guide me toward solutions I may not have considered.

I remember needing wisteria vine for an outdoor installation, something that only grew on the East Coast at the time I needed it. My vendors here in Kansas City happened to have property there and were traveling during that exact window. They sourced the vine for me and brought it back so I could complete the installation. The vine completely transformed the final piece and became one of the defining elements of the design.

Moments like that remind me this industry is deeply collaborative.

5. Invest in your growth as an artist

Growth doesn’t happen passively. It’s a choice.

Whether it’s online design courses, weekend intensives, museum visits, or business education, every investment I’ve made in learning has expanded my perspective. Inspiration goes far beyond scrolling pretty flower photos on Instagram or Pinterest. It comes from architecture, art, fashion, travel, nature, and the way people experience space.

The more I experience the world, the more depth I’m able to bring back into my work.

6. Travel changes your design perspective

Seeing how flowers are grown, sourced, and designed in different places is transformative.

Exploring flower markets, visiting farms, and observing how other cultures and communities work with natural materials opens my eyes to new ingredients, palettes, textures, and forms. It reminds me there are endless ways to approach beauty and design.

Travel always leaves me creatively fuller than when I arrived.

7. Mechanics and safety matter more than you think

Beautiful design is only successful if it’s structurally sound.

As installations grow in scale, so does the need for expertise. Collaborating with fabricators, welders, and carpenters ensures my work not only looks beautiful, but actually holds up safely and functions the way it needs to.

I’ve also learned that collaboration often makes the work stronger. Sometimes the people helping execute an idea shape it into something even better than I originally imagined. We all think differently, and having a variety of creative brains involved helps create work that is both beautiful and functional.

8. Teamwork makes the dream work

A strong freelance team is everything.

Great freelance designers don’t just execute. They elevate the work. They bring fresh ideas, efficiency, and a level of precision that keeps everything moving during high-pressure production weeks.

Finding people who understand your aesthetic and work ethic is rare and invaluable. Over the years, I’ve learned that planning and communication are key to polished execution. I’ve learned to communicate my ideas more clearly and to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN ahead so that when production week arrives, everyone is aligned and the vision can come to life smoothly, even under tight deadlines.

9. Flowers connect you to unexpected worlds

One of the most surprising parts of this career is where it has led me.

Through flowers, I’ve collaborated with creatives across industries — from ceramic artists to graffiti historians to musicians to sports stadiums. Every collaboration expands how I see color, texture, movement, and environment.

Flowers are a connector, and they’ve introduced me to communities and perspectives I never would have encountered otherwise.

10. Floral design is about transforming how people feel

At its core, floral design isn’t just arranging stems. It’s shaping experience.

Flowers have the ability to transform a space, shift a mood, and create connection. They can be sculptural, immersive, subtle, or bold. And because they come from nature, they’re always changing, offering new materials, new movement, and new possibilities.

That’s what keeps me endlessly inspired by this medium. It never stands still.