AMA
PainSnail · 16/07/2018 09:34
@VanGoghsLeftEar
That's a very interesting question. Personally I agree with your MiL. Cut flowers generally have huge airmiles/roadmiles. Grown all over the world, sent to Holland for auction and then sent back out again to markets/florists/supermarkets etc. Add into that the huge amount of water and energy used in their growth and the sheer amount of plastic used to wrap them and it's not looking great. The industry is starting to more towards more environmentally friendly ways of working but it's quite small scale (british flower week, for example). I do think a lot needs to change.
PainSnail · 17/07/2018 17:04
@UtterlyDesperate
Nothing with a sap, like narcissi or euphorbia as it will seep into the water. Tulips are fine but they will grow taller than the other flowers.
@MollyHuaCha
Nope, the paper doesn't need to be touching the water. Just wrap them really tight to keep the support. Sort of like a brace!
!SilverHairedCat · 17/07/2018 19:41
Ooh, go on then, share some juicy gossip, you sound like you're dying to! 😜
Is it worth doing a one day course in flower arrangement? I'm rubbish, and would like to have a basic hand at putting out the flowers I buy myself as my husband is baldy trained in this area every week.
PS Lidl flowers are remarkably long lasting.
PainSnail · 18/07/2018 08:05
@everycowandagain
Sorry I just realised I missed you out! Lots of florists have moved into the flower school biz now, and depending on what you want to learn, do one day or evening classes to learn a specific skill. If you want to go more in depth then you can do much longer courses over a week or more but they can be expensive. If you want a recognised floristry qualification then you need to do a city and guilds course which is how I started.
PainSnail · 18/07/2018 08:29
@SilverHairedCat
Some of the gossip I'll sadly never be able to tell because I've signed a lot of NDAs over the years. We also know a lot of event type people so invariably we all share about jobs we've had. I did know about the president's club before that story broke and I feel guilty about it. Shop gossip was mostly infidelity based. I had one guy who regularly came in and ordered 3 bouquets to different women, all with the same message. There was the man trying to make amends for sleeping with his wife's sister (flowers probably can't help you in that scenario). I also worked in a shop years ago as a junior which regularly had drugs in with the flower delivery.
rosesandponies · 18/07/2018 18:32
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rosesandponies · 18/07/2018 18:34
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PainSnail · 19/07/2018 13:26
@rosesandponies
Welcome to the club 
I would really advise you to work for someone else to begin with. This is how you hone your craft, so as to speak. You learn so much from working alongside experienced florists, particularly speed! Shop work can be dull but I definitely wouldn't have got where I am without it.
It will be almost impossible to get paid freelance work with no experience but you could start doing your own bits in your spare time to build up your portfolio. Got any friends or family getting married? Any big birthdays on the horizon? You might find yourself working for free for quite some time, but it'll get you experience and images you can use to get paid work. I hope that's a helpful start, shout if you'd like more advice.
rosesandponies · 19/07/2018 15:13
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