My background is rich in Botany:

My great grandmother was a botanist in the misty highlands of South Africa - she used to draw and describe plants for Kew gardens. She even discovered and has a little mountain aloe named after her. Gran had an acreage of wild, meadow like gardens - which we spent our childhood exploring. She was the Dahlia queen and was growing them by the thousand, long before anybody even knew what they were. 

Mum taught me the botanical AND scientific names of every single plant we came across. She also taught me to be ultra observant and to adore Nature. For this I will be forever grateful.

Gran on my married side was a top floral arranger in South Africa and even received an award from the Garden Club of Monaco for judging a competition over there.

My mother-in-law farmed proteas in between the rows of Macadamias on their farm in Africa. These women greatly influence me, and I feel that floristry, flowers, and a deep love of Nature runs strongly in my blood. 

The constant shift of seasons is of great importance to my work. I like to only use what foliage and flowers are available at the time. I don't use imported flowers and love to work with Australian native plants. Marigold Floral Studio follows sustainable floristry practices: No floral foam, the use of biodegradable plastics, and supporting local flower farms, with a bit of the colder climate stuff coming from down south.

I also have a small-scale farmer just down the road from the store who grows the seeds I supply - I then buy the flowers back by the bucket load. This way I can get my hands on exactly what I want and need.

When the perfect shop space came up in Bargara - just one road back from the coral coastline - I knew I just had to take this opportunity. I am surrounded by many other beautiful shops and cafes, and more importantly part of a very friendly, warm, and hospitable community.

So, from tending to an ancient garden in Tasmania, to working on a flower farm in central Queensland - the doors to my own space are open and I am so excited to watch this space grow.