rook botanics
Shawlands
I first found myself faffing with flowers when I was fourteen. My work
experience placement fell through and a local florist agreed to take me on for a
week. By the time Friday came I was in love. From then on I worked as a Saturday
girl, sweeping up debris, conditioning flowers, taking orders. The florists I
worked with taught me everything from hand tied bouquets to funeral work. I
never really saw floristry as a full time career option for myself though.
Before attending the University of Glasgow I took a gap year. Unlike many others
who travel the world on their gap year I immersed myself in flowers. I attended
Broomfield Hall, Derby College to complete a BTEC in floristry. Then I packed my
bags, left for Glasgow and fell into a marketing career. Flowers were always a
part of me, though. Whenever I was low on cash or between jobs I would return to
floristy. Whenever I met new people I’d introduce myself as a florist. I held
parties in my flat just as an excuse to decorate my home with fresh blooms.
