Stories

  The anticipation leaning into a smell rose, only to draw back and declare ‘oh, it doesn’t smell’. We’ve all seen it or experienced it before and there is a reason behind it. I will never forget the scent of one of the roses my grandma Normie grew called Double Delight. Buttery coloured centre and hot pink rim, you would take turns soaking it up between cups of tea on the verandah. Or the stories from two gentlemen I got chatting to recently at local legend Johnny’s Bakehouse cafe. One recouned how the smell of roses would hit you visiting his grandparents as a young boy, and that the size of the roses were enormous (making a circle shape with his two ands). The other spoke of his grandfather who had a rose farm and as young boys playing football, one was always careful to not kick the ball into his precious roses! So where did the scent go? Over the years, consumer demand for larger blooms, colour and longer lifespan, florists demand for durability, quality and cut lifespan and growers disease resistance have seen these traits prioritised in cultivation over other traits such as fragrance. As research shows, ‘monoterpenes are the major components in the fragrance of roses and their loss has caused some rose cultivars bred for visual attributes to be odourless.’ During my Certificate III studies, we visited a number of local flower farms, including B&B Flowers and Nati Roses. At B&B Flowers, rose grower and owner, Paula Bandiera explained that most of their roses undercover don’t have a scent but many of the varities grown outside, such as David Austin, Evelyn and Claire do. At Nati roses farm, some of the fragrant varities available include Blue Moon and Eiffel Tower.  But does it matter if roses or flowers are scented or not?  Sandeep Robert Datta, a professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, states “it’s now clear that even though our sense of smell is not as robust as that of a mouse or bloodhound, it is deeply tied to our cognitive centers, our emotional centers, and our memory centers.” “We’re dependent on it for a sense of well-being and centeredness in the world.” (Watch how smells are stored in the brain) “Smell can instantly trigger an emotional response along with a memory, and our emotional states have a very strong effect on our physical well-being,” says Rachel Herz, a neuroscientist at Brown University who studies the psychological science of smell. As this Harvard Medicine article concludes ‘researchers are still unraveling the full extent to which smell can be [xxx] an avenue into the mind.’  So, what can you do if you would like to get scented flower? Speak with your local florist - florists are a gateway to access knowledge and source the flowers that you desire. There are so many delightful, scented flowers, from the sweet honey foliage of waxflowers, sweat peas, soothing lavender, buddleia to jonquils - a small vase of which will perfume an entire room with ease! As The Sustainable Floristry Network suggests, opting for locally grown flowers means, amongst other environmental benefits, that you are often purchasing a high quality product. A plant grown in its natural season produces a stronger, healthier cut stem – a flower with scent, vitality and resilience For a romantic dinner for two (or one!), I adore Australian grown garden roses, such as David Austin, en masse, in vintage crystal vase ware.  What’s your favourite scented flower?   [References] Lyu, J. Rose scent: Restricting methane. Nature Plants 1, 15119 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2015.119 Molly McDonough, Harvard Medicine magazine, The Connections Between Smell, Memory, and Health - The ability of odors to bring to mind past experiences has intriguing scientific and therapeutic implications Spring 2024https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/connections-between-smell-memory-and-health#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20citing%20myriad%20studies%20that%20link,memories%20to%20significant%20reductions%20in%20markers%20of%20inflammation. https://www.sustainablefloristry.org/resources/better-bunch

 A few years ago, my grandfather sadly passed away suddenly from prostate cancer. The loss of grandpa, a giant in our family, and someone whom I cared deeply for, was profound. As we all move through grieving process, it’s been challenging to watch my parents transition my grandmother from her home into a new place in an aged care community. Her new home, the gardens and surrounds are lovely and it’s particularly nice each resident has the ability to bring their own flair to the garden. I can’t begin to fathom the lonlieness and heartache that comes with losing your partner and companion and understandably the negativity and sadness that can engulf one from time to time. I’m reminded of a conversation with my other grandma, who’s partner passed away several years ago. She’s fiercely independent and always maintained the importance of having (and keeping up) one’s hobbies. She’s a die-hard bridge player, gardener, baker and cook - but more on that another time. I made Granny an arrangement for her birthday and was heartened to receive a text telling me about her friend who ran a garden centre. Perhaps this little piece of knowledge would have come up in another conversation, but the more flowers I give and the more I talk about flowers and being in nature with people, the more stories like this find their way to inbox, phone or in conversation. I cherish them all. A few months later though, that I received another text. My mother dropped in a simple, small bouquet of sweet peas to her that I bought from the market that morning. I was inspired by how they looked in her living room, against the sage lounge, and happy that she’d liked them enough to send a photo. Then came Daffodil Day. I received an unexpected message. She’d bought herself a bunch of daffodils and sent me a message with a photo of her arrangement, exclaiming ‘look so nice here’. I could feel the pride in the message. Flowers seem to bring out the best in people and this small act of self love and compassion gave me hope. What are some of the opportunities (or examples of things you’ve seen) where nature helps people in older age?

So, how did you get into floristry? This is usually the question people ask when I explain I work part time for the peak body of social enterprise in NSW and ACT and part time as a florist. And the simplest response I can share is that I made a decision! Finding the Pearson’s School of Floristry start your floristry journey email, adding my card details and hitting submit was the easy part. I deliberated for two years about studying Certificate III in floristry and when Pearson’s student information session rolled around for the second year, and I found myself starting at the invite at the screen and acknowledged that my yearning to take a leap towards this world was real and not going anywhere. The genuine encouragement from my partner at the time, having a rock in my corner that believed in me and my aspirations tipped me from contemplation to action. I’m always grateful for his encouragement in that moment.  Before all of this, was a lucky childhood, growing up on beautiful Awabakal land (Lake Macquarie) and spending lots of time at my grandparent’s property at Mount Vincent. Their garden was magical filled with pockets that became my special places in nature to spend time. From ‘dining in Tuscany’ (as my grandma Normie would call it) under a cloud of lilac wisteria, to taking picnics down to the willow tree, smelling all the roses in the rose circle, making pot pourri from the lavender bush skirting the verandah, the masses of colorful hydrangeas, the sound frogs croaking in the lilies and always picking a bunch of flowers, wrapping it in paper towel and foil to take home. My deep connection to, and respect for, nature was forged in this very special garden and by the people who cared for it. Funnily, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have reached out to me since I publicly started this journey saying they’ve always wanted to do floristry. And while I am the first person to say - do it! I appreciate it’s not always as straightforward as this and perhaps there are a few steps that person needs to take first, without losing sight and the buoyancy of imagining working with nature. In Australia, floristry isn’t considered a trade and falls under the General Retail Industry Award. This means you can operate as a florist without completing a Certificate III or Certificate IV in floristry and there are many wonderful, self-taught florists. Personally, I deliberately chose to undertake the Certificate III as I wanted to ensure I was learning the foundations and grasping as much as a I could about the industry as I came from a completely different background in Financial Services Consulting. My Certificate III experience was wonderful. I cherish the friends I made during the 9 months, the wisdom and expertise so generously shared by Pearsons School and the overwhelming feeling of support and sense of empowerment from the experience overall. Floristry moved me. Week two in the classroom I had this resounding feeling of ‘this is it, I’ve arrived’. And you just know. I looked forward to class every week and experienced the gamut of emotions across the nine months learning a whole new skillset and concepts. The inner critic crept in many times but so did pride putting on my apron, finishing assessed arrangements, joy and wonderful creative whirlwinds. Of the flower retailing industry, one of my teachers would often say “there is space for everyone”. This simple remark became one of my affirmations. It helps ground me in the spirit of collaboration, not competition. I feel excited think of all the possibilities from running a retail shop, to weddings, event floristry, corporate, editorial, installation work, funerals, styling, teaching and more. While I am at the beginning of my floristry journey, honing my skills and seeking opportunities to continue working with florists across a range of services, my heart is drawn to events and making personalised arrangements. I’ve always loved creating memorable experiences and putting consideration and care into every detail and it is a privilege and joy to be entrusted to design and embody feelings and messages in flowers. What’s a decision you’ve made that’s bought you joy?