From Gardener to Florist - A Controversial Topic

The transition from gardener to florist is one that holds a certain tension. It’s a journey of discovery, growth, and, at times, controversy. Gardening and floristry, while closely related, often sit in different worlds—one focused on cultivating plants in their natural environment, the other dedicated to arranging those same plants into curated, often commercialised, forms.

As a gardener, I’ve always had a deep respect for the life cycle of plants—their growth, blooming, and eventual return to the earth. There’s something deeply satisfying about nurturing flowers from seed to bloom, watching them reach their full potential in the soil, and then caring for them until they’re ready to flourish again the following season. It’s a holistic, nurturing relationship between the land and the gardener.

However, as I stepped into the world of floristry, I encountered a shift in perspective. Floristry is an art form, yes, but it’s also a business. It’s about crafting something beautiful and temporary—flowers are picked, arranged, and often discarded once they’ve served their purpose. For some, the idea of cutting flowers for commercial use can feel like a betrayal of the gardening ethos. How can we balance the respect we have for plants with the act of selling their beauty?

There’s a fine line between nurturing a garden and cutting flowers for bouquets. For some, floristry can be seen as exploiting nature’s beauty for profit. It challenges the gardener's philosophy of working with the land, not against it. But I believe that with the right intentions, floristry can be an extension of the garden’s cycle—a way of honoring the life of a plant by celebrating its beauty in another form.

Floristry is also about connection—building relationships with our customers, sharing the seasonal beauty that our gardens offer, and giving people a piece of nature they can enjoy. By incorporating flowers I’ve grown, I ensure that every bouquet I create carries the heart of the garden with it. The flowers become part of a larger story—a journey from seed to stem, and ultimately into the hands of someone who can appreciate the care that went into their cultivation.

So, while the transition from gardener to florist can be controversial, I believe it is possible to find harmony between these two worlds. It’s about respecting the flowers and plants we work with, using them to create something meaningful, and ensuring that every bouquet is not just a product, but a reflection of the values we hold dear.

Who knew being a business owner had its perks? One of the greatest is the ability to carefully sculpt the vision I have for Costar Florals, I strive to honor both the gardener’s patience and the florist’s creativity. It’s not about choosing one over the other—it’s about blending the two into something that celebrates the land, the art of floristry, and the connections we build with the people we serve.

x ~ kahu