Rewind to March of this year. I had just posted February’s blog and went to bed, thinking of what to write about next. Ping – 4am. Light bulb moment. It had to be Ukraine. The war had just started with Russia and we watched the news daily, waiting to find out the latest information. Now, I have never been to Ukraine, and I don’t know anyone from Ukraine, but the country has played a significant part in my floral journey. For one reason or another, I didn’t post Marchs blog but I feel it is even more relevant now. Not only has the war been making headlines, but we are also in the midst of the RHS flower show season. So, grab yourself a cuppa and read on to hear more.
January 2019.
I am at college, retraining as a florist after years in education. My tutor mentions a ‘Future Florist’ competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and, for a split second, I thought that sounds like fun. Then life got in the way and I didn’t think any more of it. But, as the deadline approached, I found a few spare moments to gather some thoughts. The brief was ‘a headdress design for the most illustrious festival.’ Now, I obviously had a sheltered childhood as I had not been to a festival until I hit 50. No muddy Glastonbury for me! Then I spotted an article in British Vogue.
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/makoto-azuma-rihanna-florist-interview
This was the inspiration I needed. With a little more research, I came across images of a vinok – a traditional Ukrainian style headdress.
There has been a sense of national pride in Ukraine in recent years, leading to a resurgence of traditions. The vinok isn’t just a fashion accessory. Its history traces back to Ukraine’s early days, worn by girls and unmarried young women on holy days and special occasions. Slowly, my ideas began to piece together.
So, paints and pencils at the ready, my final design was submitted for college scrutiny. Within a couple of weeks, the results came in and, low and behold, my design was one of the chosen few to be forwarded to the RHS, along with my good friend, Sally. This was followed by lots of form filling, finalising flower choices and then the wait. If you remember waiting for exam results as a teenager, then you can imagine how I was feeling.
Early April. I was having predinner drinks with the family at a restaurant on the banks of the Thames. I didn’t need to see the menu – I always chose the same meal, melon followed by a great steak. My mobile rang. It was Sally. Have you checked your emails? I put the phone down, checked online and whooped like a madwoman. The RHS had chosen me as a Hampton Court finalist. I apologise now to anyone who saw me that night. It was quite surreal.
And so, the journey began. Practise sessions, form filling, diary dates inked in AND THEN, the RHS decided they wanted to promote eco friendly designs. They would be awarding extra points for designs that did not include floral foam. Even just 3 years on, it is amazing how far we have moved on in the flower industry when it comes to environmental issues After a few sleepless nights, I finally came up with a solution; a hoop construction, packed with moss and water tubes.
Sunday 30th June. Car loaded to the gunnels, we headed off to Hampton Court, college tutors lending a helping hand with the logistics. Entering the grand marquee, we found our spot at the end of the tent, blank mannequins ready to be adorned with our designs. Above my plinth, my name was adorned on an official RHS sign. This was all getting a bit real now. I was actually competing at the largest flower show in the whole wide world. Little old me. Career change at 50, me!
We had 6 hours to make our headdresses and I have never known time to go so quickly. TV cameras hovering over us, I got to work, filling my design with moss and choosing the best blooms. Despite all the practice sessions, I needed every minute and was placing the headpiece on the stand with seconds to spare. A little wobble, a few stems out of place but the task was complete. I could do no more.
Press day. Hubby and I turned up early, only to find the judging panel looking at my headdress. So, we busied ourselves in the show gardens and celebrity watching (HRH Duchess of Cambridge, Monty Don…)
Medals are generally handed out on Tuesday morning, but the Future Florists team were asked to assemble at 2.30pm for a televised celebration, with Jo Whiley. And the winner was…. Not me! We all received a white envelope with our name on. My fellow competitors pulled out sheets of paper with feedback on them. My envelope was a little chunkier and didn’t bend quite so easily. Had I won a highly commended certificate? Cautiously, I opened the envelope. Definitely card, not paper. As I turned it over, I spied the round indentation – a medal, and not just any old medal. I had not only been chosen to Compete in an event that I wasn’t even going to enter 6 months earlier, but I had only gone and won a Silver Medal. How many people can say that?
The rest is a bit of a blur. Hugs from complete strangers, lots of tears, interviews with local papers. In the end only 2 of us won silver medals, me and the overall winner, Louise Hartley English. She thoroughly deserved it and we were in awe of her design. And so now, when people ask what I do for a living, I can proudly say I am an RHS award winning florist. And that makes me a little bit unique.
Who would have imagined that a country I knew nothing about would be plastered all over the world’s press a few years later, or the impact it would have on my flower journey?
See you next month. x