Some callings don’t announce themselves loudly — they bloom quietly. For floral designer Melissa Crawford, her lifelong fascination with flowers began when she spent time with her great-grandmother and grandfather, tending their gardens filled with vegetables and blooms.
Crawford always dreamt of being a florist, but life took her down a different path, where she spent about 17 years working in hospitality and public relations before she was laid off in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crawford then took the opportunity and spent the summer of 2020 doing a “deep dive” into the floral industry, which led to the debut of Violet & Aster, inspired by the birth-month flowers of her two daughters.
Now, as Mother’s Day approaches, the busiest season in any florist’s calendar, surpassing even Valentine’s Day, Crawford shares her deep love for blooms.
“For me specifically, I love all the intricacies of flowers. I find their lifecycle fascinating– from the moment a bloom starts to open to the dropping of its petals, it takes on so many forms and colors,” she said. “Sometimes, flowers are at their most beautiful state just before they drop their petals.”
In this issue, Crawford shares her tips for those looking to surprise their loved ones with blooms.
- DON'T wait until the last minute! Mother's Day can be busier than Valentine's Day for some florists, with many cutting off orders the week before. While we would love to accommodate all orders, sometimes it's just not humanly possible to ensure quality and fresh blooms.
- DON'T assume flowers are cheap. Flowers cost more than ever these days! Remember, you are not just paying for flowers, but quality blooms, time, design, and expertise.
- DO put some thought into it - What are mom's favorite flowers? Is she more traditional, or does she lean more toward an organic and textural arrangement? Does she like bright and bold color palettes, or does she tend to be drawn toward more pastel colors? Try to choose something that speaks to her overall style and personality.
- DO allow your floral designer to have some creative freedom. You are drawn to their work for a reason. Trust their vision.
For those planning to try their hand at putting together their own bouquet for their loved ones, Crawford’s “best advice” is to pick a color palette, stick to florals within that color spectrum, and include some of their favourite flowers in different sizes, shapes, and textures.
“You’ll want to include some focal flowers like peonies or roses (three to five stems), some secondary stems like ranunculus and tulips (five to seven stems), and then supporting and line flowers like sweet peas, delphinium, and butterfly ranunculus, to name a few. Then you can add in some filler and greenery,” she said.
Stripping the leaves from the stems before arranging them in a bouquet also makes it easier to remove a stem if needed while designing, said Crawford. To complement the bouquet, you can tie your bouquet with floral tape and a beautiful draping ribbon for a special touch.
Visit their Instagram page, @Violetandaster, for bookings, ideas, or inspiration.