In this inspiring episode of Flower Farming in New Zealand, host Jo Robinson welcomes event florist Michele Coomey for a rich conversation on the artistry and logistics of modern floristry.

From her early days in retail to crafting large-scale floral installations, Michele shares how intuition, experience, and collaboration shape her work.

Together, Jo and Michele explore the delicate balance between creativity and practicality, the magic of seasonal blooms, and the evolving expectations of wedding clients.

Key Takeaways

• Michele reflects on her transition from retail to event floristry and the lessons learned.

• Balancing artistic vision with client expectations is a core challenge in the floral industry.

• Seasonal flowers bring authenticity and charm to wedding arrangements.

• International events pose logistical hurdles, especially around flower sourcing

• A skilled stylist can elevate floral work from beautiful to unforgettable.

• Jo champions the use of local and seasonal flowers for sustainable, meaningful designs.

• Michele values deep relationships with local growers for access to unique varieties.

• Workshops and shared knowledge strengthen the floral community.

• Michele’s approach blends intuition with hands-on experience, creating abundant designs that resonate.

Sound Bites

• “Creating an abundance of blooms.”

• “Balancing creativity and expectations.”

• “Seasonal blooms for weddings.”

• “From retail to event floristry.”

• “Floral trends and innovations.”

• “Local growers in floristry.”

• “International floral challenges.”

• “Floral community and workshops.”

• “Michele Coomey's floral philosophy.”

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Introduction: Jo Robinson & Michele Coomey

• 00:05:00 – Michele’s Journey in Floristry

• 00:10:00 – Balancing Creativity and Practicality

• 00:15:00 – The Power of Seasonal and Local Flowers

• 00:20:00 – Navigating International Floral Logistics

• 00:25:00 – Building Community Through Workshops

Connect with Our Sponsors: (UFG) United Flower Growers: https://ufg.co.nz

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· Advertising in an episode

· Sponsoring an episode or a season

Or you can

· Buy us a Coffee (make a donation) following this link ⁠https://coff.ee/flowerfarmersinnz⁠

Music Credit: Credit for some of the music in this episode goes to Shane Ivers - Happy Clappy Ukulele

Key words:

#flowerfarminginNZ

#nzflowergrowers

#nzflorists

#sustainablefloristry

#sustainableflowerfarming

#abundantblooms

#floristry

#wedding flowers

#creativity

#seasonal blooms

#local growers

#floral community

#event styling