Lisa Holt

Which course did you study at Tallulah Rose and when?

I studied the original Online Floristry Career Change course 2023. I had started growing flowers in lockdown. It was the next step to begin to learn to arrange them.

What did you most enjoy about the course?

The use of British grown stems was an important to me as a grower, together with a trailer I saw in which Rachel demonstrated creating a spring wreath – it was so beautiful and had a natural flow – I wanted to be able do that too. The course also included business tips which was so helpful as at that time I was taking my first tentative steps to become a business by putting simple bunches of flowers for sale in my village shop to help raise money towards a new village playground.

What has been your most memorable moment since finishing the course?

One of my motivations to learn to arrange flowers, was the poor funeral flowers I had experienced where flowers had been stuck in foam in a very rigid, characterless way. I thought I could do better myself! In the online course, Rachel creates a basket of seasonal garden flowers arranged with moss for a funeral flower arrangement. It was so beautiful and natural; full of character and movement. That’s what I wanted to do. I set out to specialise in garden inspired, seasonal and foam free funeral flowers. Only a few years later, photographs of my funeral flowers were used on the leaflets and tags for the first ever display of funeral flowers with The Farewell Flowers Directory at The Chelsea Flower Show- that was memorable. I was so proud to be a small part of that big moment.

What is the best part of having your own floristry and growing business?

Because I grow the flowers, I know the flowers. I have sown them, grown them, nurtured them through the rain, frost and heat. I have observed their movement. I know their likes and dislikes. So my floristry reflects that love. I feel I know every stem. Every stem is then cut at the right time for their moment to shine – in a bouquet, in funeral flowers, in a workshop. I even talk to them and tell them it’s their time to shine! I enjoy having the creative and business control. I have high standards for myself and my flowers. I offer the service I would want for myself- especially with funeral flowers and workshops.

Describe a typical day in your grower life…

In summer, I’m up by 6am. The sunlight, stillness and birdsong are all mine. I will check the cutting garden, polytunnel and greenhouse – often wandering in my dressing gown and mug of tea in hand. I mentally prepare a list to do for the day which may be a flower cutting list for orders or a garden job list. It’s hard to keep ahead of Mother Nature sometimes especially in the heady days of summer. There is a tipping point where I have to let go of control and my desire for neatness in the cutting garden and let the garden be its wilder, abundant and freer self. My arrangements will reflect this with the inclusion of grasses, stems of tendrils and sweet peas, seed heads and our meadow daisies. They are long, happy days outside. But I have discovered denim dungarees are my uniform in summer and plastic dungarees in winter! I live in wool socks and short wellie boots all year. I can grow the flowers I love most Rununculus, Peonies, Roses, gorgeous diva Dahlias and lots of new and interesting stems. It’s fun trying to grow new flowers that bring interest and curiosity for my customers who often ask me what the flower is in their bunches. British grown flowers are so full of nostalgia, unique character and scent.

What would you say makes your floral business unique?

My love for growing shows in every stem, every arrangement. I only use British grown and try to be as sustainable as possible (but I’m not perfect).

What was the best part of training online with Tallulah Rose?

Rachel’s floral design style is simply stunning. She inspires my style and I love that she doesn’t “gate keep” but generously shares her knowledge. Rachel really wants to inspire and lead her students to become successful and talented florists. The fact that Rachel only uses British grown flowers in her floristry is the perfect fit to me as a flower farmer florist.

What advice would you give your younger self starting out on your floristry journey?

Start! Believe in yourself, you are good enough, do it because you can and you will love it.

What’s the most valuable part of being able to say you trained at Tallulah Rose?

Being part of the incredible community of Tallulah trained florists. Such a supportive group. Starting out as a new business is scary and it makes such a difference so to be supported and lifted up by other women, especially those a few steps ahead of you or in the same point. We are all learning together. Rachel doesn’t let you go after the course but checks in every now and again with an open zoom call – she really looks after her Tallulah’s.

What is your favourite British flower that you grow and why?

This month – sweet peas. The scent, the colours, the movement. I like to use the long trails tendrils as well as the flower stems. I know they are fleeting but they always cause such a lovely reaction from my customers who adore them too. I do workshops at my local residential care home and it’s wonderful to see the residents reaction when they smell the sweet peas. They are so nostalgic evoking such happy memories of gardens, gardening days and childhood.

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