Who doesn’t love a bunch of flowers?
Though fleeting and ephemeral, flowers bring happiness, colour and even a sense of self-love into our spaces if we buy them for ourselves. Traditionally seen as a symbol of love, the many varieties and endless possibilities for combination in posies, bouquets and arrangements make our talented florists the finest purveyors of admiration and devotion.
We spoke to four fabulous flower artists to give you some ideas for Valentine’s Day.
GLOSS
LOCATION: Johannesburg
FLORIST: Katja Kellhofer, owner
My arrangement style is romantic-contemporary. It’s a mix of what the clients want and my own creative influence.
I use mostly local as imported flowers are expensive, but I also love an imported selection of flowers. I’m known as the “Queen of Green” as I’ll use green foliage for an easy, long-lasting, clean, contemporary look in classic glass containers.
My favourite flowers are orchids for their exotic opulence, anthuriums for longevity and shape, and hydrangeas for their size.
I love arrangements in the home to bring a focal point to a room and give off positive energy. How would your heart feel about seeing a vase full of colourful tulips judged against an empty table? Flowers are a “spirit lifter”.
For a more masculine arrangement, choose beautiful textures of wooden elements such as bark, green foliage and anthuriums, but pink roses also work like a charm — depending on the man, of course.
If you’re in trouble, spend money supporting your local florist to make a bespoke arrangement with your signicant other's favourite blooms, with a personal note of apology. They will appreciate the time you’ve taken to apologise.
To express love, use pink, red and white flowers and lilacs.
For showing friendship, use yellow, orange, white and lilac blooms.
To say thank you, choose any colour — find out what your Good Samaritan’s favourite flowers are.
I keep flowers fresh by cutting stems at an angle for maximum intake of water, and I add a capful of Jik (bleach) and a spoonful of sugar. I change the water often.
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MR MUNRO
LOCATION: Cape Town
FLORIST: Cameron Munro, owner
My style is “left of centre”, with a contemporary approach. I’m attracted to the texture and structure of flowers. The weird and wonderful always catch my eye.
I generally use locally grown flowers. We’re blessed with an abundance of interesting varieties only found here. There’s been significant growth in the number of small-scale local farmers growing world-class flowers. It’s important to support this industry as much as possible. Sometimes I’ll get client briefs that require me to import varieties.
My favourite flowers are tuberoses (the small tuberose is insane — should be bottled); amaranths (I love the structure and colour varieties this “flower” gives to an arrangement); and echinops (these little spiky blue/purple orbs are out of this world).
I love a room filled with flowers. The confluence of man-made and nature is special. Flowers add a sense of intentionality to a space, infusing life, colour and exuberance.
For the man in your life, cymbidium orchids.
For getting out of trouble, I’d choose the bigger the better.
For showing love, a combination of roses, ranunculus and orchid varieties.
For a tribute to friendship, buy peonies and tulips.
Best to say thank you? Hydrangeas.
I keep flowers fresh by cutting the bottom of stems at a 45° angle and placing in fresh, clean water. This allows the plants or flowers to suck up more water and supply the blossoming part of the plant, which should extend its vase life. There are great flower food products available at gardening shops — a couple of scoops added to your vase water can extend their life. Avoid placing them in areas with direct sunlight.
When spending a lot on a bouquet, it’s important for the consumer to understand that they’re not just paying for the stems, they’re paying for the time taken to source, collect and process the flowers and for the artistic hand of the florist. The cost is affected by the choice of flower varieties, size of arrangement, logistics and installation.
I love flowers because they enhance our moods in a positive way — it’s a scientific fact. Fragrances and colours do this subconsciously, stimulating nerve cells and creating positive vibrations. It’s why we use them to convey emotions: happiness, love, sincerity, gratitude, sadness, empathy and loss.
I became a florist because I love being surrounded by plants and flowers. Growing up in Zimbabwe in nature is the likely catalyst. Plants give off energy that makes spaces feel positive. I’m fascinated that such beauty can stem from a tiny seed in the soil that, with care, love and the right conditions, sprouts life that gives us joy. I find it satisfying to work with beauty.
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PETAL&POST
LOCATION: Countrywide
FLORIST: Kim du Plessis, owner and founder
My flower business is different because we display one posy design a day on our website that’s always the same price, making for a simple purchasing process without needing to choose from different designs or price points. The single posy is a classic size, or you can “upsize” to a double posy (double as big) or a luxe posy (four times the size and luxuriously packaged). We source flowers fresh from regional farmers every morning, instead of going to the flower markets or wholesalers, giving a longer-lasting vase life, while also supporting local farms. We only buy in-season flowers to ensure the stems are the best quality.
My design style is simple and uncomplicated with a wild, fresh-from-the-farm feel. We go to the farm every few months to curate more designs to add to our catalogues. We focus on choosing sustainable and seasonal stems, embracing the natural beauty of nature.
We stick to locally grown flowers. We value the integrity and quality they offer, being cut on the farm and delivered directly to us in bud.
My favourite flowers are hydrangeas. They remind me of my grandparents’ garden — my oupa cut vases filled to the brim for my gran, in shades of lilac and blue. Stock flowers are my favourite smelling blooms and remind me of the corner florist in Australia where I’d buy my Saturday flowers to photograph while dreaming up the Petal&Post business idea.
Fresh flowers instantly introduce an element of sensory play with texture, colour and smell in a beautiful, natural form.
For the man in your life? Men haven’t historically been given space to explore their interest in flowers, so they may not know themselves yet. If you don’t want to ask outright, get a combination of stems that remind you of him in different ways — let him know why. Our Single Posy is the perfect place to start.
For getting out of trouble I’d focus on size — the bunch should directly correlate to how much trouble you’re in. Our Luxe Posy is a large one that makes a big impression no matter what the ingredients are.
To show love, a posy bursting with warm romantic hues of pink, red, peach, orange and sweet smells works — stocks, tulips, dahlias and ranunculus.
For friendship, send big, bright flowers like sunflowers or hydrangeas to enhance the space and bring lasting doses of happiness.
The best way to say thank you is with simplicity. We recommend elegant gladiolus, white lilies or freshly cut irises in bud.
To extend longevity, remove leaves that are submerged in the water, change the water every second day and cut stems regularly at 45° angles (this enlarges the surface area for the flowers to drink). We promote feeding the flowers with our bottle of signature Petal&Post Posy Food that’s free with each delivery.
When spending a lot on a bouquet, check that the recipient is home to receive the blooms before sending them. Receiving them is part of the excitement and surprise. Ensure that the blooms are put straight into the water on arrival to avoid a redelivery. Consider the personality of the recipient — some appreciate a colourful bunch and some a more muted pallet. Consider the situation — if you’re sending flowers to someone in hospital or someone who’s just moved, add a vase to your delivery. Consider whether they have pets — lilies, for instance, are toxic to cats.
Flowers are a timeless gift for a reason. From the moment you realise someone thought about you, to watching them change and blossom in their vase and the smile they bring when we look at them, receiving flowers is an experience. It’s a way to show love without saying a word. Giving flowers remains a genuine and beautiful way of reaching out to someone.
I was working in corporate in Australia in 2015 and I wanted to send flowers to a friend who was in hospital. I came across a website that offered just one type of bunch per day — based on what's in season. I fell in love with the concept. I knew that South Africans would embrace this new idea too. I moved back to Cape Town a year later and tested the concept. We’re now seven years old and continuing to scale in size and location coverage. each year.
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BOTANICUS
LOCATION: Johannesburg
FLORIST: Johannes van Greunen, owner and creative director
The signature Botanicus approach to floral design is focused on out-of-the-ordinary luxury. We carefully curate floral selections to create luxuriously sculptural pieces for discerning individuals, homes, brands and events.
We select flowers based on what’s most beautiful and exceptional. We support a variety of local farmers in and around Joburg but also have a selection of unusual specimens imported from across the globe.
My favourite flowers change daily, but a few of my favourites include hydrangea, hellebores and clematis. I revel in creating unusually contemporary floral compositions with what some may deem to be classic flowers.
Flowers, like art, should be seen as adornment in any space, carefully considered so as not to overwhelm but rather complement the interiors. There’s nothing like a big bunch of one type of flower in a beautiful vase to add calm or intrigue.
For the man if your life? We don't differentiate at Botanicus — anyone can appreciate the delicate beauty that is a flower. We prefer to work in colour palettes, so perhaps ask your floral designer for their signature work in the recipient’s favourite colours. They should be so lucky.
For getting out of trouble, simply go big.
To show love, pay attention to detail. What are the floral notes in the fragrance they wear? What’s their favourite colour? It’s about being considered and showing them you care about the things they care about.
For friendship, give vibrancy and exuberance! A big bundle of yellow ‘Dancing Lady’ orchids or a single allium stem. Choose something with character that reminds you of them and let them know.
To say thank you, keep it neutral and include a handwritten card.
For keeping flowers fresh, keep them in cool areas, give the stems regular cuts and change the water often. Heat is not a cut flower’s friend.
Spending a lot on a luxury item, carefully designed and styled by skilled artisans, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re buying size or scale. For the same amount you could get a large floral design filled with foliage and few luxurious flowers or a smaller but luxuriously flower-heavy design. Both are beautiful. Choose your florist for their style and approach to floral design to align with your budget and expectations.
Flowers are harbingers of seasons changing; they convey emotion, evoke nostalgia or simply add colour. They’re fragile marvels of nature that we get to enjoy fleetingly, reminding us that we need to appreciate the smaller things in life. To share that with those near and dear brings purpose and connection.
What made you decide to become a florist? My love of flower design started when I crumpled a white linen napkin in my three-year old hand and said, “Look Granny, a flower!” Now we regard ourselves as designers (all florists should) — flowers are our medium. Creating and sharing their beauty with those who appreciate it keeps our secateurs sharp and our hands itching to keep delivering out-of-the-ordinary luxury.
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