Words from Our Founder
I knew from a very early age that flowers made me feel something. Emotions like hope and excitement, wonder and comfort. They have always felt like a kindred partner I am forever meant to travel alongside. They are my constant in an ever changing world. They are my life support.
Sometimes I reminisce about a college philosophy paper that I wrote, long before a career in floral ever existed in my mind. We were exploring the concept of potential, and I chose the tightly budded tulips outside my dorm window as my muse. To me, those buds were intoxicating… the tight green casings swimming in the potential of vibrant color, sweet fragrance and graceful form. The excitement and anticipation that dances within this bud….could it arguably be more beautiful than the flower itself? After all, do I not feel the slightest pang of sorrow when I gaze upon a fully bloomed flower, knowing it will only be a matter of days before the petals are creased and faded? Is all potential lost in that perfect, full blossom, because I know the end is inevitably near?
At what stage is a flower’s potential truly greatest? My feelings on the topic are complex. After all, most of my life’s work has been about celebrating the showiest stages of flower development. Most often it’s the fully bloomed flowers that are used to delight us at events. In full bloom, they feel indulgent, special, and emotional. In full bloom, flowers remind us of the inexplicable magic of the natural world. It’s no longer about what the flower will be, it’s about what the flower will do. How does it make us feel in this moment, how does it transform our experience in its presence?
What I’ve come to realize is that very few things in life have endless potential, but a flower defies all odds. When it comes to a flower, potential is fluid and ongoing. They delight even as they fade in color and change in form. Why else do we hold on to them on our kitchen counters until the very last petal has fallen and only stems remain? It’s this unending potential that I will forever celebrate and always admire. It is a magnificent truth that I strive to weave throughout our artistry.
In the words of William Wordsworth, “Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.”
The flowers and I have an understanding. We watch over each other. It’s both nature, and nurture, and it’s beautiful. They have afforded me a life where I have discovered and worked with many wonderful people. They keep me connected to the human condition, and allow me to create meaningful emotion. They cradle this team, and our ongoing journey at SEMIA.
