*We all have friends with varying talents, from the artist to the fashionista, the businessman to the musician, from the homemaker to the florist. This new series is designed to benefit those with a black thumb, a bit of floral education for every month, season, holiday or special occasion. It was time I tapped into the talents of my good friend, Amanda Luu. She’s here to share her thoughts about flowers, how to live with them, how to pair them, how to make them last, and most importantly, how to nurture that green thumb of yours. Not to fear, it can be done!
An interview with a florist: Amanda Luu
If we were speed dating – what would you tell me about yourself?
My name is Amanda. In no particular order: I’m an impulsive strategist, impressive coffee drinker, and improbable floral designer. I live in a loft (read: small box) with my boyfriend and our two ficuses. In a previous life, I used to spreadsheet like a boss.
*tip: burn the ends of your poppies to make them last longer!
Why flowers? How did you get into the business?
I’ve been trying to find my medium for a few decades now. Music was a mistake, and I proved not to be much of a poet. Let’s strike performance art while we’re at it: too athletic. On a whim, I took a class with the Little Flower School ladies from Brooklyn. Between their discussions of color and form, I could literally feel my atrophied right brain surge to life. It wouldn’t be long until I fell desperately in love with flowers. And when you’re in love, you do crazy things. Like nonchalantly reach out to the best studios in your area…and beg them to take you on as an intern. Or stand in a puddle for ten hours to make centerpieces. Or quit your job and follow your love to another state. You know, crazy stuff.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve experienced so far about the floral industry?
What I didn’t expect was that every single person I’ve had the privilege of working with would be so incredibly kind and provide such patient mentorship. I also didn’t expect to meet so many different kinds of people with such different perspectives! I bet most people think florists are mother earth hippie types (I know I did), but I’ve worked alongside lawyers, intensive care nurses, social workers, teachers, architects, and so on. The conversations we have are rich, and the relationships, deeply nurturing.
It’s a special occasion: a first date, a birthday, an anniversary – what flower do you recommend a dude get for his special lady?
Is there anything better than receiving flowers? I love a simple, single varietal bouquet that’s given annually. In California, we’ve got access to some really incredible ingredients with our long growing season. I’d recommend ranunculus or sweet peas for Spring, fragrant garden roses in Summer, showy dahlias come Fall, and hellebores in the Winter. To elaborate on the annual gift– My parents have made a tradition of presenting me with yellow roses on my June birthday. Mom got really crazy one year and planted huge rose bushes under my window. The sweet thing is that this tradition was actually started by my dad, the very first dude in my life. Twenty-five years ago, he presented my exhausted, postpartum mom with a dozen yellow roses to thank her for making him a dad in time for Father’s Day. I think of them whenever a yellow rose crosses my path.
Tell us, what’s your favorite flower?
How about three? Inky hellebores, honeyed garden roses, and quince branches in bloom. Ooof. Goosebumps.
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how fun and what a gorgeous arrangement!
So pretty and I never heard of the trick to burn the ends of poppies
Wow that arrangement is stunning! I want a floral designer friend!!! So beautiful- I’m inspired to go home and play!