As spring arrives and summer approaches, flowers begin to bloom, ready for the season’s celebrations and festivities.
In the middle of Downtown Provo, just in front of City Hall, the historic florist Foxglove Flowers showcases the passion of two creative entrepreneurs.
Amid a busy schedule of orders, Rasmussen McCartney and Madeline Ray, two local Utahns, worked to complete them with enthusiasm.
“I really love working with my hands and being creative,” Ray said. “I feel like there aren’t a lot of opportunities to be creative as adults, so I’ve really loved the outlet that flowers has given to me.”
The same energy and passion was shared by her coworker, McCartney.
“I am really grateful to have a creative job, and it’s really fun to get to work in the industry with other people,” McCartney said. “We go through some fun experiences in this job, like working at a wedding. It’s fun to create different things for people based on their preferences and style.”
Working in the floral industry is not easy and comes with its challenges. At the same time, McCartney and Ray said the job gives them new perspectives as they create arrangements for different celebrations.
“Getting trained in the floral industry is great,” Ray said. “But you must get really close with your coworkers because you get to talk all day while you’re arranging. So, relationships are important in this kind of job.”
McCartney described how relationships are vital, especially when covering different events.
“Seeing people in all different walks of life and celebrating with them or grieving with them when we have to work in funerals is awesome and unique,” McCartney said. “We always try to do our best to help make their experience the best it can be.”
When asked about their expectations for spring and the upcoming summer, Ray and McCartney are optimistic and ready to work on multiple orders.
“We’ve got lots of weddings on the books,” Ray said. “Wedding season is always really busy for us.”
Wedding season, according to McCartney, is the best time of the year.
“It’s really fun to work on them,” McCartney said. “Flowers are locally grown in the summer and spring, so they’re more beautiful and unique. So, we’re excited to be working with those.”
These experiences were shared by Margarita Pecho, a grandmother of two, a local amateur florist and a farmer in her free time.
“You feel happy when you see how your plant starts to grow from a single seed,” Pecho said. “Of course, it’s not an easy work. You must watch your plant constantly, see how it is growing, control the water levels, the soil quality and the weather. It’s hard work, but the results are satisfactory.”
Pecho also shared her joy at seeing young professionals working in the floral industry,
“It’s nice to see how the youth are still working in these kinds of jobs,” Pecho said. “Flowers are beautiful and help to make your day happier when you see them.”
As these florists prepare for the season, their professional experiences help bring a vibrant touch to spring and summer.