58 1: H e l ai n a + E v a n -Ta r a L ill y P h o t o g r a p h y ; 3 : M i n t e d P h o t o g r a p h y
B C B U S I N E S S . C A
M AY 2 0 24
WOMEN IN STEM
For special occasions or just because, these B.C.-based floral
designers create beautiful, botanical work
by Alyssa Hirose
I N V E N T O R Y
5. Thorn Out
Texture, asymmetry
and unexpected
varietals make up
the Rook and Rose
portfolio. Victoria-
based Erica Smolders
founded the lifestyle
biz in 2010 (besides
the wow-worthy flow-
ers, the shop offers
ceramics, skincare and
clothing). Bouquets
may die, but a floral-
printed tote bag won't.
rookandrose.com
2. Petal to the
Metal
Floral art meets set
design in Vancouver-
based La Bomba's
sculptural arrange-
ments. Founded in
2021 by Marta Sand-
erson, this Chinatown
studio isn't about that
basic bloom life— ex-
pect La Bomba's flow-
ers to be meticulously
turned inside out or
intentionally flipped
upside down for a
fresh take on flora.
On top of the classic
flower-shop offerings,
the brick-and-mortar
store hosts rentals,
too. labomba.ca
3. Flower Power
"As cheesy as it
sounds, we simply
love being a part of
brightening some-
one's day," says Lau-
rence Rich, founder of
FleuRich Creations.
The Kelowna-based
shop specializes in
flowers, but also sells
candles, candies and
cards and puts on
pop-up events in col-
laboration with other
small businesses. Rich
says she's passionate
about "sharing the
transformative power
of flowers and the
meditative process of
arranging them"—so
amateur arrangers
can grow their own
skills. fleurich.shop
1. Room to Grow
After running event-
planning business
Petite Pearl Events for
over a decade, Squa-
mish-based Indig-
enous entrepreneur
Jessica Minnie found
that there weren't any
modern floral design-
ers nearby that suited
her needs. So, in 2022,
she planted her own.
Fleurescent Blooms
+ Rentals curates
whimsical, contem-
porary arrangements
(and rentals available
through its sister
company make it a
go-to for party plan-
ners from the Sea
to Sky). fleurescent-
blooms.com
4. Best Buds
Alexandra Schulze
and Nassi Soofi got
their start glowing
up pre-made floral
arrangements with
their own clippings
and foraged florals,
and eventually broke
ground on the Wild
Bunch Flower Shop
in 2014. According to
the founders, the Van-
couver-based store
makes fresh and dried
arrangements using
a "freestyle method
of design," meaning
each one is unique.
thewildbunch.ca
6. Well Rooted
If you've spent any
time at all research-
ing Vancouver florists
for weddings, you've
heard of Celsia Floral
—that's because the
Kitsilano shop has
been putting to-
gether nuptial blooms
since Johanna Siu
first opened it in
2008. The explosive
yet refined designs
that come out of
Celsia have reached
icon status in the local
wedding world (seri-
ously, ask any Van-
couver bride). shop.
celsiaflorist.com
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