My love story with flowers began when I was just a child. Strolling with my grandmother in her garden and being introduced to Lily Of The Valley and Cecil Brunner roses and falling in love with the smell of lemon blossoms. Discovering a long-forgotten lilac bush in the backyard of my childhood home solidified for me the endless beauty of nature and the fact that flowers will continue to exist and thrive – regardless of whether we know they are there or not.
My interest and excitement to learn more about flowers and plants led me to acquire my college degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Floriculture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
After graduation, I worked in bucket shops and started my journey of crafting wedding flowers. For over twenty years, I had the privilege of working all along the Central Coast of California – from Hearst Castle to Bacara Hotel in Santa Barbara – doing elaborate wedding celebrations. Recently, after spending a few years in the beautiful Pacific Northwest area working with some amazing floral designers and wedding/event planners in the greater Seattle area, my family and I returned to Paso Robles and the San Luis Obispo County area — a place we call home with family and friends.
For inspiration, I look to nature and I love the change in weather and how plants and flowers can look so different from one season to the next. It is these subtle distinctions in texture, color and shape that I bring to my floral creations.
Floral designer Happy Saunders