I finally arrived at the Melbourne flower and garden show in a sweat with sore feet. I thought March in Melbourne was meant to be cold? Leather pants was probably not the best option and neither were those new tan coloured boots I bought the day before.
I paid my way in and walked into the show ground and sat on the first seat I could find.
A elderly lady joined me on the park bench and I asked her if she had had a good day.
"Yes thank you, I have" she replied
"Is this your first year at the flower show?" I asked knowing that she most likely was a avid flower show attendee.
"Oh no darling, I come every year."
"So you must like flowers then. " I said with a smile
"Yes, I do. I love to see what they come up with. And this year to walk through the beautiful paintings was just lovely. "
"They have paintings?"
"Oh yes. Just as beautiful as the arrangements. "
I began to collect my things and make a start towards the pavilion and she grabbed my hand "It's so lovely to see you young ones here. Have a wonderful time dear."
"I will! And thank you! You have a good afternoon too. "
I crammed my way through the crowd and walked into the hall full of iPhones and cameras, prams and elderly people trying to see the major works of various florists from the area.
To be honest there were only a few arrangements that stood out to me. Many of them sticking to a theme that I couldn't quite work out, but none the less I was on a mission to see, I mean really see, what it was I had come all this way to experience.
You see there is always something special, something that speaks to you if you let it.
I walked through beautiful structures of bamboo with attached lotus pods, spider orchids, birds of paradise and red roses. There was stunning displays of wood panels with planted Singapore orchids hung with fluro pink rope from the ceiling and a huge clown face made out of orchids, roses and hydrangea with a party theme that stated "Life is a Circus".
But the moment came as I turned the corner to a table adorned with just about every type of tulip.
To be honest tulips aren't usually my thing. I think they are beautiful but I don't usually have a "wow" moment with them. Until now.
Feathered, soft pink and white tulips. I had only seen a pictures of them in books. Now here they were in mass in front of me. they looked as though they were stage faces delicately painted pink with huge white feminine eyelashes. As my eyes observed their unique features I discovered a petal that had fallen on the mirrored table below. that one petal alone had so much beauty in it I wished to reach out and take it home with me!
But I knew it was there for me to see and I knew if I left it, it may have a purpose to speak to someone else, if they too, were aware enough to see it.
I commented to the lady beside me in excitement
"Wow.. look at that petal!! Isn't it just beautiful?"
She smiled politely but didn't say anything as she moved on... Well maybe it was just me.
Maybe I was a sucker for nature and I was the only one who got influenced by its extravagant beauty.
I knew I wanted to tell it's story.
I was reminded of what Amelia always says to me, "We work with a product that can't be manufactured. It's beauty speaks for itself. No matter how hard we try we can never produce it. That's why it's such a privilege to be in this industry."
So it didn't take an amazing arrangement, that took hours to create, for me to be impacted or even persuaded me to stay passionate about my work. It took the rawness of a single flower with the stunning combination of its fallen petal on a mirrored table.
A reminder again that it is a privilege to work for Nature's own industry.
That travelling all the way to Melbourne to discover a tulip that left me so insanely happy was worth it.
And grateful again that I chose to have eyes to see.
Bella Vista Flower Merchants Florist shop is located in the Circa Shopping Centre opposite Norwest Private Hospital and we offer same day delivery Sydney Wide. We love raw, fresh, modern floristry designs and love to work closely with nature to give your flowers an organic, freshly picked feeling. We have a great relationship with our growers and suppliers, travelling daily to growers markets and flower farms so can personally guarantee the quality and freshness of our flowers. We specialise in fresh bouquets and arrangements, corporate flowers, events and weddings and offer a no obligation free consultation to discuss these needs with you.
