Blooming on My Own Terms

Where it all started

One of my earliest memories is standing in the garden with my mom, hands in the dirt, learning to loosen the roots of a potted azalea. She personified the plant as if it were a pet. “You won’t hurt him,” she said, showing me how to break apart the tight, white, lace-like roots. “This will let him stretch his legs—like taking off tight shoes at the end of the day.”

This lesson stuck with me. Caring for plants has always felt like caring for family. From the very beginning, flowers felt like home. And I learned early on that mistakes don’t make you a “plant-killer.” Even the most experienced gardeners and florists break stems, lose plants, and misstep—it’s not the failure that matters, it’s how you recover, nurture, and try again.

My mom and me in the garden, 1996

Early Roots

By the time I was twelve, I was already arranging flowers. My mom would let me pick a few stems at the grocery store, and I’d rush home to create little designs. I became addicted to the process, and loved creating something beautiful.

In high school, I joined the horticulture program and learned how to propagate cuttings and make small arrangements. I’ll never forget the day my teacher, Mrs. Lange, asked me personally to create an arrangement for her. I felt on top of the world.

At fifteen, I landed my first job in a flower shop—and quickly discovered that floristry isn’t just “playing with roses.” It’s scrubbing buckets with bleach, soaking thorn-scratched hands in baking soda, and lifting heavy vases and boxes.

It’s long days, endless creativity, and the challenge of working with something as beloved—and perishable—as flowers.

Growing With Flowers

Over the past twenty years, I’ve worked in family-owned shops and upscale locations, with every event, every arrangement, every client teaching me something new.

I’ve learned how to hydrate roses so they last longer, how to perk up tulips, and how tropicals need special care. I’ve specialized in houseplants, too, studying their unique needs and quirks.

And still, even now, I learn something new every single day. That endless curiosity is one of the reasons I’m starting this blog: to share what I’ve learned (and keep learning) with anyone who loves flowers and plants as much as I do—or wants to.

Why Sunlit Blooms

When I dreamed up Sunlit Blooms, I wanted it to be more than just a flower shop. I wanted creative freedom. I wanted to help people feel empowered to care for plants without fear of killing them. I wanted to design arrangements that felt deeply personal and tailored to each client.

The name came from my love of the sun. To me, “sunlit blooms” evokes radiant warmth, light, and joy—exactly what I want every client, friend, and family member to feel when they experience my work. My hope is that each arrangement surpasses expectations, feels infused with love and attention to detail, and leaves people a little more in awe of nature.

Looking Ahead

Someday, I picture Sunlit Blooms blossoming into more: perhaps a wedding venue, a nursery, a flower farm. A space where flowers, plants, and people come together in celebration and community.

But for now, this blog is where it begins. Here, I’ll share plant tips and tricks, flower-arranging ideas, seasonal guides, and behind-the-scenes stories from my life as a florist.

Thank you for being here, for your curiosity, and for supporting this dream.

Sunlit Blooms is about more than flowers. It’s about love. 🌸