“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter … to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life”

– John Burroughs, American naturalist

It’s with these words in mind that I step boldly into the future.
In the coming months, I plan to realign my life and my work to delight more in the pleasures of being part of this industry. I want to celebrate and share your stories and your amazing creativity in new and exciting ways.

From new compilation books to video, social media and email, I want to take the time to learn and share your accomplishments and be thrilled and elated by your endless creativity. You are all amazing creators, and your love of flowers should shine and be shared.

Three years ago, on April 1, 2016, I joined you for this amazing floral ride. With the love of journalism and a deep appreciation for the hard work and creativity of florists behind me, I jumped in with both feet and invested heavily in creating a beautiful magazine that spoke to your aspirations as designers.

Now, as Florists’ Review looks forward at the changing landscape of publishing and floral design, we’ll be working hard to bring you new digital content. This will include video from around the world telling your stories, new email content bringing you up-to-date news from our industry, and improved website content.

Digital is the new frontier for publishing and for floristry. I’m excited to embrace these new ideas while, at the same time, embracing the idea that life and work are meant to be enjoyed and savored.

Like I was, so many florists were lured into the industry by the love of flowers and what they mean to us. Don’t forget the original joy you had for working with flowers behind the endless hours of hard work.

If you’re not absolutely happy, maybe it’s time for a change for you as well. Life is meant to be rich, diverse and successful. A change in your course is not a sign of failure but, rather, of recognizing what brings you the most joy and pursuing it.