The women behind the blooms! The creative minds bringing colour to your day, one bunch at a time. We popped in to meet, Hayley, Sandra, Lexi and Hana to talk all things flowers, get the inside goss on their best-kept floral secrets and, naturally, find out what makes the perfect all-day work shoe.

Here is what they had to say! 

THE BEST PART AT WORKING AND BUDS & BOWERS?

There was one answer that came up again and again: the team! And, obviously, the flowers.

For Hayley, it’s “the girls I work with, the scent of the flowers and getting to be creative.”

Lexi agrees, loving that “working with the team and flowers are just so fun and creative.”

For Sandra, it’s the combination of “my colleagues, the flowers, and working in Surry Hills with our regular community.”

Hana summed it up perfectly: “The team. And obviously, the flowers!”

ON THEIR FEET

When your working day involves being surrounded by buckets of water, armfuls of flowers and plenty of time on your feet, a good work shoe is non-negotiable.

So, what does the Buds & Bowers team actually look for in a good shoe?

For Lexi, the perfect work shoe is one she can wear all day, every day, with a little help from compression socks.

While Sandra keeps it simple: comfortable and watertight.

Hayley wants the best of both worlds: “Comfortable, but also stylish. Something that works for business hours and after hours.”

Hana is all about the power of a good shoe to pull an outfit together and we can’t help but agree. 

“We get dirty so we don't wear our good clothes, but a good shoe makes you feel like your outfit is put together.”

THE FLOWER GOSS

Buds and Bowers is our favourite florist and, naturally, we had a lot of questions.

Starting with the one question everyone wants to know: how do you actually make your flowers last longer?

Lexi's top tip is a little unexpected: add a small amount of bleach to the water.

As for how often you should be changing that water? Hayley recommends every one to two days.

And if your flowers have already started looking a little wilted? Hana is here to save the day. 

"Change the water and cut the stems. For some flowers, a little spritz of water can help on the face, while others can benefit from a few hours soaking in the bathtub."

For Poppies and Roses, they need a bit more TLC. Flower CPR, essentially! "Place the bottom of the stems in boiling water for around 10 seconds, then plunge them straight into really cold water. The temperature change gives them a shock and can help bring them back to life."

And which flowers last the longest?

Sandra says it’s about giving them all a little love, but natives and orchids are particularly long-lasting.

PICK OF THE BUNCH

If you are a true flower fanatic like us, you will love the girls current floral obsessions. 

Lexi: Tulips
“They’re stunning and there are so many colours and varieties.”

Hayley: Cymbidium orchids
“It’s a seasonal thing for me. Right now, it’s the cymbidium orchid.”

Hana: Anika plum blossom
“It blooms for weeks and weeks. The present that keeps on giving.”

Sandra: Tulips
“They actually keep growing after you cut them.”

IF CONNIE WERE A FLOWER…

In true LMS fashion, we couldn’t visit a florist without bringing a little LMS into the mix.

We asked the Buds & Bowers team to pick the flower that best matched the Connie boot and we absolutely love their answers.

Lexi - Red Dahlia
“Perfect match.”

Hayley - Helleborus
“Unique, just like the colour of the boots.”

Hana - Cymbidium Orchid
“Chic and mysterious.”

Sandra - After Dark
“Sexy. It dances in the sun and changes colour, just like Connie."

A LITTLE FLOWER WISDOM FROM BUDS & BOWERS TO YOU 

After spending time with the Buds & Bowers team, we’ve learnt a few things:

• Change your flower water every 1–2 days.
• Cut your stems regularly.
• Give wilting flowers a little extra love.
• Natives and orchids are your go to if you want a long lasting bloom.
• And of course, never underestimate the power of a good shoe.

Whether you're arranging flowers, heading into the office, running around Surry Hills or going straight from work to the dance floor, the right pair can make all the difference.

We love discovering the people, places and businesses that make our local communities what they are.

To the Buds & Bowers team, thank you for letting us into your world and for all of your flower advice. If you’re ever looking for an incredible arrangement made by even more incredible people, look no further than Buds & Bowers.

SHOP BUDS & BOWERS HERE.