Meet the FLORIST: Celine Watz
December 2024
Hello flower lovers, and welcome to the glories of summer!
This month, we feature the absolutely gorgeous blooms and arrangements of experienced florist-turned-flower-grower Celine Watz. Celine, along with her husband Tristan, runs Floral By Nature a micro flower farm nestled in the beautiful Kanimbla Valley in the heart of Sydney's Blue Mountains. Celine and Tristan grow only organic blooms and are inspired by the Slow Flower Movement to support and encourage sustainable growing practices in Australia.
Celine spent 25 years working with flowers before experiencing unexpected health concerns that led her to rethink floristry. It was then that she discovered the dangers of handling conventionally grown flowers, which are often treated with herbicides and insecticides. Unbeknown to her, these blooms were exposing her daily to harmful chemicals, and she became acutely aware of the toxicity risks faced by florists. Luckily, the passion she shares with Tristan for horticulture and the Slow Flower Movement inspired them to establish their own chemical-free flower farm. In 2016, they planted their first crop of blooms and Floral By Nature was born.
Due to the cold winters in the Blue Mountains, which are too harsh for growing flowers, the farm's flowering season runs from October to April. During these months, Celine grows a vibrant selection of her favourite blooms including dahlias, Canterbury bells, roses, peonies, lavender and echinacea. In addition to cultivating flowers, Celine also makes stunning bouquets which she supplies to local shops, and caters to the flower needs of eco-conscious brides for weddings. In winter, she makes cold-processed soaps embedded with dried petals from the farm, and year round, Celine holds creative workshops in the farm's shed (also her studio). There, visitors can use fresh flowers during the growing period and dry flowers in winter to make bouquets or floral crowns. In this way Celine offers flower lovers another way to experience the joys of sustainable floristry.
I love following the progress of Celine's farm and the magical moments she shares on social media. Her posts radiate with jubilant colours and textures that reflect the effort. heart and passion she pours into everything she touches. Each season brings new floral adventures... sometimes you can almost smell the divine blooms right through the screen!
Our flowers for December are Celine's favourites: lavender and rose. Here's what Celine had to say when I interviewed her for our 2024 Planner.
1/ Can you tell us a bit about your every day life in the garden?
Life amongst the flowers on our farm is always changing with the seasons, which I think is a big reason why I love it so much. No two days are the same, which keeps it interesting. Some days I'm preparing beds and planting seedlings and the next day I might be harvesting and arranging flowers. It's a busy life and we have a never-ending list of jobs to do - we are alvays planning one season ahead to ensure a continuous supply of flowers - but the work is very rewarding.
2) What are some of your favourite flowers that inspire you? Why?
I've always had a soft spot for old fashioned roses. The more petals the better and an intoxicating fragrance sends me to heaven! As soon as they flower in spring I find myself buzzing with creativity and can't wait to use them in our bouquets and arrangements. I think I must be inspired by beautiful fragrances because I absolutely love lavender, too, particularly English Lavender. We planted a field of lavender two years ago so we could have our own mini slice of Provence. I love wandering the rows when they're in full flower and harvest armfuls to create our fresh lavender wreaths.
3/ Do you have any fun facts, growing tips or styling tips about lavender or roses you'd like to share?
Something I love to share with our workshop participants is fresh lavender tea. It's so easy and simple to make and is a treat for the nose and taste buds! Strip the buds off the lavender, pop them in a tea infuser and steep for a few minutes in hot water, add a spoonful of honey and voila! A beautiful calming cup of flower tea! With roses, a little floristry hack I like to use when wiring them for boutonnières and bouquets is to add a tiny piece of wet tissue to the end of the rose before wrapping in floristry tape. It makes such a difference to how long roses last out of water!
SHOP THE ROSE COLLECTION
