In my studio, finally

Spring outside, slowly coming to life, but in here it’s sprouting & blooming. It’s a calming peaceful place to be, I can’t wait for warmer weather when its time for me to go out in the woods and forage for more branches, bark & moss. Do you ever go for a walk and come home with treasures you’ve found along the way? This Sunday I will try to find some birch branches that I can cut, and make a Swedish “Påskris”. In Sweden we decorate with feathers, eggs and chicks for Easter! Thank’s to my cousin Ellinor who brought the papereggs from Sweden last time she visited, I will have those during my Easter workshop. You should come! Sign up on my website! When I do the Easter workshop I can tell you about some of the Swedish traditions for Easter, we are going a little wild up in the north!!!

And have you seen my special, regarding signing up for two or more workshops at the same time? You’ll get my Welcome package of an apron and a garden secateur to work with! So check out my Sign up page on the website and choose your favorite workshops, grab a friend and come over and be creative!

My Flower Studio 2026

So the time has finally come. I am opening the door to my own studio, where I will be creative & work with my clients, with workshops and projects.

So it took a little longer than planned, but finally in time for the spring season, I am moving in. I got water, heat and AC, I got my flower cooler and my worktables. I am slowly moving inventory from my basement into the new shelving system, unpacking and organizing. I can’t wait to have friends and clients come and visit! It will be by appointment only, and for now, the grounds outside needs a lot of work, so the garden part is still an ongoing project this year.

The workshops I will hold will be small, a maximum of 6 clients to start with, until I get into the vibe and see how the flow in the studio will work. SO bare with me. If you want to book a private workshop with your friends, maybe for someones birthday, or for a group of bridesmaids, or co-workers, please contact me and we can set that up.

The day the cooler got squeezed in through the garage door!

Within the next couple of weeks I will post more pictures from inside. My dream space is ready. I want to thank Kloter Farm for building our garage, making it fit in perfectly in the neighborhood. Thank you to Jason & his fantastic team at Raymond Design Builders, for creating the studios inside, that will be fantastic to work in. Now we are fine tuning the last details, more to come.

The journey continues...

Chapter 5 Into the World of Flowers

So one day when I sat in the chair at my hairdresser that we had used in the family for many years, we talked about what I wanted to do with my life. It’s what we all do at the hairdresser, right? At this time I was working with gardening, did a lot of weeding and planting, and started to feel there must be more than this. I had no connection to anyone in the flower business, and after years of going from flower shop to flower shop looking for weekend work, just to be turned away in the lack of experience, it seemed that my dream of working as a florist was still far away. But - my hairdresser suddenly says- well, I have a client that I work with every week, and she owns a flower shop, and also owns a large nursery for green & blooming plants. This became the connection I needed. She helped me connect me to Anita, her client, and in 1985-86 I started to work at Ellas Blomsterhandel in Sundbyberg, outside Stockholm. Starting from the bottom, sweeping floors, watering plants and cleaning flowers. I loved it.

I worked at this flowers shop while continuing applying for the floral design school, who at this time was the one and only in Sweden. They took in two classes every year, about 40 students. It was called Blomsterskolan, and it was based in Norrkoping, about 2 hours south of Stockholm. In 1986 I am finally old enough, and have earned enough credits to be accepted. My boss at the flower shop was incredible supported of me getting educated, so I got to go to school while still being able to work extra on Saturdays and holidays.

So I leave Stockholm behind again, live in student housing in Norrkoping during the weeks, taking the train home on Friday afternoons. The school is teaching classic floral design, all the basic techniques that in the end will take you to the Journey Mans certificate that we will hopefully graduate with. We learn economics and window display. More flowers and latin and common names. We learn all aspects of working at a flower shop. We have internships, and need to work and gather experience before applying and get accepted to the second and third semester. In 1989 I am ready for the practical test to receive the Journeymans certificate. To work as a florist is a very old trade, and I am so proud of being a craftsman/ artisan. The test then was to complete 6-7 different arrangements within 4 hours ( I think it was, it was a long time ago!) and pass the judges exam and get enough points to pass. I remember doing a funeral wreath, a wired and taped bridal bouquet, a bridesmaids bouquet and a larger arrangement & display that was something I had planned ahead. The other pieces I can’t remember now. But items for funeral, weddings and everyday.

I received my Journeymans certificate in Stockholm City hall, in the same large ballroom where the Nobel prize dinner is held, in 1989. I had fullfilled my dream I had since I heard that radio interview many years earlier in my kitchen, as a 13 year old girl.

Into the World of Flowers, chapter 4

Off to boarding school I go

I started the garden school, with butterflies in my stomach, not knowing a single one. We came from all over. From Stockholm, but also surroundings towns from a larger area. We were different ages. Most of us around 15-16 years old, but some in their 20s too. We came from all different kind of backgrounds.

A school that started in 1911, as a place in the countryside where youth could learn the importance of home economics like childcare, sewing and cooking for the girls, and for boys the concentration was on academics and farming & forestry. It became a horticulture school in 1971.

We lived in the old houses made into student housing, and we were both boys and girls in the same house, and there were only one adult teacher on duty at night for the whole school to keep us in order! We had a shared kitchen in our house, but could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner served in a dining room at the school. We learned to respect each other, we learned to share and cooperate. We slowly matured, living away from our parents. These are the two years that I think shaped me into the person I am today.

We studied all kind of plants. Garden flowers, forest trees, fruit trees, greenhouse technology and mechanics, we got to take a drivers license for tractors, we drove all kinds of machines for the fields, and planted and harvested vegetables. We pruned trees and built stone walls, learned latin & common names. I did my internship at a local commercial garden, working the greenhouses filled of Chrysanthemums. I thought for the longest time this would be my field of interest, but choose to go into landscaping instead. After graduating I worked as a garden worker for a year or two until I got my big break. And it happened at the hairdresser!

Chapter 3 in my Journey into the World of Flowers

I can actually work with flowers?

So I was 13 years old. A regular kid. In school I kept myself somewhere in the middle, not on the bottom, not at the top. I did OK, school was OK. I liked history, geography and biology best. And Swedish, I loved to write. I played basket ball in a neighborhood team, KIOF & was part of an afterschool theatre group. I still collected my green plants at home on my windowsill. And then one day, I sit in our kitchen listening to the radio. On the radio they interview a girl who just had accepted her Journeyman Certificate in Stockholm. As a florist. She explained what that meant. She had learned a trade. A very old trade. She worked at a flower shop, and had studied at a specific trade school, a Flower School. Blomsterskolan. I was mesmerized. This was my answer, I can actually WORK with flowers! Since childhood I had always loved walking through greenhouses, and taking in that intoxicating humid smell that hits you when you step inside a greenhouse. I loved picking wildflowers. I collected my small samplings and grew them bigger. There is a school for that?

So the way the Swedish school worked back then, was that after 9 years of school, you got the chance to choose the next step, what you want to keep studying, Remember, this is around 1981-1982. You could pick a path in economy, civics, technology, biology and so on. You could choose to go into nursing school, or trades like mechanics and graphic design. You keep studying for 2-4 more years. It was probably early in 9th grade you met with a guidance counselor to start to figure out your choice. I wanted to be a florist. I had heard that interview years earlier on the radio and it had stuck with me, I knew I could study flowers. I mentioned this to my guidance counselor. The counselor looked at me like if I had two heads! That was a first. Really, you really think THAT is something you want to do? I don’t remember this person being supportive. At all. My parents on the other hand, were very supportive of this, and wanted me to study what I felt passionate about. We looked into the Flower School for florists. It ended up being a little more difficult to choose this at this time, because I was still too young. But after some research, my guidance counselor came through with an alternative. A garden school. A horticulture school. It was a 2 year program that would take me to a boarding school, about 1,5 hour outside Stockholm, in the countryside of Bro. Säbyholms skolan. This is the best choice I have ever made. This is where I become ME. Where I can fleurish.

My journey into the World of Flowers, chapter 2

Where do I go from here?

I was a young girl with my own room on the second floor , in our house where I grew up. I had a window, with a wide windowsill, and I filled it with green plants. There were Spider plants hanging in macrame plant hangers. There were Monsteras growing large in terracotta pots. There were babies of Pothos, and Coffea Arabica with it’s shiny leaves. Every February/March when samplings were being sold at the garden centers nearby, I was there browsing & choosing interesting green plants to add to my collection. Starting them small, then growing them bigger, repotting them in larger pots. At one point my pride was a plant similar to the Corpse plant, blooming at night and stinky like no other! Not sure now exactly what kind it was. It was enough to have it bloom once. We had to put it outside! I had Hoya bellas too, blooming with its thick tiny white flowers in a cluster exploding of sweet fragrance. Still love them, and have my collection here.

My farmor- my fathers mother had a plant that I loved. It grew in her kitchen window first in her house, and later on moved to her apartment, and it was massive. A Cleodendron Thomsoniae, called Ödesträd in Swedish. I noticed plants and flowers where ever I went. My mormor, my mothers mom had windowsills filled with Saint Paulias ( African violets) and Begonias. I bought books about plants, and how to care for them. I was a passionate young collector! When I was in 6th or 7th grade, the moment came when I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I heard something on the radio.

Come February

How I started my journey into the World of Flowers

Chapter 1. When I grew up back in the 70s in the suburb of Vällingby west of Stockholm, the development where my mom & dad built our house was flanked by a smaller forest, and some meadows. An old since long closed railroad track stretched behind the meadows, where we played as children. It was the days when kids were sent outside to play, just to be asked to be home before it got dark. No cellphones to keep track of us. I loved to be there. With friends, or just by myself. It let our imagination run free. To walk through tall grasses, feeling the textures of the different grasses with my hands and Daisies and Bluebells peaking up stretching for the sunlight. I picked flowers all the time. In the meadow the daisies, blue bells and wood crane’s bills & Queen Anne’s lace. In the forest small blue & yellow violets in the crevasses of the rocks.

Bringing them home and finding small vases to put them in, filling up water, it brought me such joy. The flowers spoke to me in a way I can’t explain, but today I know it shaped me into the person I am today. You wish all children could grow up with warm memories like this. We had a garden.A quite big one I think, we lived on a corner lot. I also had grandparents who rented a summer house outside Enköping, where I spent summers & school breaks surrounded by fields of grains, where Bachelors buttons and Poppies colored patches in the hues of pale yellow beige straws of Oats, Wheat & Rye swaying in the wind.

At the summer house we had raspberry patches, pear and apple trees, wide borders of flowers flanked by gravel paths raked in straight patterns by my grandfather. Our bare feet got hardened by running across the gravel every summer, while playing all the imaginary scenarios you could think of, building forts and eating too many of small grey pears until our tummies hurt and time was spent in the outhouse! We could drive a few minutes to Lake Mälaren, to swim and play. I have been so lucky. This time shaped me.The love of nature. From the summer house we could walk in rubber boots up to the church across the big road, through the cow pasture ( where I could pick the small yellow Cowslips) & into a thick ancient forests to forage for mushrooms, especially the bright yellow Chanterelles, that we later fried in butter and put on crispbread and ate in the vintage kitchen with the low ceiling. It’s one of my absolute favorite things with Sweden, our right to walk through and forage from the woods, no one can tell you no. It’s called Allemansrätten. It means “ Right to public access” or Freedom to roam”. Can there be a better way to grow up as a child?

In the textured sunny meadows and the softness of mossy forest floors is where my passion for flowers and nature was born.

Studio Update!

And the time is here to think SPRING, and I want to buy seeds and start to plan my raised beds for this spring. A lot will need to happen in my garden, after months of construction, but I will do a little at a time, and hopefully grow some of the flowers you’ll see in my arrangements this summer, or work with them in upcoming workshops!

It’s all in the details

We are so close now, but still there are some work to be done, so many small details to think about. The walls are primed and ready for some paint. My workbenches & shelfs are awaiting the un-packing ceremony and my light fixtures are waiting to be hung. Can’t wait to be able to set up my workroom the way I want, and to finally be able to start to work with weddings & events, with weekly flower orders to small intimate workshops.

My studio has been like a seed sprouting, and now it is searching for the light, for the sun to grow bigger and stronger. Spring- the awakening of the ground, the seeds hiding deep in the soil. Come February, and my hands will be filling seeds pods and and the packages of seeds that I buy will be too many- like always! Can’t wait.

Coming this spring,

Nourish Your Inner Calm and Creativity: Upcoming Floral Workshops

In our fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquility and creativity is essential for maintaining balance and well-being. What better way to achieve this than through the gentle beauty of flowers? Join us for our upcoming floral workshops, designed to help you immerse yourself in the therapeutic world of blooms. These workshops are a perfect escape from your busy life, allowing you to unwind, connect with nature, and unleash your creative potential.

Experience the Therapeutic Power of Flowers

Flowers have long been recognized for their calming properties. Engaging with them not only brings joy but also promotes mindfulness and relaxation. Research has shown that spending time with plants can lower stress levels, improve mood, and even enhance cognitive function. In our workshops, you will have the opportunity to arrange stunning floral displays while learning how these beautiful creations can uplift your spirits and serve as a form of therapy.

Workshop Highlights

• Stress Relief: Our workshops are a haven for relaxation. Surrounded by the fragrance and colors of fresh flowers, you’ll find a peaceful space to let your worries melt away.

• Creative Expression: Let your imagination flourish as you learn the art of floral arrangement.

• Connection with Nature: Discover the joy of working with seasonal blooms. Understanding the importance of nature in our lives will deepen your appreciation for the beauty around us, fostering a sense of connection that is often lost in today’s digital age. Put your phone to the side and experience the joy of flowers with fragrance, texture and natures palette of

What to Expect

Each workshop includes all necessary materials, including a variety of fresh flowers, tools, and vases. No prior experience is required—just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to explore. Nature's palette of wonders showcases a breathtaking blend of vibrant colors, from the lush greens of forests to the vivid hues of blooming flowers.

Join Us

Treat yourself to a day of creativity and self-care. Whether you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, connect with others, or simply indulge in your love for flowers, these workshops are the perfect opportunity. These classes will be small, so when dates will be posted, they might fill up fast. Take advantage of Floral Surroundings Welcome package, if you sign up for 2 or more workshops during the year of 2026. More information will follow soon.

December comes to an end

Embracing Change: The Excitement of Year-End and New Beginnings

The Promise of a New Year

As we approach the end of the year, a familiar sensation fills the air—excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. The close of one chapter often marks the beginning of another, and this year is particularly special for me as I prepare to open my new studio. I was an Ignite grant recipient this year, awarded by WBDC, Women’s Business Development Council of Connecticut. It is very humbling to know someone is believing in your vision. Next year is when my vision finally is coming to life.

With every new year comes a blank canvas, ripe with possibilities. It’s a chance to set new goals, embrace fresh ideas, and ignite our passions. For me, the opening of my studio represents not just a physical space, but a realm of creativity and collaboration. I am eager to welcome clients, share my vision, and foster a vibrant community where creativity flourishes.

This new studio symbolizes a commitment to my artistic journey, providing a place where inspiration can be born and nurtured. It’s a dream realized, and I am enthusiastic about the array of projects and opportunities that await.

I cannot wait to open this door you soon😉

THANKSGIVING 2025

Plan your Thanksgiving dinner

Autumn is the perfect time to add color & texture to your dinner table. The warm palett of Thanksgiving gives you vibrant reds, warm yellows and earthy oranges in a spectacular mix of warmth & inviting atmosphere for friends and family.

Contact me to discuss your choice of your own containers, and if you need a delivery to make it easier for you, or if you want to pick up at the studio.

Thanksgiving flowers are more than just decor; they symbolize gratitude, warmth, and the beauty of the season. By carefully selecting colors and textures, you can create stunning arrangements that enhance your celebration and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

I look forward to hear from you and help you plan your Holiday dinner party. Delivery & pick up.

Email me on Floralsurroundings@gmail.com

Holiday Fair at the Scandinavian Club!

Mark your calendar, Saturday December 6

”Santas Workshop” is open in my basement, and candle arrangements are being started.

My shelves are spilling over of a mix of natural and faux decor, and I am eagerly awaiting my new studio to come to life. Hopefully there will be a chance for me to have you visit the studio Mid December to find some special designed Holiday pieces.

Welcome for a fun day of holiday shopping, at the annual Christmas fair at the scandinavian club in fairfield,

1351 south pine creek road in fairfield, ct. we are opening the doors at 10 am-4 pm.

My table will be filled with Scandinavian decor, Amaryllis dishgardens, some vintage vessels with aromatic fresh wintergreens, bows and little Swedish Tomtar ( gnomes). Come and find decor for your home and hostess gifts for all those Holiday parties coming up in December! Swedish style Advent candleholders and a few Lucia items will be added. Välkommen.

A little bit closer...

For each day we get a little closer. By Mid-November there is suppose to be a structure here! The flower cooler is ordered, and some other items are also on their way. It is a fantastic feeling that I can design this from scratch. After ~ 40 years working in several retail flower shops, both in Sweden & here in Connecticut, I have gathered an ocean of experience and ideas of how to get the workspace to work the best way. You learn so much when you work in different places, of what works well, and what does not.

I can tell you, that one of the most exciting things I will add to my workshop, is the water hose!!! Yes, it’s true, it makes me so darn happy, to know I will have a hose coming from the ceiling, and make me fill buckets of water DIRECT on my worktable! Halleluja. If you are a floral designer, you KNOW why this is such great improvement in a workroom. All these years schlepping and lifting HEAVY buckets of water are soon behind me. Can’t wait to show you.

Joining Whispering Oaks in Norwalk on September 25th

Floral Surroundings is sponsoring an Open House in Norwalk

Have you seen this fantastic venue right in our own local “backyard” ? A hidden gem in Norwalk Connecticut, that can host a large event for weddings, celebrations or a corporate event. Join us at this open house to see what the venue offers!

use the QR code for details!

September 25th at 5pm-7pm

A future floral studio!

It has started. The construction of my future studio where Floral Surroundings will take it’s first step into the future. I am very excited to share this journey with you.

And yes, as you can see in this picture, my neighbors in the back are in an old historic cemetery, and so far we have not dug anyone up!

Christmas in July

Are you ready for December yet?

In the midst of a sweltering July day I am in full planning mode for Holiday fairs, and November & December sales of winter wreaths and candle arrangements. Products start to be ordered, I am counting and checking whats in stock in my basement, and what needs to be purchased. Come September-October, it is time to start Santas Workshop! It is time to set aside dates for workshops where door wreaths will be created by busy hands among others who happily throws themself into the Holiday spirit of decorating. Oh Joy!

Keep an eye on my Instagram and my website for Holiday Workshop dates, that will be posted early this fall. You can always let me know ahead of time, if you have an interest in attending a workshop, or if you want to hold a workshop where YOU bring together your friends and we’ll be creative together! You can send me an email with a request or ask to be added to my workshop-list. Then you will be alerted ahead of time of me posting the dates for my workshops. With limited space in these workshop it is good to get a heads up!

And the winner is….

I am proud and thankful to receive a women’s business grant. This is not just a win for me, but for everyone who has supported and believed in the vision behind my business.

I’m in the process of growing Floral Surroundings into a different kind of floral design studio—one that reflects my evolving creative vision and serves clients in new, more meaningful ways.

A dream almost true..many years in the making

Suddenly everything is happening at the same time. The stars are aligned in the sky. Our vintage garage has finally served its time, and a new one will take shape and give space for a studio for me. At the same time- getting noticed, and someone somewhere is believing in me & my small business. The chance to charge forward.

“New beginnings, endless possibilities”

Can’t wait to bring you on my new journey! Who says you need to slow down as you’re getting older? I am full of ideas and creativity that will be released these next months ahead of us.

Spring 2025 is here.....

Got some green tomato seeds!

The greenhouse starts to be ready for action!

My new Hoyas from Philly Flower Show

How Many seed packages did you buy so far? Are you like me, always buying more than you need? Those tomatoes that ALWAYS become thousands, and how much tomatoes can you really eat?! Really?

I am starting to plan a little for NEXT year!!!! Got Hollyhock seeds- named OUTHOUSE! They will bloom next year if I am lucky! This year I will plan to stick with my new containers, and some raised beds. Big changes are happening in our yard this spring and summer, so I am trying to reel in my spring enthusiasm!

Beets & Carrots!

I have gotten some beet seeds and some short & chubby carrots, thought I’ll try in containers. Need to be able to move things around this summer. Stay tuned to see what sprouts in my greenhouse and what might flourish in my containers!

Julmarknad i Fairfield- Christmas Fair in Fairfield

This Saturday- December 7 at 10am-3pm

Candle arrangements will be available., together with Amaryllis dish gardens, wreaths and more.

Come and visit Floral Surroundings tables at the Scandinavian Club in Fairfield CT , this Saturday. Lot’s of vendors will showcase gifts for the upcoming holidays. Lunch and fika will be sold.

1351 South Pine Creek Road, Fairfield.