In honor of Mother’s Day, Curran’s Flowers is spotlighting one of our own marvelous moms, who offers her insight on the flowers you should give the mamas in your life this May 13.
Name: Gayle Stanley Rogers
Kids first names & ages: Brett, 28 & Jack, 25
How did you get into floral work?
I was a stay-at-home mom when my boys were very young, and thought it would be fun to take some floral design courses at the local community college. You might say I experienced an ‘ah-ha’ moment when I designed my very first centerpiece. I had found my passion!
What do you love most about working with flowers?
First, I am fortunate to work in a shop that carries an extensive assortment of premium flowers. It makes my design work more interesting and fun. What I love most about working with flowers is determining a color palette, selecting flowers with a variety of textures and properties, and seeing the finished design. I love the infinite creativity of blending colors, varieties, and scents.
Favorite flower?
Orchid. I love so many varieties but have a particular fondness for oncidium, mokara, and phalaenopsis orchids.
If you design, do you have a signature style? Are you known for any specific approach or preference?
My signature style is marrying premium hydrangea, roses, orchids, and stock in a European glass vase with lush greenery. I range from liking monochromatic designs to mixing hot pink and orange. Typically, my style is mounded, but sometimes loose and airy depending on a customer’s preference. As a finishing touch I love to add stems of sword fern, and have sprigs of ivy spilling from the collar of the vase. I also have a weakness for Italian ruscus.
What do you love most about being a mom?
Though I never thought I’d make it out of their teenage years, what I love most about being a mom is having pride that I raised two boys who grew to be intelligent, free-thinking, hard-working, independent, and thoughtful men.
What do your kids think about what you do? Are they into flowers?
They loved my career when they were in high school! Neither one had to order or pay for prom flowers at a flower shop because I was able to design wrist corsages for their dates. Now that they have girlfriends, they consult with me on what to give.
What flowers or flower design do moms really want for Mother’s Day, from your point of view? Speaking as both a mom and a flower expert? If you could pick one design from your selection to receive yourself, which would it be?
As a mom and floral expert, I think it’s nice to think about the mothers’ lifestyle; e.g., do they love to garden? Then perhaps a basket of flowering plants. Does she have fun arranging flowers? Perhaps a mixed bouquet would please her. Personally, I think most moms appreciate receiving an arrangement that is designed for them, rather than something they must assemble. An elegant arrangement I would choose for Mother’s Day is a dozen roses (same color), in a medium size bubble bowl, lush greenery, sword fern, and ivy, of course!
