Shops / Interviews
Floral fantasia
Connie Reeves is a florist that likes to spread the cheer of each season’s colourful bounty in any way she can. Whether that’s through small and sweet jars delivered by bicycle within the city, tiny posies dotted around festivals for recipients to adopt, or small but flamboyant arrangements for weddings, cafes and banquets.
With her own 22-foot polytunnel and cut flower garden, as well as a commitment to buying British grown flowers, Connie has the ‘local, seasonal’ ethos that appeals to people and businesses who share it. “It’s a more sustainable approach to floristry,” says Connie. “It’s about enjoying nature’s bounty on our doorstep.”
is needed now More than ever
Flower Riot, Connie’s floristry business in Easton, is relatively new – launching last year – but she previously had a florist shop on Stokes Croft. When the birth of her baby boy timed with the shop’s lease ending, Connie reassessed how she wanted to work and have her passion for floral sated, while looking after her son. She started Flower Riot, with a focus on online sales, weddings and events. She also has a stall outside No.12 in Easton on Saturday mornings. “They’re so kind at No.12, with a similar ethos and great food. It’s a lovely, busy part of Easton,” she says.
Connie’s love and understanding of flowers stems from her upbringing on her grandparent’s flower farm in Cheddar, where she spent long days with the plants and flowers. Her beloved grandparents had her working in their fields with crops of strawberries, sweet williams and anemones. “Such amazing people, so sweet. They really had me working hard though, make no mistake!”
The polytunnel is situated at her in-laws’ 16th century house in Backwell, set within an idyllic field. “I’m a very lucky lady,” she says. Hardworking and passionate, Connie finds that since having her son, she’s even more focused and definite about what she wants in day to day life, and to ultimately achieve. “There’s a definite need for success,” she says. “I have balanced my past experience with motherhood, and I have a real drive!”
Connie also offers set design to weddings and events, and with her background in fine art (of which she has a degree) and taxidermy, she has a unique and highly creative portfolio. It was while working backstage at festivals that she started working with the Lonely Bouquet, leaving posies for festival attendees to find in various places, and track online.
Looking through Connie’s online shop of flowers, it’s like she’s collected the fields of England and arranged them in a smart and thoughtful flourish. A connection with the flowers, landscape and sentiment behind them. “I’m inspired by the flowers themselves. By how they move and their colour – the beauty of seasonal flowers. I don’t like anything too contrived, I love natural arrangements, allowing the flowers to do the talking.”
Flower Riot can be found every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, outside No. 12 Easton, 12 High Street, Easton, BS5 6DL