In this episode of Flower Farming in New Zealand, Jo Robinson sits down with Perth-based florist, writer, and global flower enthusiast Cerina Triglavcanin—also known as The Flower Scout.
What started as a frustration with school ball corsages turned into a full-blown floristry career, international travel, and a writing platform documenting flower festivals, workshops, and design inspiration across the globe.
Cerina shares how she built her skills from scratch, why she chose events over retail floristry, and how she combines freelancing, travel, and storytelling into a unique and evolving career in flowers.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Starting a Floristry Career Later in Life
Why Cerina skipped retail floristry for events
Freelancing in Event Floristry
The flexibility (and unpredictability) of freelance work
Designing with Intention - Fewer ingredients = higher design pressure and more intentional selection.
Cerina’s signature approach:
• Monochromatic palettes
• “En masse” floral use
• Limiting designs to three key ingredients
• Sculptural forms and strong line work
Cerina shares her experiences attending:
• International flower festivals
• High-level floral workshops
• Large-scale installation events
• Why workshops are as much about people as they are about technique
From Florist to Writer: Building “The Flower Scout”
• How Cerina began writing for Flowers Magazine Australia
• Turning travel experiences into published articles
• Starting a Substack as a creative outlet and long-term strategy
• Using writing as a less physically demanding pathway within floristry
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and episode overview
00:41 - Cerina’s background and passion for flowers
01:44 - How she started her floristry journey pre-COVID
02:12 - Her formal training via TAFE during the pandemic
03:32 - Balancing freelance events with personal design style
04:48 - The influence of travel and worldwide workshops
06:09 - The significance of international flower festivals
08:00 - How climate impacts flower choices in Perth
09:12 - Her approach to native Australian flowers and design principles
10:42 - The challenge of sourcing flowers locally & seasonally
12:36 - Her favourite flowers and arrangements
13:40 - Writing as an extension of her floristry passion and her Substack
15:53 - Planning upcoming projects like Subi Blooms and native flora installations
16:38 - Her future goals, including judging and ongoing learning
18:07 - The story behind her publication in Blumenhaus
19:40 - The story of her Substack handle 'The Flower Scout'
21:39 - How she chooses flower festivals and workshops globally
23:09 - Memorable flower festival experiences
25:39 - Insights into international wholesale markets
33:01 - The impact of quarantine laws and imports on local floristry
36:47 - Her outlook on the future of floristry & her evolving roles
44:05 - The potential shift from floristry to writing and sharing stories
46:39 - Her upcoming judging role and exciting plans
47:41 - Closing remarks and future collaborations
Resources & Links:
• Cerina's Substack - The Flower Scout
• Flowers Magazine Australia
• Blumenhaus Magazine
• Chelsea Flower Show
• Madrid Blooms
• Waterlily Farm, Margaret River
• https://theflowerscout.substack.com/p/leuca-creek-waterliliesConnect with our Sponsors - Fresh Cut Flower Wholesalers
Follow them on Instagram @freshcutflowerwholesalers
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Music Credit for some of the music in this episode goes to Shane Ivers - Happy Clappy Ukulele
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