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30 <strong>Magazine</strong> | Promotion<br />
FLOWER POWER<br />
A Christchurch floral institution located in the heart of Fendalton, Jenny Burtt Florist is<br />
blooming under the new ownership of Georgie Wilding.<br />
What inspired you to become a florist?<br />
I’ve always been creative with a passion for art and design<br />
but never considered floristry as a career until I was at<br />
Massey University in Wellington studying textile design. My<br />
fabric prints were all heavily influenced by flowers.<br />
After my degree I was very fortunate to get a job at<br />
Jenny Burtt Florist and learn on the job after completing<br />
my floristry course.<br />
Where else have you worked?<br />
I had the privilege of assisting my good friend Natalie-Rose<br />
Rutherford with events at Flowerhead, which gave me a<br />
taste for further extending my knowledge and skills.<br />
I moved to Melbourne to work for one of Melbourne’s<br />
leading event florists, Fleur McHarg, also known as the<br />
rockstar florist.<br />
Melbourne’s extreme lockdown forced me to find<br />
job stability and I was offered a job at Melbourne’s<br />
leading retail florist, Flowers Vasette. It was here I gained<br />
enormous knowledge and experience that has been<br />
invaluable to my career.<br />
Our everyday clients were the National Gallery of<br />
Victoria, Government House, Louis Vuitton, Burberry,<br />
Chanel, Tiffanys, Van Cleef & Arpels, the Crown Hotel<br />
group, The Ritz, international celebrities and many more.<br />
The flowers we worked with at Vasette were exquisite.<br />
Did you grow up around flowers?<br />
I have always been surrounded by flowers. I grew up<br />
in North Canterbury with a large established garden,<br />
which was filled with roses, rhododendrons, hydrangea,<br />
spring bulbs, magnolias, cherry blossoms, citrus trees and<br />
peonies just to name a few. We also have a beautiful front<br />
paddock that’s filled with daffodils starting from June.<br />
Both my grannies have amazing gardens. Granny Jo<br />
who lives near home used to commercially grow proteas<br />
and is known for her award winning roses. Granny Annie<br />
who lives in Christchurch has been featured in many<br />
garden magazines over the years and is well known<br />
for her creativity and love for colour. I’ve definitely<br />
been influenced on both sides of my family, which has<br />
encouraged me to pursue a career with flowers.<br />
Do you have a favourite flower or flowers?<br />
My absolute favourite flowers are orchids, they are so<br />
elegant. I also love dogwood, roses, peonies, magnolia,<br />
paniculata, tulips and sweet peas. I love them all.<br />
How did you end up back at Jenny Burtt Florist?<br />
I was offered the opportunity by Dale Brown, the<br />
previous owner of 19 years, in early April and within a<br />
month I was back in Christchurch. Dale has been a great<br />
business mentor to me and we have frequent catch ups. I<br />
am so grateful for her wisdom and support.<br />
What services does Jenny Burtt Florist offer?<br />
We do everything at Jenny Burtt Florist! From gifts,<br />
homewares, corporate flowers and website bouquets to<br />
hampers, daily deliveries, funerals, weddings, anniversaries<br />
and birthdays. I’m particularly excited about the build-up<br />
to Christmas and the display that Jenny Burtt is known for.<br />
What would you like to expand on?<br />
I would really like to get involved with more events,<br />
floral workshops, update our website and expand our<br />
corporate clientele. Deb, our retail manager, and I made<br />
a trip to Melbourne earlier this year to bring back fresh<br />
ideas. I really want to keep the original essence of Jenny<br />
Burtt Florist but with a more contemporary approach.<br />
jennyburtt.co.nz
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