Kaiva Kaimins - Flower Porn: Recipes for Modern Bouquets, Tablescapes and Displays

I was born in Melbourne, Australia, into a suburban house with a large garden filled with flowers, and this is where my love of all things floral began. My dad, a renovator, spent most of his spare time in the garden. Out front, we had lavender, rosemary, and a lemon tree, and I could smell the David Austin roses he planted as their fragrance drifted through my bedroom window.

Fresh flowers were a constant theme of my early years. Thanks to my Latvian heritage, it was customary to celebrate every occasion with them, from birthdays to anniversaries. They were everywhere: we took bouquets to greet friends at the airport, wore floral crowns for midsummer, and hung wreaths at Christmas. My mum always brought freshly cut flowers into the house and I still have strong memories of the freesias and lilies she would arrange in our kitchen.

But it was when I moved to London that I considered a career in floristry. Spontaneously, I booked myself onto a course in Covent Garden, and within the month had dived head first into this new world. The course was very traditional, and my rebellious attitude and messy, unconventional creations came under criticism as I challenged ideas about colours and styles.

After graduating, I interned everywhere I could to get experience. I worked in London (including a stint at Liberty) and then in New York, where I freelanced for some of the citys top-tier designers. I saw first-hand what full creative freedom looked like, and from there, I was able to develop my unique style.

After living and working in New York, I wanted to bring the citys inventive and sculptural approach to floral design back to London. I returned determined to inject fun into the traditional world of floristry and started a floral design studio called My Ladygarden. Since starting out in my kitchen in Hackney in 2020, My Ladygarden has grown astronomically I create for brands, events, and weddings, run workshops and a flower school, and I now have an open studio in Islington and an online store.

My Ladygarden is more than just a florist: at its core, its a celebration of colour, creativity, and experimental design. Flower Porn shares my passion for this playful, modern approach to floristry. I hope it will transform your love for flowers into a crafted, hands-on skill.

The life of a florist is intriguing. People often say, It must be so calming to play with flowers all day. But its not easy work! There are hours of heavy lifting, loading vans, unloading vans, going up tricky loading bays, quickly getting over your fear of heights to climb up crazily tall ladders, and the spreadsheets. Oh, the spreadsheets! Its not (ahem) all roses

But, jokes aside, it truly is one of the most beautiful forms of self-expression, and with a great team, glorious flowers, and fun briefs, its all worth it. You get a sense of instant gratification from preparing your blooms. When youre in the flow of creating, with your favourite music playing, beautiful colours all around you, and the sun shining, it is hard not to pinch yourself with gratitude.

My Ladygarden has grown at incredible speed, evolving at every turn. From my kitchen in Hackney Central to the spare room of my flat in Hackney Downs, and from the first tiny unit in Dalston to my current two-level space in Islington, no two days in (or out of!) the studio are ever the same.

On some days I find myself preparing quotes and taking calls with clients. On others, Im suspending chicken wire at event venues to bring an installation to life. I have learned that there are certain items you should never leave the studio without: secateurs and scissors, a dustpan and brush, refuse bags, cable ties, a first aid kit, coffee, and a good attitude! One of the most important lessons for any florist to learn is to (try and) always stay calm, as inevitably, some things will not go to plan. Were quick to think on our feet and problem-solve. And thats partly what makes it so fun. Theres always a new challenge. And for someone with an endless stream of ideas, its perfect.

We live in an era where you can create floristry, floral art, floral design whichever name you prefer however you like. Gone are the days when Valentines Day was strictly about red roses, and Mothers Day was confined to pink and yellow tones. Floristry truly is a personal form of expression, and it connects you to those who receive your creations like nothing else Ive ever experienced.

Taking a step back from traditional rules, Flower Porn immerses you in the world of floral design by celebrating the seasons and crucially colour. The techniques and flower recipes in this book are intended to inspire and encourage florists of all levels. Lets get started

The designs in these pages centre around playful colour palettes and the time of year. I work with tonal-inspired aesthetics in mind and my creations alter with the seasons as different blooms become available.

While the florals and colours change, every design remains true to my joyful signature style. No matter what level of floristry experience you have, this book will give you the confidence to find your style and engage with your creative side.

Its time to grab some flowers and have a play! First up, the flower key (overleaf) walks you through the four key elements to consider when youre creating. Its my floral 101 and will help you put together beautiful, atmospheric arrangements.

Next, its practical mechanics the materials, tools, and techniques youll need to support your flowers and hold them in place. The how-to guides youll find in the Techniques chapter teach you core floristry skills and provide general tips and design advice, so you can be imaginative with your own arrangements and confidently recreate or customize the projects in the seasonal chapters.