Floristry Without Limits: Weddings, Workshops & World Travel with Cerina “The Flower Scout” S3E4

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 LifeWhy Cerina skipped retail floristry for eventsFreelancing in Event FloristryThe flexibility (and unpredictability) of freelance workDesigning 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 workCerina 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 techniqueFrom 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 floristryTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction and episode overview00:41 - Cerina’s background and passion for flowers01:44 - How she started her floristry journey pre-COVID02:12 - Her formal training via TAFE during the pandemic03:32 - Balancing freelance events with personal design style04:48 - The influence of travel and worldwide workshops 06:09 - The significance of international flower festivals 08:00 - How climate impacts flower choices in Perth09:12 - Her approach to native Australian flowers and design principles10:42 - The challenge of sourcing flowers locally & seasonally12:36 - Her favourite flowers and arrangements13:40 - Writing as an extension of her floristry passion and her Substack15:53 - Planning upcoming projects like Subi Blooms and native flora installations16:38 - Her future goals, including judging and ongoing learning18:07 - The story behind her publication in Blumenhaus19:40 - The story of her Substack handle 'The Flower Scout'21:39 - How she chooses flower festivals and workshops globally23:09 - Memorable flower festival experiences 25:39 - Insights into international wholesale markets 33:01 - The impact of quarantine laws and imports on local floristry36:47 - Her outlook on the future of floristry & her evolving roles44:05 - The potential shift from floristry to writing and sharing stories46:39 - Her upcoming judging role and exciting plans47:41 - Closing remarks and future collaborationsResources & 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 Wholesalers⁠Follow them on Instagram @freshcutflowerwholesalers⁠ Support Our Work!Don’t forget, if you like the way we are connecting the NZ Flower Farming Community, you can support our work by:·        Advertising in an episode·        Sponsoring an episode or a season or you can ·       Buy us a Coffee (make a donation) following this link ⁠https://coff.ee/flowerfarmersinnz⁠Music Credit for some of the music in this episode goes to Shane Ivers - Happy Clappy Ukulele   If You Enjoyed This Episode• Follow / Subscribe for more flower farming insights• Share with a fellow grower or florist• Leave a review to support the podcast