Meet the FLORIST: CLARE CUMMINGS
May 2024
In this gorgeous Autumn month of May, we’ll get to know Clare Cummings, a talented floral artist who runs her own floristry studio from her home in Wanneroo, Perth. Clare originally heralds from Scotland, where she studied countryside management and became fascinated by all things botanical. In 1994, her passion for flowers led her to floristry jobs in some of the most luxurious and well-known hotels in the UK, including the Glasgow Hilton and the Ritz and Hyatt in London. After moving to Australia, Clare worked at the famous Boatshed Market in Cottesloe, WA, as well as other retails stores, before starting her own show in 2013 with The Flower Girl … and she hasn’t looked back since!
Photo by @kathyoungphotography
Photo by @kathyoungphotography
Clare’s style is earthy and romantic, with a lot of layering of textured elements in organic, dreamy arrangements. She often combines wildflowers, seasonal native botanicals or dried flowers with a selection of cottage-style blooms such as sweet pea, ranunculus and cosmos. While her specialty is creating unforgettable wedding flowers – she happily designs for everything from Bohemian-style to beach, backyard and ballroom weddings – Clare also caters to other special events. A perfect example of her public work is the installation she did last Spring at Yagan Square in Perth’s CBD. There, she transformed the iconic PERTH sign into a magnificent floral display featuring 600 banksias and hundreds of kangaroo paw, billy buttons, everlasting daisies, wattle and waxflowers to help raise awareness of breast cancer during WA’s annual Breast Cancer Street appeal. At the end of that week, the flowers were given to passers-by who were encouraged to donate a gold coin to the cause. With this installation, Clare showed that flowers can really make a difference in people’s lives, in more ways than one.
I love the versatility of Clare’s style and her use of a wide range of colours, from very soft, pastel/nude palettes to earthy Bohemian tones to vibrant neons. Her arrangements are packed with textures and form and she shows incredible attention to detail. I also love the way she combines luxurious fresh flowers with natural dried blooms, such as everlasting daisies, French daisies and cotton puffs; her arrangements are truly luscious showstoppers! What’s more, if you look carefully you are likely to notice a fun, surprising or unexpected element in her work, which I find particularly delightful. I’ve spotted pomegranates, persimmons or even garlic among the blooms of her arrangements, making them a unique expression of Clare’s artistic vision.
Our flower for May is Clare’s favourite: cosmos. Here’s what Clare had to say when I interviewed her for our 2024 Planner.
1/ What are some of your favourite flowers that inspire you? Why?
Cosmos has always been a hard favourite, such a pretty, happy flower. It’s actually really easy to grow here in Perth as it’s a South American native weed so doesn’t mind a bit of drought or neglect. I also love bougainvillea as it’s easily foraged from overgrown laneways or with the neighbour’s permission. Folk love you pruning bougainvillea as it grows too fast. It really needs to be an older bush, though, as young plants tend to droop.
2. Do you have any fun facts, growing tips or styling tips for cosmos or bougainvillea you’d like to share?
With cosmos, just chuck seeds into your garden and water regularly until established. Fun fact about bougainvillea is that the coloured ‘petals’ are in fact leaves! With regards to styling bougainvillea, I take the green leaves and thorns off and usually use it dried in larger installs.
3/ If you could give any advice to aspiring flower lovers, what would that be?
Always bring way more than you think to a job – you’ll need it! Fill that vehicle to the brim. Give each job 200 % – you’ll be glad later, even if it was hard work. The most difficult clients turn out to be the best as you grow from overcoming the obstacles they set.
4/ Sustainability is a growing trend in the floristry industry. Flower growers and designers have become more mindful in lessening the impacts to our beautiful nature. What does sustainability mean to you?
It’s so important. I’ve always practiced sustainability unintentionally as I’m very frugal and love to reuse flowers, branches, etc. Things like dried tumbleweeds, bunny tails, preserved hydrangeas and coloured banksias are great for filling out displays and are hardy enough to be used over and over. I use chicken wire and water vial mechanics where and when possible. I do use floral foam if I have to but will use it to the death before binning it. The packaging from imported roses really bugs me so I use as little of those as possible. Unfortunately, most wedding clients do request roses and locally grown are not an option. Jobs that require all roses don’t interest me anyway, so I now won’t quote on those.
You can find out more about Clare via her website and instagram page.
SHOP THE COSMOS COLLECTION
