This is me ....

.... so what is it all about 'NATURE INSPIRES' and 'NATURE IS THE BEST FLORIST'?

I have come a long way .... being a Florist since 36 years.
Exactly on September the 1st 1980 I started my 3 years apprenticeship as a Florist in Augsburg/ Bavaria. Did I really want to be a Florist ... nooo ... , but some kinda 'intelligence' test figured out, that there was some creativity in my DNA .... and beside the suggestions of a window decorator, an organ builder ( I play/ed the piano ), Florist remained the top choice.
After my first interview I was employed and lucky I was, as the couple I was working for were just amazing. Egon and Gerda ( both deceased RIP xx ) were so inspirational in many ways ... even though in their fifties they were as cool as any young one could dream off. Maybe I was easy impressed, coming from a catholic country boarding school into the city of Augsburg. Both had an amazing humor, were political, critical, non religious and loved their music. Whenever 'swing' or songs from the musical 'Hair' were played, they just grabbed each other and danced through the shop ... pretending no one was there .. .
One of their first and crucial statements always echoes in my head: we only can teach you so much ... do go out ... walk, stroll around, observe every twig and leaf and flower ... and learn: 'Nature is the best florist'. It was a slow process, but after the 3 years I started to understand ... and here I am ... still learning.
Then the big change, moving to Ireland in 1993 and working as a Florist in 'Guns and Roses; in Tubbercurry, Co.Sligo IRELAND. It was a great time, working for three wonderful 'Bosses'  throughout 23 years and enjoying our authentic customers of that small rural town in the NorthWest of Ireland.
2015 was a year of change and decisions had to be made - one of those was not to take on the shop and try a different venture: becoming 'self-employed'.
Thanks through the encouragement of family, friends and Sligo Leader I was promoted to start out as 'highly recommended' to give workshops/courses and classes not only in Flower-arranging, but also other Nature related themes.
Nature inspires for all age-groups. Maybe the outline below will give you a guide-line:

NATURE INSPIRES:

- Pre-schools: 
Engaging with Nature in a playful way. Sowing out seeds, gathering or ‘arranging’ flowers. Starting to learn basic specification of local flora.

- National Schools: Gathering wild material/ garden flowers, identifying them and attempt                               arranging. Planting useful shrubs, willow constructions, fruit bushes, butterfly/bees areas on school grounds. Support for Green Schools, especially for the Themes of ‘Litter and Waste’, ‘Travel’, ‘Biodiversity’ and ‘Global Citizenship’.

- Secondary Schools: Teaming up with ‘Tidy towns’. Identifying litter black spots in the area, growing some supply of food for use within home economics classes, doing craft projects involving woodwork/ home economics. Talks about the importance of Bio-diversity within our environment. Foraging eatable ‘weeds’ and herbs.

- Colleges: Talk about Urban and ‘Guerrilla’ Gardening, Bio-diversity, Foraging, enhancing your environment, basic flower arranging, Nature, gardening and its benefits to safe money and sustain good mental health. 

- Women’s and Men’s Groups: Flower arranging with your own flowers/ foliage, talk and ‘hands on workshops’ about gardening, self-sufficiency, animal husbandry. 

- Nursing Homes:Flower arranging classes to exercise your memory and co-ordination skills. 

Also available:

- Tailor made workshops for your individual needs, group or organisation

- Flower demonstrations for groups, corporations and Charity events

- Freelance Florist

So I would say this gives everybody some idea ... .

In the meantime ... I would say, just go out there ... be inspired