Shop owners Lauren Bieber and Tom Crowe find it easy to keep an eye on what’s happening at Fowlers Flowers in Melbourne, Australia, because they also own the coffee shop next door. In fact, it was Bieber’s desire for a steady supply of fresh flowers to adorn the cafe tables at Mixed Business that gave her the idea to become a florist. But not just any floral designer: Bieber’s work stands out for its considered simplicity and direct-from-the-garden look.
Other industries’ fortunes may rise and fall, but we’ll always need fresh flowers, she says. “Newspapers and banks might go to the computer but this is something you can’t replicate–you can’t Twitter or Instagram the true feeling of flowers,” Bieber recently told Broadsheet.
Above: Opened three and a half years ago, Fowlers Flowers is located in the Clifton Hill neighborhood of Melbourne. Photograph via Jesame.
Above L: Bouquets of succulents. Above R: Orchids potted in crates. Photography via Fowlers.
Above: Owner Lauren Bieber creates a bouquet. Her no-fuss approach: re-cut and clean stems; strip leaves, and use a clean vase filled with fresh water; keep out of direct sunlight. Photograph by Josie Withers via Broadsheet.
Above: Fowlers is a decidedly eco-conscious shop: Organic waste is shredded and composted in bins filled with worms. Glass and plastic get recycled. Photograph by Stefanie Ingram.
Above: Bieber collects recycled glass bottles and tiny terra-cotta pots for display on glass shelves. Photograph via Fowlers.
Above: A single tulip (center) and graceful hellebore (right) in recycled bottles. Photograph via Fowlers.
Above: Something about this reminds me of Make Way for Ducklings. Photograph by Stefanie Ingram.
Above: Notecards for sale. Photograph by Josie Withers via Broadsheet.
Above: An unexpectedly harmonious trio: wheat stems, rosemary, and sweet peas. Photograph via Fowlers.
Above: Fowlers Flowers is open from Tuesday through Sunday. For hours and more information, see Fowlers. Photograph by Stefanie Ingram.
For more floral design with an Australian flair, see Joost Bakker: A Dutch Eco Garden Genius in Australia. Also don’t miss Ordorantes: A Chic Parisian Florist Where the Flowers are Arranged by Scent. And for the ultimate low-maintenance option, see Julie’s recent post on Faux Oliver Branches.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on July 25, 2012 as part of our Australia by Design issue.
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