There is a moment when a bucket of flowers arrives at the shop when they look nothing like the bouquets they will eventually become.
They may have travelled a long way, their stems wrapped together, leaves covering the lower part and some blooms still tightly closed. Before we can put them on display or use them in an arrangement, they need a little attention.
This is called conditioning, and it is one of the most important parts of a florist's day.
The first job is looking at the flowers
When fresh flowers arrive, we check them carefully.
Every variety is different. Some flowers arrive ready to use, while others need time to open. Some have delicate stems and petals; others are much sturdier.
We look for freshness, remove anything that has been damaged during its journey and decide how each type of flower needs to be prepared.
It might not be the most glamorous part of floristry, but it makes a huge difference later.
Preparing the stems
We remove leaves that would sit below the water and trim the stems before placing the flowers into clean water.
Removing excess foliage is important because leaves sitting in water can encourage bacteria and make the water deteriorate more quickly.
The stems also need a fresh cut so that the flowers can take up water properly.
There is something quite satisfying about this part of the job. A flower that looked tired when it arrived can look completely different once it has been properly prepared and given a drink.
Giving the flowers time
Fresh flowers need time to rehydrate and settle after their journey.
Some flowers are ready relatively quickly. Others need longer before they are at their best.
This is one reason why a florist's shop can look rather different from a customer's idea of a flower shop. There are buckets everywhere, stems being trimmed, leaves on the bench and flowers at different stages of opening.
We are constantly looking ahead.
If I know I will need a particular flower for an order later in the week, I need to think about how it looks today and how it is likely to look when the bouquet is made.
Then they go into the shop
Once the flowers have been conditioned, they are moved into the shop and placed on our stands.
This is when the shop really starts to come alive.
Buckets of fresh flowers in different colours, shapes and textures are waiting to be chosen. Some are just beginning to open, while others are already showing exactly what they can do.
For customers, this is often the most enjoyable part — seeing all those flowers together and deciding which ones catch their eye.
For us, it is also the beginning of the creative process.
It is all about giving flowers the best start
Good floristry isn't only about arranging flowers beautifully.
It starts much earlier, with how those flowers are handled when they arrive.
Careful conditioning helps us get the best from every stem and gives the flowers the best possible start before they become a bouquet, arrangement or special tribute.
It is one of those jobs that happens quietly behind the scenes, but when you receive a bouquet of fresh flowers, you are seeing the result of it.
And that is really what good conditioning is about — taking beautiful flowers and helping them stay beautiful for as long as possible.