Five minutes with… Bobilee Shahine

Bobilee Shahine is owner of Clarence in Healesville. She shares her thoughts on spring and getting the best out of your seasonal blooms.

 What do you love about spring?
“For me, spring is all about colour and fragrance. I love nothing more than walking through the garden looking at the colourful carpet of flowers bursting out of the soil; snowdrops, bluebells, daffodils, jonquils, anemones, tulips and hyacinths. Spring is the first budding bulbs brightening our days with the promise of warmer weather and signifying the busiest time of the year for florists, wedding season.

 Will you be stocking anything unusual or new in spring?
“I’ll be stocking spring favourites such as Daffodils, Jonquils, Anemones, Early Cheer, Tulips and Hyacinths, with plenty of specials on sale at Clarence.”

What are some of your favourite spring blooms?
“I am obsessed with Tulips, Parrot Tulips being my favourite!”

What are some spring flowers that will achieve high impact to give an instant burst of colour?
“Tulips, Cherry or Apple Blossoms are a great choice.”

What are some of the more popular flowers for brides?
“Peonies and David Austins are still the number one favourites with brides.”

You always come up with unique bouquets and styles, can you suggest to our readers an unusual combination of flowers that you may not automatically think would work together, but do?
“I actually enjoy appreciating the beauty of individual blooms, not mixing them together but rather having lots of little vases around the house with individual stems or simple, straight bunches.”

Can you suggest any flowers that would go with a vintage style house?
“Anemones.”

TIP – Don’t put your daffodils, jonquils or erlicheer in mixed posies with other flowers as the sap from the stems is harmful to other flowers and shortens their life.

www.loveclarence.com