We’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Susan McLeary (aka Passionflower Sue) on the Botanical Brouhaha podcast several times over the years and we always learn so much from her experience as a florist, educator, and author. It’s been (and continues to be!) inspiring to see her path to success unfold. So we thought it would be fun to dig into some of the insights she’s shared in hopes that you’ll find some actionable advice and expert recommendations as a florist building your own business.
Sue’s foray into floristry began unexpectedly. Initially, she created jewelry for friends, which led to requests for bridal party jewelry. But then, one friend asked her to design her wedding flowers, a challenge Susan accepted despite having no prior experience in floral design. This experience was transformative, igniting a passion for floristry that felt like a calling. She says, “When I was designing her flowers and had them in my hands, I instantly knew..I’m supposed to be a florist. It was really one of those very cheesy Oprah-moments where I just thought ‘Wow! Why didn’t I know this about myself?'”.
After her initial foray into floristry, Susan immersed herself in learning. She took classes, got certified through her local floral association, and consumed a wealth of knowledge through books and videos. Her dedication to education and experimentation helped her develop a unique style that blends her interests in fashion, jewelry, and floral design.
From the time Sue had children, she balanced her career with motherhood by structuring her schedule around her children’s needs. This balance allowed her to maximize her work time while being present for her family.
Sue always emphasizes the significance of collaboration in her work. Her relationships with photographers who capture the details of her floral designs have been particularly fruitful. High-quality photography is essential for showcasing her work, and Sue proactively seeks out local and diverse talent for her projects.
Sue talks candidly about her struggles with negativity and self-doubt. She mentioned a pivotal moment during one of our chats that came when she discovered the book “You Are a Badass,” which helped her overcome insecurities and embrace her unique gifts.
Sue offers three key pieces of advice for aspiring florists: Embrace curiosity, vulnerability, and tenacity. She encourages newcomers to seek learning opportunities, invest in personal development, and embrace their unique voice.
This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to provide educational information about all things related to floral design and production. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is available for viewing without profit to those who have an interest in reading or viewing the website information for educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. If your copyrighted material appears on this web site and you disagree with our assessment that it constitutes "fair use," please contact us and we will remove it from our site.
Comments: