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There are certain professions that instantly spark interest when you mention them; floristry is one of those jobs, in my experience. I spent just over a year as an assistant florist during my university days, and while I relished the creativity and being surrounded by stunning blooms all day, it wasn't without its trials. As an assistant, I didn't have to source the flowers myself, but my boss did, which meant she was up at the crack of dawn every week to hit the markets by 4am - certainly not a job for late risers like me. Once she returned with the flowers, one of my tasks was to hoist dozens of vases from the tall wooden bench, empty and clean them all, then refill them ready for fresh blossoms. This could take up to 90 minutes, with water splashing everywhere and my arms straining from lifting the enormous vases. It was physically demanding work and, occasionally, I would have to clean a vase that had contained lotus pod flowers. These are beautiful and eye-catching blooms but, for some reason, their stems in water emitted the most horrendous smell, akin to rotting fish, reports the Express . If I spilled this water on myself, it would ruin my day. Once all the vases were spotless and prepared, it was time to get the flowers ready for their water bath. Roses are the trickiest flowers to prepare. They're stunning and in high demand, which means we had them in abundance and every stem needed its thorns removed. Using a metal tool that resembled a staple gun, I would hold the rose and drag the metal prongs down to strip it of its thorns. I don't think I ever managed to do this without stabbing a thorn directly into either the soft pad of my thumb, or down into my fingernail. There was always an injury, and there was always blood. I believe because my hands were constantly submerged in water, the skin became more fragile and would tear like crepe paper while I worked at this job. However, despite leaving my shift soaked in sweat, covered in blood and often itching from plant sap, I genuinely loved being a florist. It gave me the opportunity to express my creativity, work alongside one of the best in the business, and learn more about the flowers and plants I adored so much. That said, I much prefer just arranging my bouquets at home - it's a lot less painful.
