Interview: How Melanie took on the best florists and won

Last week, the owner of Passion Flowers Florist, Melanie Garbutt, beat off competition from some of the biggest and best florists in Britain to be crowned RHS Florist of the Year at the Chelsea Flower Show.

For Melanie, it was recognition of nearly two decades dedicated to the flowers she loves.

"It was an amazing feeling," says the 38-year-old mother of one.

"We had to design a parasol completely out of flowers. It had been quiet nerve-racking as the weather had been so hot and my design was made of orchids and calla lilies, which don't like the heat."

But she need not have worried.

"When I saw I had been given gold by the judges I was over the moon. Everyone was hugging and kissing each other, and then my partner, Steve, saw an envelope next to my display and opened it.

"I wondered what I had done wrong. Then Steve said I'd better read it. It said that I was Florist of the Year. I just couldn't believe it. It is something I always wanted to do ever since I became a florist."

But when all the celebrations were over at Chelsea it was back to reality for Melanie on Friday morning at her small flower shop near Pontefract.

She was up at the crack of dawn as usual to visit Leeds flower market and then man the shop she runs with her part-time shop assistant, Janet, and Saturday girl Jessica, serving her small but loyal band of customers.

"We aren't a big shop and we aren't in the best location," says Melanie, who set up Passion Flowers 12 year ago when the shop became available.

"And that actually makes this win even better as there were some really well-established florists taking part at Chelsea."

Customers watched as Melanie's winning design took shape as she created it in the shop between serving them and fulfilling orders.

Passion Flowers is the perfect name for Melanie's shop. And it is not, as many people may think, named after the flower.

"When I was starting the shop, I was also doing some teaching, and the students suggested calling it Passion Flowers because of my passion for flowers."

And passion she has. As she talks about every bloom and her frustration at how some people treat cut flowers, it as if she is talking about a beloved member of the family.

"People come in on Valentine's Day and ask for 12 red roses and then put them in the boot of the car. We try to explain how they should look after the flowers, especially when they have spent all that money, but then they put them in the boot. It is the flowers I care about."

This care is passed on to her staff and customers get much more than just blooms when they visit the shop.

"We do try to give them advice on how to look after their flowers. Flowers make people so happy and just a little care can make them last so much longer."

Melanie, who lives in Glasshoughton with long-term partner Steve and 14-year-old son Joe, didn't set out to be a florist, when she left school she wanted to be a horticulturist.

"My parents had a little plant nursery and I always thought that I would be horticulturist, but then I went to an open day at Bishop Burton College and there was a florist there. I wired some leaves up and that was it, I was hooked. I realised that I wanted to play with flowers."

And that is how Melanie feels about her chosen career. To her it is a labour of love, although she says running your own business can be hard work.

After studying floristry for a year Melanie worked in a number of florists' shops across Yorkshire learning her trade before deciding to open her own business two years after giving birth to

her son Joe.

"I wanted to open a shop in Castleford, but there was already a florist there so when this unit came up in Upton I decided to go for it," she said.

As well as traditional bouquets, Melanie has built up a reputation for her more artistic and modern designs.

"I am quite arty and I do like to do different things," she explains. "I see art and floristry as a collaboration, rather than just plonking a bunch of flowers in a vase." Although she does admit that she loves nothing more than a beautiful bowl of tulips when they are in season.

It is probably her love of art and flowers that started her on the road of entering competitions and beginning of the long road to Chelsea. Previous accolades include wins at Harrogate and Tatton Park, but Chelsea is the industry's most coveted prize and one that Melanie hopes will raise the profile of her shop.

However, just a few years ago Melanie explains that she would not have been eligible to enter the prestigious competition.

"You used to have to have to have a Diploma in Floristry to enter, which meant that a lot of talented florists were being denied the chance to take part. I believe in experience not qualifications. They have now opened up the competition."

Melanie battled it out against 300 florists in heats across the country to get down to the final 13 to be invited to attend Chelsea, including last year's winners Neil Whittaker and Joe Massey. But it was the West Yorkshire florist who took the crown.

"I really hope that this will allow me to expand the business and do more competition and exhibitions," said Melanie.

But the flowers remain her first love.

"I absolutely adore flowers," she said. "I love everything about them. The way they look and the way they make you feel."

Even though she spends all day with flowers she still likes to get them from Steve.

"When I was working in Wakefield he bought me 24 red roses. So he went to the wholesaler I use, but put them on my account. But I still loved receiving them."

MELANIE'S TOP TIPS

Cut the bottom off the flowers as soon as you get home.

For flowers like carnations, cut just above a knobble on the stem.

Remove foliage to above the water line.

Never put daffodils in with other flowers as they give off a sap which kills other blooms.

Never put flowers in direct sunlight or on top of the television.

Change the water every two days to stop bacteria forming.