Your local professional florist
Poppy Parsons grew up in a small town; Hazlet, in rural South West Saskatchewan. Poppy lived right across the back alley from her Grandparents and spent much of her childhood playing in their garden. She married the love of her life Kelly Parsons and moved to the Parsons’ family farm in 1995. The Parsons celebrated the 100-year family farm just a few years ago. Much of Poppy’s inspiration for her floral design & floral art comes from the time spent checking cows, fixing fence and helping Kelly on the farm. Her love of nature and flowers was introduced by her Grandparents and continues with the time spent in the pastures and hills of her family’s farm.
Poppy bought a well-established floral business; Smart Flowers, in 2007 in downtown Swift Current. Her professional florist & floral art career started when she achieved her Certified Floral Design (CFD) designation after testing with the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) in Miami in June of 2012. That same year she also became a member of the Canadian Professional Floral Design Association and of NeoFlora after designing in Vancouver. Poppy passed her Professional Floral Design Evaluation at the AIFD Symposium in Las Vegas July 2013 and was inducted into this prestigious association July 2014 in Chicago. In October of 2014 Poppy was chosen out of over 150 applicants to be 1 of 5 floral designers to compete for the Canadian Florist Magazine “Inspired Design” contest and walked away with the title “Inspired Designer LIVE 2014”. Spring 2015 she passed the written exam for the Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA) & design test later that summer and was inducted into CAFA April 2016. Poppy has volunteered on the fresh procurement team at AIFD symposium and has been a workroom helper for many stage presentations at symposium & Canadian wholesalers. She is now building her teaching and mentoring career in March 2018 she had opportunity to design & teach in both Calgary and Vancouver. Poppy was a floral float decorator at the 130th annual Tournament of Roses Rose Parade Dec 26-Jan 1. She attended the #AwakenAIFD2019 symposium in July and was part of the design team for the final night gala. Poppy was one of 6 Canadian Florists invited on a trade trip to Hawaii to tour local flower farms in August 2019. Poppy loves to travel and learn from many other floral artists across North America and has volunteered in many shows and conferences representing SW Saskatchewan everywhere she goes! Proud to be your little #SaskatchewanFlorist the only one in Saskatchewan accredited with AIFD & CAFA! Always learning... Always growing