Presenting

10 Florist Spotlight June | 2023 FR: How did you get started in fl owers? SM: After spending my young adult life searching for the right career, I found myself back in my hometown of Ann Arbor, Mich., fi nishing a bachelor's degree and making jewelry. I was in my late 20s, and many of my friends and acquaintances were getting married. Word of my jewelry- making hobby got out, and I started receiving requests to create jewelry pieces for those weddings. One friend asked me to make jewelry for her and her bridesmaids, and, as we talked, she confi ded that she hadn't yet hired a fl orist. Her wedding was just a few months away, and it was clear she was concerned about this missing detail. I can still recall her exact words as she grasped my arm and asked me if I would be her fl orist: " You're creative, you can probably do this!" I agreed to design the fl owers for her wedding, thinking it would be an interesting challenge. F loral design educators have a special role in our industry, nurturing new fl orists and helping experienced designers grow and become better. Not every fl oral designer is cut out to be a teacher, though; it takes a special personality to be able to communicate and teach fl oristry. One of the brightest such people in our industry today is Sue McLeary, a.k.a. "Passionflower Sue." McLeary is not only a renowned educator but also an award-winning fl oral designer and author, known for her unique, boundary-pushing fl oral art. She is the founder and creative director of her eponymous fl oral design company in Ann Arbor, Mich., through which she off ers online and in-person instruction for beginning and professional fl oral designers, as well as destination workshops around the world. In February of this year, McLeary's second book—Flowers for All: Modern Floral Arrangements for Beauty, Joy, and Mindfulness Every Day—was released. e book stems from the author's belief that fl owers should be enjoyed by everyone every day. She does away with fussy ingredient lists and impossible-to-fi nd botanicals, instead revealing secrets for making striking, joyful fl ower arrangements using just a few materials. Her fi rst book, e Art of Wearable Flowers: Floral Rings, Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, and More, published in March 2020, off ers step-by-step instructions for creating 40 fresh fl ower wearables, including jewelry and headpieces. Susan McLeary (a.k.a. Passionflower Sue) susanmcleary.com passionflowersue.com @passionflowersue

• Cover