In Mende, florist Céline Da Costa likes to garnish her bouquet with love of her profession

Céline Da Costa connaît l’art du bouquet. DR

Céline Da Costa a appris sur le tas l’art et la manière de fabriquer des bouquets et d’apporter à ses fleurs tout le bien-être nécessaire pour enjoliver le quotidien et les cérémonies.

Fresh perfumes, shimmering colors, a vast and lit place, it is in this beautiful setting that Céline Da Costa, florist in the Autour des fleurs store, works. Originally from Mendoise, Céline Da Costa, always smiling, had not planned to practice this beautiful profession. After the baccalaureate, in 1997, she came, by chance, to see Nanou Mathieu, the florist, for a possible job. The same day, Nanou received a resignation letter from her apprentice. " Thanks to this opportunity, I was hired. I learned everything on the job. She explained to me all the techniques and tips of the trade. In 2000, Nanou joined forces with Maryse Vallès. Three years later, Maryse bought the store, then Éva, her daughter, took over from her mother until 2021. Éva had other plans, opening a guest house in the Cevennes. It was therefore natural that I took over the store, with the experience and lessons learned. "

Pampered flowers

Conservation conditions are closely monitored to maintain plants and flowers. It should not be less than 15 degrees for plants and 19 degrees for flowers. The ambient temperature in the store should ideally not exceed 17 degrees. If the weather permits, the flowers and plants are taken out in front of the store, provided that it is not less than four degrees. The first job of the day is store maintenance. Fresh flowers are displayed for sale. Arrivals are delivered on Wednesdays. And then you have to prepare them. After unpacking, Céline Da Costa pampers the plants, makes bouquets, round, in vases, stylized and cut flower arrangements.

" Customers like to make their bouquets on site, based on colors and categories. They like to choose flowers. " Céline Da Costa then has to take care of deliveries, particularly for mourning, weddings and ceremonies. " When there is a bereavement, I have to let everything go because it is always an emergency. " The florist's schedule is very busy, as she works from Tuesday to Sunday lunchtime and takes advantage of her Monday to finalize everything she was not able to do during the week. " It's a hard job, because there are no family celebrations, I have to be there for customers at Christmas, Mother's Day, May 1st or November 11th. But this job is a passion. "

The store, a family challenge

Céline Da Costa has prepared her orders for red roses, the symbol of love, for Valentine's Day and she is preparing for the next Grandmother's Day, March 3. " Orders are difficult to manage, because if the flowers are not sold, we will throw them away, which is a shame. You have to watch that the plants do not catch any disease. In winter I water with temperate water. Alavaro, my husband, as well as Jorge and Daniela, my children, help me, especially with deliveries. I was only able to take over this store because they agreed, knowing that we would no longer have the same family life. "

Contact: Autour des fleurs, 15 bd du Soubeyran, 04 66 49 05 84 or autourdesfleurs.fr.
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