Hello and welcome to Flowers By Wendy I am a full time independent  florist  based in the Somerset Village of Stogumber.

My first career choice when I left school was hairdressing after getting Grade 1 in Art. However after getting married and having three children I used these  home years taking in B & B guests  loving my garden and entering into village flower shows , and started to take an interest and enthusiasm in flowers, plants and foliage’s from shrubs and trees.

It took me back to when I was a child at school going on Nature Walks and pressing flowers,  I was born in  Crowcombe surrounded by the beautiful Quantock Hills , then moved and lived in Vellow with my four brothers where my parents built their own house and developed a garden from an old orchard which had a bubbling  river running through it.

When my children started school a  friend asked me if I would like to join her in attending a college to study floristry horticulture and botany which I took up without any hesitation , I knew then I was doing something that brought out my artistic nature it didn’t all come easy I remember making my first buttonhole and it took me nearly an hour to perfect , but the whole city and guilds course taught me all the basics of floristry covering weddings, funerals , floral gifts , plants and running a business.

My Mum started a Tea Garden at Vellow with their fantastic garden that had flourished over the years and my Dad built us a workshop which we called our ‘flower shed’ . After 18 years with the Tea Garden and flower business ( during 1985 to 2000) my Mum and Dad retired and they moved from their beloved house and garden after living there for 42 years . We hadn’t pushed the floristry business , it came to us through the tea garden .My mum hung up her apron and scissors and said  its up to you now how you want to continue with flowers .

I changed the name of the business to my name , took out a bank overdraft brought a van and a computer to build a website ,I had never used a computer in my life! when I was at school the only techno item I had was a calculator. I had to start working from my home ! It took three years of struggles, ups and downs and then on the fourth year the business began to take off.  Being self-employed is not easy, you have to have determination, be organised through the florist year, and have stamina to work all hours ! I have built my business on weddings and events giving a professional service, and have a good relationship with all local venues, and love meeting families and all Bride and Grooms. I also love the floristry side of funerals and floral gifts and also now provide ‘pick up and go’ floral gifts and plants in three shops and hope to take on more. I also love my Christmas workshops and teaching customers my skills.

I hope this gives you an idea of my ‘florist life’, over 34 years there has been plenty of changes and I like to think I have built up experience, and kept up with the latest craze or colouring or style or fashion  but keeping acceptable too ! Hope you enjoy looking through the websites and social media face book and Instagram as this is my florist life and shop window. My Daughter Sarah and my  Mum Anne help me on occasion’s, my Daughter in law Annabel, Son in law Kevin have helped me and my son Ollie has helped with advice on anything internet ! Social media takes a time to understand. My husband Moss is very supportive and keeps me laughing , I am now blessed with four grandsons that are brilliant for cleaning and a granddaughter ! Despite the industries highs and lows my moto has stayed the same be professional and try to achieve what my customers expect.