The predominantly white and leaf green bouquet sitting outside my front door glows against the darkest green paint I could find on the chart. It’s the work of floral artist Barbara Peck.
Barbara is one of my neighbours. In rural terms a neighbour can be anyone in the same geographic district and round the corner might mean a 10 minute drive but on this occasion Barbara and her home-based business Lifestyle Flowers are my immediate neighbours. So I’ve seen the effort and hardwork by all the members of the Peck Family which has gone into the establishment and running of Barbara’s increasingly successful and appreciate business.
Every Christmas Barbara, who is of German descent, shares her traditionally referenced baking with neighbours. Beautifully baked and wrapped packages of Christmas-flavoured treats. She also gives us Christmas bouquets. This year I was away and that’s why this creation appeared on my doorstep in January.
I’ve seen Barbara’s “flowers” around the Western Bay – they’re totally recognisable because of her personal creative style. A is a regular vendor at the Katikati Plant and Produce Market (Fridays late afternoon), the Waihi Beach Market and Papamoa. Barbara is a trained florist who can create across the floral spectrum. I’ve put her business contact details at the end of the video.
You can contact Lifestyle Flowers Whakamarama (Barbara Peck) on 027 614 9963 e: barbelpeck@hotmail.com
Rosemary Balu. Rosemary Balu is the founding and current Managing Editor of ARTbop. Rosemary has arts and law degrees from the University of Auckland. She has been a working lawyer and has participated in a wide variety of community activities where information gathering, submission writing, community advocacy and education have been involved. Interested in all forms of the arts since childhood Rosemary is focused on further developing and expanding multi-media ARTbop as the magazine for all the creative arts in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE! CHECK OUT OUR RECENT ARTICLES AND VIDEOS AND WATCH OUT FOR WHAT WE’VE GOT LINED UP TO PUBLISH: videos of a stylish Western Bays vintage boutique, a review of Converted Houses and a quick conversation with the hardworking Birgitt Shannon.
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