A Day in the Garden with Flora Brons

Over the past months at Le Sac, we’ve had the joy of featuring many wonderful creators from our community, sharing glimpses of their gardens, their creative lives, and the beautiful ways they spend their days. Every story has been unique, and we’ve loved every single one.

Today, we’re delighted to share the world of Le Sac Ambassador Flora Brons, founder of Flora Grow NZ. From her New Zealand garden to the flower-filled workshops she hosts, Flora’s days revolve around seasons, stems, and the quiet magic of creating with nature.

Here’s a gentle look into a day in the garden with Flora. 

Morning Light and Garden Wandering

7:00am – First Light

Flora isn’t an early riser by nature, so 7am is where the day begins.

This is the hour she wanders through the garden, quietly deciding what flowers might come along to the evening’s workshop. The light at this time is soft and golden, even on cooler mornings, and it transforms everything it touches.

She looks for strength in a stem. A curve that catches the eye. A colour that feels just right.

Some flowers are ready. Others need another day.

There’s something sacred about this moment — just Flora, the garden, and her small companion Fred keeping watch nearby.

Harvesting with Generosity

7:30am – Harvesting

Buckets appear and the cutting begins.

Flora always harvests more than she thinks she’ll need. Creativity thrives in abundance, and flowers have a way of surprising you once arranging begins.

Soft dahlias. Feathery cosmos. Branches of foliage gathered from around the garden.

One bucket becomes two. Then three.

The garden gives generously.

Preparing the Flowers

8:30am – Conditioning and Prep

Back indoors, the careful work begins.

Every stem is stripped of excess leaves, cut on an angle, and placed into fresh water. It’s not the glamorous part of floral design, but it’s essential — the difference between flowers lasting two days or a full week.

Once conditioned, the blooms rest somewhere cool and quiet.

Buckets are washed. Vases checked. Mechanics tested.

Flora believes workshops are about more than arranging flowers. They’re about helping people see differently, slow down, and rediscover the magic of working with living things.

A Midday Pause

12:30pm – Lunch Break

By midday, the pace softens.

Lunch is often something simple — usually leftovers from dinner — eaten in the sunshine if the weather allows.

This is also when the nerves begin to appear.

Even with years of teaching experience and many workshops behind her, Flora still feels butterflies before every class begins.

Packing the Garden

2:00pm – Packing the Car

Music goes on to steady the nerves.

Buckets of flowers are carefully loaded into the car, cushioned with towels to protect the stems. Packing flowers is something of an art form — everything must sit just right so nothing bruises along the way.

By the time the car is full, it smells like the garden.

Creating the Workshop Space

4:30pm – Setting the Space

This is Flora’s favourite part of the day.

Before guests arrive, the room is quiet and full of possibility. Each place is set with care — snips, a vase, and a generous pile of stems waiting to be explored.

No one should feel they must hold back.

Creativity needs abundance.

Flora’s mum often helps during this stage, running for last-minute items and making sure everything is just right.

There is always one more thing to do.

Flowers and Conversation

6:00pm – Workshop Begins

When the doors open, laughter usually arrives first.

There’s a flicker of nerves just before the workshop begins, but it disappears as soon as the first stem is cut.

Stems are turned, adjusted, reconsidered. Heads tilt thoughtfully over vases. The room softens as everyone settles into the rhythm of creating.

By the end of the evening, every arrangement is completely different.

And every person leaves surprised by what their hands have made.

The Quiet After

8:30pm – Pack Up

Eventually the room grows quiet again.

Buckets are loaded back into the car. Floors swept. Lights switched off.

Feet a little sore. Heart very full.

And the quiet knowing that flowers have done what they always seem to do — bring people together.

If you’d like to see more of Flora’s flowers, garden moments, and the beautiful workshops she hosts in New Zealand, you can follow her journey on Instagram @floragrow.co.nz