Get to know Tara, the artist behind Euka Floral Design and the lady who teaches our Sustainable Native Bouquet Workshop!

www.eukafloraldesign.com.au

If you were to describe yourself in 3 words what would they be?

Artistic, Compassionate, Adventurous.

Have you always been creative? What has your creative journey been like?

I’ve always been creative - I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember and have also always felt a deep connection with nature. I started selling my drawings in primary school, which was a gorgeous semi-rural school in the foothills of Perth with only about 120 kids total. We used to play in the bush on the outskirts of the oval and build cubby houses out of sticks and bark in the winter (summer was too dangerous because of snakes!). I also used to make magic potions and perfumes out of flowers I collected in the garden and enjoyed building miniscule villages out of leaves and twigs for bugs and ants (and fairies too).

I was then in a specialist art program throughout high school which allowed me to explore many different art mediums, from sculpture, painting, jewellery-making to digital art / animation. I believed I would become a professional visual artist, particularly within traditional drawing and painting mediums. After 5 years of art school with Saturday workshops I decided to take a bit of a break. My passion for plants and flowers steered me in the direction of a floristry course at TAFE, which I had always wanted to try, and I just fell in love!

How did your business Euka Floral Design get started? Tell us a little bit about Euka Floral Design!

Whilst finishing my Cert III in Floristry at TAFE, I started out selling little flower bunches at local farmer’s markets on weekends and at the local café where I worked as a waitress. I sold my flowers under the name “Lotus Floristry” because I personally connected to the symbolism of the lotus flower at the time. I also enrolled in the NEIS program (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) to learn all things small-business.

Things took off from there and before I knew it, I had booked my first wedding and secured a regular stockist- a local, family-run bulk-food store called ‘Local Foodie Hub’. I spent the next few years transitioning into running my business full time, with a focus on working with locally grown native wildflowers and supporting sustainability within the floristry industry. At the beginning of 2021 I did a re-brand to better suit my business ethos, and so ‘Euka Floral Design’ was born! A play on the word ‘eucalyptus’, Euka represents my connection with Australian native flora, as well as my passion for using natural and sustainable materials in my work.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Mother nature would have to be my biggest inspiration-from the tiniest of daisies to towering eucalyptus trees. I find inspiration in the seasons, noticing how the landscape changes as different plants begin to flower and bloom.

What is your favourite thing about working with flowers?

I think there’s something so raw about working with nature, particularly flowers. A plant will spend time growing and maturing, putting all its energy into creating the perfect flower for reproduction. We then harvest it at its prime, to appreciate the bloom in its most beautiful state- but it is only fleeting. As cut from the mother plant, the flower transitions through its natural cycle of death. They are a reminder of the impermanence, natural changes and cycles of life and the importance of existing within the present. It is also such a privilege to be able to work with the unique natural flora of Australia and has allowed me to feel more connected with my environment, country and the six Noongar seasons.

We believe connection within our community is so important, how do feel about this and what role does it play in your practice?

I’ve always really valued connection- both with Mother Nature and my community. Floristry requires both to work effectively- it’s about respect and authenticity. Flowers are tactile, raw and real and can be an important way to connect with nature in our increasingly digitalised urban environment. They also inspire human connection- and can be used to express affection, empathy, celebration, or mourning.

What are some ethical or conscious actions you do in your daily life?

I do my best to live sustainably and respect our environment, both within my business and my personal life. I do this by reducing my waste, recycling, purchasing local and natural products where possible. I also recognise the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation as the traditional custodians of this country and its waters. It is a privilege to use native flora in my work, and I pay my respects to Noongar elders past, present & emerging and to all traditional owners of Australia. I hope to continue learning, educating myself and connecting with others surrounding the traditional history of country and its original peoples.