About Us

Stephanie

I opened the Rose Garden florist with my dad Terry in 2015 following a career change from working in the city.  I trained at the Cambridge Flower School and learned from the high-quality florists we have always employed in the shop.  As well as being a senior florist, I manage all aspects of the business and am dedicated to high quality, excellent customer service and creating a happy and enthusiastic team.   The Rose Garden is a very special place, named in memory of my Mum Rose and everything we do here is dedicated to her.

I love all flowers, but my absolute favourites are calla lilies, peonies and flowering mint.  I am particularly happy making large wild bouquets with huge amounts of texture and scent.

Terry

After I retired from a long career in the army and then IT and security, I joined Stephanie in opening the Rose Garden.

With no pretensions at being a florist, I spend my time looking after the plants in the garden centre, making deliveries and just generally helping out.

My biggest passions are the tropical plants and insects, and I can be relied on to identify all of the strange bugs and spiders that appear from the cupboard under the stairs!

Hannah

I first joined The Rose Garden as a freelancer but I became an official team member in July 2019. I completed my level 2 and level 3 training at Writtle College, achieving a distinction grade for every single assessment set over the course of 4 years (which I think is a bit of a record!)

When I’m not at the shop I run my own business as a wedding florist so I’m a bit of a specialist when it comes to weddings and they are my favourite thing to work on.

I particularly love spring/summer flowers so peonies, sweet peas, garden roses, ranunculus and just anything pretty!

Sarah T

I am part-time at The Rose Garden and spend the rest of my time being a mum to my little girl!

I have been at the Rose Garden from the very beginning, joining in 2015! We have grown together, and I am extremely lucky to be able to work in an environment that allows me to flourish.  I have always had a huge passion for anything arts and crafts and graduated with a triple distinction in art and design. I then went on to study floristry at Writtle college and again graduated with distinction. I incorporate my artistic eye into all my floristry work, influenced by our beautiful countryside, my designs tend to be a looser more natural flavour.

I also love a challenge and working in a high street store, gives me the opportunity to explore, create and bring to life our clients visions!

Louise

I have been with The Rose Garden family from nearly the very beginning, starting back in January 2016.

My floristry journey started in 2014 when I was working for a floristry wholesaler.  I then started my level 2 diploma in Floristry at Writtle College. My next move alongside this was to Philippa Craddock Flowers at the world-renowned Selfridges in London.  It was here that my passion for flowers bloomed. I love the interaction with customers and being able to provide such beautiful flowers to people.  It’s amazing to be part of such a caring and passionate team.

Kristi

After a break of 5 years from being a PA in the City, following the birth of my second daughter, I decided to sign up to some floristry workshops at Writtle College with a friend. We wanted to do something fun and creative together. I never thought it would lead to anything more than a couple of classes and found myself signing up to a part time course at Writtle College a couple of months later! Stephanie kindly took me on for my work experience in October 2019 and I joined the Rose Garden family on a more permanent basis in February 2021.

I’ve completed work experience and workshops at Judith Blacklock and I’ve signed up to a McQueens workshop in 2021. I enjoy learning from everyone at the Rose Garden and love that I get to work with beautiful materials everyday! I particularly enjoy making hat boxes and baskets and come Christmas I’m quite fond of door wreaths. My favourite flowers are anemones or peonies and gorgeous scented stocks!

Helen

I joined the Rose Garden in 2019 as a delivery driver and I love getting out and about meeting lots of lovely people and getting to see their reactions to the beautiful bouquets they are being sent.

Outside of work I am a busy Mum of 3 who loves to watch her kids play football.  I live for my winter trips to the French Alps to ski and snowboard with my family and I thoroughly enjoy spreading floral happiness via my delivery role with the Rose Garden.  

Ruth

I joined the Rose Garden as a part time florist in March 2021 when they bought Cherry Picked Flowers in Great Bardfield, where I had worked for 3 years. I completed my NVQ Level 2 in Floristry at Writtle College in 2004 and I particularly enjoy making handtied bouquets with a wild and bohemian feel. I’ve been fully initiated into the team starting less than two weeks before Mother’s Day, the busiest peak of the year.

Outside of work I am a Mum to three boys which keeps me busy and when I do have time I like to relax and crochet.

My favouite flowers are peonies, roses and stocks.

Olena

I am a florist from Kyiv, Ukraine.  During the war in Ukraine I moved to England to save my daughter. 

In my country I worked as a florist in a large company for 8 years. 

Thanks to the kind hearts of the English I was accepted into the friendly family of The Rose Garden where I am very happy to create beautiful arrangements for you.  I am still learning English but I do speak the language of flowers and kind hearts.  I am so happy to make your daily orders but my soul sings the most during Christmas. 

Thank you for appreciating my creations, every thank you makes my day!

Lilly

I joined The Rose Garden in 2022 on work experience for college as I am completing my level 2 practical in floristry at Writtle College and I also work there on a Saturday.

I love flowers, gardening and anything that involves me being outside.  My favourite flowers are sweet peas, violas and campanulas and of course anything that is pretty!! 

I am still finding my individual style of floristry whilst I am learning but get the opportunity to try lots of new things as it's such a busy shop.

Coco and Dolly

I am Coco the cavachon and have been part of the team for nearly 6 years. I have no floristry skills whatsoever, but I am excellent with customers and am good at making people smile. I recently gained a new sister called Dolly who was rescued from a puppy farm. She's still a bit shy around people but is coming to the shop more and more and getting braver every day.

She and I love a biscuit, so we keep a good stash in the shop to share with other doggies as well.

Big Ted

Hi, I am Big Ted and I have been part of the Rose Garden Team since the very beginning.

I am known for my sartorial elegance.  My favourite place is in the centre of the window where I like to dress up.  My favourite outfits match the season or current event and I have been known to be cupid, a scarecrow, a farmer, a soldier, a nurse and a Christmas elf!

There are many more outfits in my wardrobe so please take time as you come down the high street to see my latest ensemble.