Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Leigh.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Alexandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My mother was a florist before she had me, so she always had flowers in the garden and I was always so fascinated with nature. This love for nature only grew as I got older. At 18, I got my first floral job where I learned the basic flower names and learned how to process and care for them . I learned some design techniques but I mostly learned floral shop management. It was fun for a while but it was corporate and my creativity was very limited. I decided to leave and go back to school for horticulture and I had some odd and end jobs to make ends meet. I started to get inspired to have my own business, so I launched Flora & Fauna in 2014. We’ve done a lot of growing since then!
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the biggest struggle is getting past the self-doubt. When I first started, I had all the confidence in the world. I didn’t even imagine that there would be so many hurdles and I never thought it would take this long. Once you hit hurdle after hurdle, it’s hard to not get discouraged. It’s really important to open your mind. Ask yourself what you could be doing better. Self-evaluation is very important as an entrepreneur and can often time be very humbling. Another struggle is finding a way to supplement your fledgling business with another job until it takes off. For me, this was a house cleaning. It certainly wasn’t luxurious but it paid the bills! Building a flower portfolio ain’t cheap either! If you’re a student, apply for scholarships. Botanical clubs in San Diego offer a lot of funding for students interested in horticulture. Find your niche, be resourceful and accept every opportunity that comes your way.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Flora & Fauna story. Tell us more about the business.
I am an event florist so it’s definitely different than retail. I do flowers for weddings, galas and private parties. I’ve done both and I have to say, I really enjoy the freedom of being able to work in my private studio. I get to listen to my music loud, dance around with my dog, work the hours that suit me and best of all, I get to walk out to my garden and forage for whatever beauties are growing that season. I’m known for large, loose, and wild bouquets full of interesting specimens. I’m a huge Protea girl, so you’ll often see my bouquets rocking one. I think what makes me a bit different from most florists in San Diego, is that I have been studying horticulture for several years now and I am so fascinated with how plants grow, how they reproduce, how they defend themselves and how they nourish us. The science and culture behind plants is truly amazing! My love for flowers goes far beyond cutting their pretty heads off and making art with them haha! Although I love doing that, too! I’m currently in the process of building a cut flower garden. I’ve got some seedlings starting in my greenhouse and my living room is currently a jungle. My boyfriend made me promise, I wouldn’t fill our new house up with “things” I told him plants are my friends, they’re not things. There’s no arguing with that!
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Learn from others. I interned for a few florists in San Diego, all with completely different concepts. I got so much advice and this helped me narrow down what path I wanted to take with my career and helped me streamline my vision. It mostly gave me a lot more confidence in my decision making. Instagram is a great tool to connect with people that inspire you. Shoot them a message and offer to do some free work for them, they will likely say yes! I think the best advice I can give young women is community over competition. There is enough work out there for everyone. Just be your self and let your authenticity shine through your work. And lastly, don’t give up. You got this girl!
Contact Info:
- Website: FloraFaunaProductions.com
- Phone: 619.396.8094
- Email: flora.fauna.productions@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Flora_Fauna_Design
- Facebook: @Florafaunaproductions
- Other: https://www.yelp.com/biz/flora-and-fauna-productions-san-diego?frvs=True&osq=flora+fauna+productions
Image Credit:
ANB Moments, Kim C. Villa Photography, EMBLDN Photography & Videography, Linsey Middleton Photography
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