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Flower power: Carly Rogers and the cult of being an anti florist

This week London ushers in The Chelsea Flower Show, so what better way is there to celebrate the floral extravaganza than by catching up with one of London's coolest alternative florists Carly Rogers.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Rogers has been in the floral biz for the best part of 20 years and is known for her alternative florist artistic flare which has attracted some of the trendiest types around.

Because flower power is the talk of the town at the moment, we grabbed Carly to talk all things floral, art and design.

From her fave London hangouts to why she dubs herself an anti-florist, here's the city through the eyes of a true London flower gal.

Name your favourite flower

Always a blousy open peonie. So on trend.

What would you be doing if you were not a florist?

Something creative but practical, I’m a dreamer but also a grafter. I actually always liked the idea of working in advertising for some reason.

You described yourself as an anti-florist once. Explain.

I remember going to art school for first time and being told we had to unlearn what we had been taught about art and drawing at school. Floristry is similar, though I’ve been a florist for over 20 years I’m always trying to unlearn habits and methods so that what I’m making in the present is fresh and slightly naive. The mantra when working with a team is I don’t want anything to look ‘floristy’, I like imbalance, imperfections, layers and realism.

What’s been your favourite installation so far?

Probably creating an autumnal garden in the Vogue house underground car park for Conde Nast Traveller's garage party last October. A dream team, outside, the sun was shining and we all just loved doing what we were doing and making.

What would you have designed if you were tasked with designing Meghan Markle’s royal florals?

Something very natural and unstructured. It would have to include grass, earth and lots of wild plants and flowers. May is the perfect month for beautiful British wild flowers, it would be amazing to create a wild meadow and flowered grassy banks that are planted across and down the tables.

You recently worked on the Mayfair Flower Show at Sketch. What was your inspiration behind the design for the infamous egg-shaped toilets?

This year we’ve created a Jungle inspired garden on the east bar dome and pods. The idea was to make a really authentic, aged and multi layered natural scene that looks like it could have been there for generations. The iconic pods and dome emerging like a lost city.

Aside from your installation, what was your fave set piece at this year's show.

I worked on the facade last year so it was really exciting to see how JamJar interepreted it. Working with the heavens, there are so many technical challenges involved in putting a piece altogether so you almost have instant admiration for those who follow in your footsteps. It's also refreshing to see other styles and concepts come to life, too.

The Chelsea Flower show is here. What are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s exhibition?

I absolutely love visiting Chelsea! I always go straight to the Great Pavillion to see all the nurseries. The whole experience of wandering around the mini world show gardens is just pure pleasure and escapism.

Explain your style/aesthetic in three words?

Truthful, fragile, beauty.

What’s been your craziest idea/concept to date?

For British Flowers week last summer we Created an oversized grassy mound full of British wild flowers slap bang inside the new Flower market at New Covent Garden. I liked the concept of transporting something so wild and rugged into the back drop of London’s Flower Market and the idea of returning the flowers to their raw natural state and habitat.

If there was one person you could design something for who would it be?

I would have loved to have created a dark and beautiful garden for one of Alexander McQueen's shows

Interesting. What would you have designed for him?

A fantasy realm. Some kind of weird, naturalistic garden that complements both of our aesthetics. Dark, beautiful and moody in a nutshell.

Carly at the New Covent Garden Flower Market
Carly at the New Covent Garden Flower Market

Where do floral junkies like yourself hang out in London?

I love all London parks and gardens, favourites are The Isabella plantation in Richmond Park and the Palm House in Kew Gardens. If you ever fancy coming to my part of town, check out Crystal Palace Park to see all the dinosaurs.

You studied art. How and who has influenced your work?

So many and all sorts...but stand outs are sculptural works by Mark Quinn, Helen Chadwick and Louise Bourgeois but also the sparse classical still life paintings by Juan Sánchez Cotán and the overly decorative designs inspired by nature by Faberge.

What’s your one pet hate about the floristry scene right now?

I’m not so keen on the current trend for fake flowers and the photo opp frontages that are popping up everywhere. To me nature is about celebrating the fragility and imperfections of real flowers and plants, and accepting that they will only last a short time and then making space for the new. Synthetic flowers are just strangely depressing gathering dust and I find their beauty is the equivalent of a fixed fake grin.