Floral Art Show In St. Pete Raises Funds To Launch Florist Trade Union

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A live, immersive floral exhibit on display Friday through Sunday in St. Petersburg will help raise funds for the Tampa Bay Florists’ Fund, which is working to establish as a trade union for business-owning florists and floral freelancers.

The show, Bloomers, can be viewed at Heiress Gallery, 2622 Fairfield Ave. S., Building 7, Unit A.
A group of eight florists will present their work as they strive to launch a trade union for their field.

“Freelance florists, most are on a 1099 status and don’t qualify for insurance or benefits,” Anna Mcelhatten of Maven Way told Patch.

One of the participating florists is pregnant, she added. “If we had a union, that would cover her maternity leave. At the end of the day, we think of ourselves as a community.”

Though most participating florists at this inaugural event are from St. Petersburg or the greater Tampa Bay area, Mcelhatten hopes to see the showcase — and the union — expand once it forms.

“At the end of the day, we think of ourselves as a community … We have so many florist friends in Orlando, Sarasota,” she said. “We want to grow to the point where everyone wants to participate.”

The showcase is also a creative outlet for the participating florists. Based on the theme of the four seasons, each floral artist has chosen a different season to represent with their work.

“Most of us are mainly wedding florists or maybe retail,” Mcelhatten said. “This has been fun. We’re usually working a wedding or event pushing someone else’s design or vision for them. This has been fun to come up with a concept on your own, to come up with your own ideas and really go nuts with it.”

Many of the displays include sound and light elements, she added. “Things we don’t necessarily get to do. This has been fun and creative for us.”