Meet Suzanne Tarry | Flower Lady and “certified” Flower Fairy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Suzanne Tarry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suzanne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always loved flowers. As a child I was constantly picking blooms to give to my mother and grandmothers, or anyone else I had contact with. As a college freshman though I pursued a pre-med track thinking I would help the world through medicine. During the first semester of my Sophomore year I began getting sick very often. My doctor kept telling me I was too stressed from taking 21 hours of classes, participating on the dance team, working in the admissions office, and singing in the school choir. (Admittedly, yes, this was a lot of stress!). Yet, after a large lump popped up in my neck my family and I began to worry it was more than just stress. After going over my regular doctor’s head and going straight to an oncologist, doctors found a tumor in my chest roughly the size of my heart and I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Large Cell Lymphoma. I had to move home from school and was started on Chemo and Radiation immediately. After 7 months of intense treatments that our Oncologist told us would kill most adults, I was pronounced Cancer free. Going through this trial deferred me from the pre-med path, initiating my desire to “just make people happy.” Flowers was the way I would do that. Returning to school, I changed my major to business and gained jobs at both a wholesale and retail floral businesses. Starting out on my own was a process in and of itself- learning and curating “my style” as well as mechanics and processes of the floral world- but through it all was the goal to “just make people happy” through flowers. Now, 28 years later, that philosophy still exists in my business. I consider it a privilege to be included as a vendor at each event I provide florals for or each fair I participate in. After 28 years, I still cry every time seeing the bride in her dress holding her flowers 🙂

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s a hard lesson to learn that you can’t do everything or please everyone. Over the years I’ve been able to discover my creative style and promote myself as a Cottage Garden florist. Trying quite a few styles over my time as a flower lady has definitely been an exercise in humility, teaching me what I’m good at and what I’m not so good at creating. Yet, honing and curating my style was a necessary step in creating a successful business. I want customers to know when they hire me that I am giving them the best of me and my years of experience. If I am uncomfortable with what I am presenting, I fix it, no matter the cost. Seeing the delight in a bride’s eyes when presenting her bouquet, or the magical whimsy in a child when putting on our Fairy wings is quite unmatched. Knowing that you are creating happiness for a customer is the true “profit” in the end!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, since I’m a flower lady we would definitely visit Sarah P Duke Gardens in Durham, stroll the paths of Raulston Arboretum and the Raleigh Rose Garden, we’d picnic among the bamboo in Pullen Park, and marvel at the natural beauty of Durant Nature Preserve!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am eternally grateful for the support of my family and friends throughout my journey!

Website: https://www.flowerbirddesign.com

Instagram: @flowerbirddesign

Facebook: @flowerbirddesignstudio