I have been privileged to call Vancouver my home. Since a child, I was able to drink in the changing seasons and market fresh cuisine on grocery visits to chinatown. My mom planted flowers in our front yard and my grandparents kept a vegetable garden at back. My sister and I ran a pretend salad bar. We picked and mashed and steeped leaves in water to make tea we didn’t drink. I was a teenager when I began to learn about houseplants and floral design. Flowers were a part time job for teenage fun-money.  

Kingsgate mall where I worked had an odd compilation of stores and quirky characters who made regular appearances. One could get hooker boots, alcohol, and a bonsai ficus in one convenient location. People have told me I’m free-spirited and always have a smile that infects. Inspired by the culture of Kingsgate Mall, it is the place where much of my quirk took root.

Years later I ran my own boutique floral shop in Kitsilano. Running my own business and managing all of the other responsibilities that came with it was overwhelming. On the other hand, I was spending my day in a minty green shop against lush backdrop of plants. Being in world of one’s own creations is soul soothing.

The overlap of food and flora is where I continue to play and explore. Terpenes are the compounds that give lemons their bright uplifting zings, and also what makes jasmine smell so sweet. It’s common knowledge that scent and memory have a strong correlation to one another. It’s like the memories laced with food and smell are etched into our brains. In my artistry, I continue to practice wielding scent, flavour, colour, temperature, keeping in mind the imprint I will create in someone else’s mind.