Thi Phuong Nhung Nguyen (36) prefers regional flowers, here hydrangeas Photo: Stefanie Herbst
By Sabine Klier
She simply cannot imagine a life without flowers… Thi Phuong Nhung Nguyen (36), who was born in Vietnam, came to our city at the age of nine and grew up in her parents’ flower shop. Now she represents the state of Berlin at the German Florists’ Championship.
She is THE flower whisperer, understands her language. “Plants communicate with each other, I had to learn that first,” she says.
After graduating from high school, Nhung (pronounced “young”) actually wanted to study interior architecture, but then decided to train as a florist. After graduating, she opened her own shop (Westfälische Str. 52).
In her 50 square meter flower shop at Westfälische Strasse 52, the florist presents around 1,000 plants Photo: Stefanie Herbst
Her day starts early: at 4 a.m. she always buys fresh goods in the wholesale market on Beusselstrasse. “Fresh bouquets just last longer, at least a week,” she says.
Thi Phuong Nhung Nguyen casting Photo: Stefanie Herbst
She is training in her garden for the German Championships on August 20th in the Great Crested Diver under the motto “Freedom”. Because it’s going to be sporty. The competitions include: a kind of “floristry marathon” with huge planting works (2×2 meters, 2.50 m high), room decorations (up to 2 m high) and an XXL bouquet (up to 1.20 m high). Everything under time pressure. It also has to be sustainable.
Practice arrangement: For the German Florist Championships, she practices the room decorations, which can be up to 2 meters high Photo: Stefanie Herbst
“A good bouquet of flowers has to evoke emotions in the customer,” says Nhung, who thrives on her favorite topic herself. “It must be alive, like the garlic from my garden. It has a nice growth.”