Meet Tara Jackson | Floral Designer

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

Hi Tara, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance can be defined as “Work Hard, Play Hard.” In the floral/wedding business, you don’t get to choose when couple’s get married. We work hard in the summer – long hours, calloused hands, weekend deliveries – and we have the winter months to “play.”

I think I used to resent the schedule a little bit, with everyone going on weekend camping trips or summer vacations when I’m busy at someone’s event. But now I embrace it fully. I get to go on vacation when everyone working and school is in session. I get more than 2-weeks of vacation in a year. I can take entire weeks off in the winter months to make up for the busy season. It truly is a balance and makes the hard work worth every minute.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Flower design as an art medium comes with a different set of rules. Flowers are breakable and perishable. They need constant water and the perfect temperature. I don’t get to try again if something breaks, or adjust the color if it’s not quite right, or make them bloom at the right time. I don’t get to hang them on my wall and enjoy them for years to come. A lot of people “don’t see the point.” They can get flowers cheaper from the grocery store. They want to DIY because “how hard can it be”. And while all of this is true, I’m still here. Despite the challenges, I really, really, love flowers and believe in what we do. I get to be a part of the most important day of someone’s life. My flower designs will exist forever in photos.

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?
A road trip for sure. A few days in Buena Vista to start — Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, and this adorable little pick-your-own flower farm — then a few days towards to east to ride the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway and walk around Garden of the Gods. Bonus points that the whole trip avoids I-70.

Obligatory Denver to-do’s:
-Denver Botanic Gardens so we can nerd-out about flowers
-Concert at Red Rocks, it doesn’t matter who’s playing
-The Crypt for vegan food and drinks (and heavy metal)
-Tocabe, Native American Eatery and visit Lakeside Amusement Park while you’re there
-Arc Thrift Stores… Colorado people get rid of the best outdoor brands

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?
Anastasia Ovanessoff-Housley <3 The floral industry is a wild one. It's a lot of work, and we definitely don't do it because we're expecting to become millionaires someday, but it's full of passion. Stazi and I both share a true, genuine LOVE of flowers and flower design. Our paths only crossed two or three times before she told me she wanted to start her own flower shop and asked if I wanted to come along for the ride. She took a chance on me, and it has allowed me to grow in all the best ways. Stazi offers a safe, inviting space to try new things, challenge myself, and do what I love every day. I'm so thankful to her and Juniper & Honey.

Website: https://juniperandhoneydesigns.com

Instagram: @juniperandhoneydesigns