Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Whiting.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey into floral design began quietly and organically. While pursuing my undergraduate degree, I worked at grocery store— and found myself constantly drawn to the flower displays. What started as purchasing premade bouquets soon evolved into creating my own weekly arrangements, selecting individual bunches and teaching myself how color, shape, and texture could come together in harmony.
I hold a master’s degree in chemistry and moved to the Washington DC area in 2021 to work as a Research and Development Scientist in the pharmaceutical industry. Living in a new city, away from close friends and family, I found myself returning more deeply to floral design as both a creative outlet and a grounding practice. I began studying floral techniques, exploring design mechanics, and intentionally learning sustainable methods — including foam-free mechanics like chicken wire. With my scientific background, understanding the environmental and chemical impact of floral foam made discovering eco-conscious alternatives especially meaningful.
As the demands of my scientific career intensified, I made the decision to step back into a more flexible role as a project coordinator. That shift gave me the space to fully immerse myself in floral design. I volunteered at a local flower farm, learning firsthand how flowers are grown — tending soil, sowing seeds, and participating in the early stages of the harvest. I also began freelancing with established floral design companies across the DC area, contributing to large-scale events with budgets exceeding $100,000. These experiences deepened my technical skill, sharpened my design eye, and shaped the work I create today.
After my contract ended as a project coordinator, the shift into want to open a floral design business made the most sense to me. Flowers were my safe haven, kept me present, and consistently brought me joy and I wanted to share my creativity and love of flowers to everyone. My company currently specializes in corporate floral design workshops, experiential floral activations, and event styling. We also hold monthly floral design workshops in downtown Silver Spring, where participants design their own floral arrangement using chicken wire, as a sustainable design mechanic.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting and running a floral design business is the hardest thing I’ve ever done — there are so many moving parts — but I love a challenge and I love to learn. Pricing was the steepest curve. Early on I was pricing around flowers and hours, and I realized that completely missed the point of what I do. Garden Muses isn’t about flowers on a table; it’s about the experience people walk away with — whether it’s a team at a workshop or a brand like Lululemon at an activation. Once I understood I was pricing an experience, not a product, everything shifted. I’m still refining as I go of course.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a floral designer that specialize in is floral experiences: guided design workshops, my Garden Bar pop-ups, and brand activations. I also do event floral styling and design bespoke floral arrangements for special occasions and every day gifting. Most florists sell you flowers; I create experiences people want to hold onto and remember. It might be someone falling for a flower variety they never knew existed, or someone in a workshop discovering that floral design keeps them present and genuinely lifts their mood.
What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t let my nerves stop me from hosting public workshops. I used to be really nervous presenting, and I still stumble over my words sometimes — but I didn’t let that keep me from spreading flower joy. Over 200 people have come through my workshops now, and I’m grateful for every one.
How do you think about happiness?
Flowers make me happy because they’re beautiful and fleeting — they remind me to stay present and enjoy what’s in front of me, because nothing lasts forever. But they also remind me that beauty doesn’t just happen. You have to tend to what you want, constantly, and care for it before it blooms into anything worth looking at.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gardenmusesstudio.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gardenmusesstudio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/gardenmusesstudio
