By Lily Tuck
At last month’s Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Malmsbury’s Olivia Coutts received the inaugural Florist Choice Award for her installation PEARL. Inspired by a quote from Vincent van Gogh, the work reflects themes of resilience and transformation.
“The heart of [wo]man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and, in its depths, it has its pearls too.”
The Florist Choice Award was introduced in 2026. Unlike traditional categories, it is judged by fellow florists and recognises storytelling, creativity and personal expression. “I would rather win this award than the gold,” Olivia said. She said being recognised by peers within the industry she respects is especially meaningful. This year’s theme, Kaleidoscope, reflects the show’s focus on colour, pattern and constant change. Much like a kaleidoscope, each turn reveals an array of vibrant colours and patterns.
Olivia’s work draws on her personal experiences, exploring life as ever-changing and unpredictable. Akin to the 1800s toy of mirrors and coloured glass beads.
In her early twenties, after finding a lump in her arm, Olivia was diagnosed with a rare lymphatic cancer. Five years later, while pregnant with her first daughter, a large liver tumour was discovered during routine blood work. Due to her pregnancy, surgery was delayed, and a year after her daughter was born, she had 80 per cent of her liver, along with her gallbladder and bile duct, removed. Two small tumours were later found to be pre-cancerous. From this experience Olivia fell in love with floristry.
“I found that it was a great way of relaxing and healing,” she said.
The award-winning installation PEARL mimics the shape of a crashing wave. Created using New Zealand flax grown in Olivia’s garden, she spent hundreds of hours shredding fibres to form the wave. Dried lunaria pods were peeled back to reveal delicate translucent layers resembling seafoam atop the flax. Olivia said the materials reflect both the harsh and beautiful parts of life, much like a wave.
“They balance each other out, the harshness and the more delicate, fragile flowers,” she said.
Olivia also used white dahlias from Bunch Farms in Spring Hill and Wood End Flower Farm. She said she wanted to support local growers in the Macedon Ranges. Olivia is the founder of Pemberley of Malmsbury, a third-generation farm in the Macedon Ranges where she runs mindful floral workshops, continuing the balance of beauty and resilience reflected in her work.
