A TAUNTON florist is coming up roses after being crowned one of the UK's best florists

Stems of Taunton, based in a unit at Taunton Deane Crematorium, has been accepted as a full member of the exclusive Good Florist Guide, the gold standard of floristry.

Acknowledged as the ‘little black book’ of the very best British and Irish florists, Stems of Taunton was awarded the prestigious accolade by the guide’s advisory panel last month.

Owner Sallyann Reed and her team were delighted to gain recognition for all their hard work and dedication over the last 20 years.

Sallyann worked from home until two years ago, when she set up in her current premises at the height of the pandemic.

She said: "We are delighted to be accepted into the Good Florist Guide.

"We are passionate about flowers, design, quality and the service we give to each of our customers, so it is wonderful to have this recognised.

“What’s special about our business is that we specialise in weddings, funerals, corporate events and daily bouquets."

To be included in the guide, Sallyann and her team underwent a rigorous evaluation process before being approved and invited to join.

She submitted a detailed description of the floristry business, including the range available and services offered, as well as images of the business premises, design work, the team and even the delivery vehicle.

Caroline Marshall-Foster, editor of industry bible The Florist Magazine and founder of Good Florist Guide, set it up as a way to ensure customers always receive top quality floristry from businesses that value

excellent customer service.

She said: “You can buy flowers virtually anywhere these days.

"But nothing really beats the experience of receiving fabulous flowers from a truly bespoke florist and without it costing an arm or a leg.

"The Good Florist Guide is my way of sharing all that is good about floristry.

"It allows consumers to know that the florist they use is able and willing to go the extra mile and make all their purchases, big or small, truly special.”

For more details about Stems of Taunton visit www.stemsoftaunton.co.uk