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"It feels like you're stepping into the Secret Garden, " he says.
Mary Berry. Ru Paul . Simon Cowell. When it comes to reality competition shows, the judges, with their idiosyncratic personalities and catch-phrases, are as important as the talent. As judge of The Big Flower Figh t on Netflix, acclaimed florist Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, 36, joins that lauded set—but only he knows how to construct a giant recreation of a miniature Schnauzer, made entirely of long grasses (watch the episode "Huge Hairy Beasts " to see the installation in all its glory).
"It's more than just shoving flowers into a vase," Griffith-VanderYacht, the owner of Seattle's Wild Bloom Florals , whose arrangements have been featured in celebrity weddings and on magazine covers, tells OprahMag.com of The Big Flower Fight .
That's an understatement. On The Big Flower Fight , 10 teams of two are challenged to create elaborate floral installations, ranging from life-size couture dresses made of cut flowers to super-sized insects crafted with living plants. Along with a guest judge, Griffith-VanderYacht crowns one winning team, and eliminates another.
Griffith-VanderYacht's involvement with The Big Flower Fight started with an Instagram DM. "It was probably the most nontraditional route a person could take to getting on television," Griffith-VanderYacht jokes.
The Seattle native was dropping his baby son off at daycare when he got a message on Instagram about a mysterious TV project. Griffith-Vanderyacht pulled into a Starbucks parking lot, "because they have that good WiFi, and you can't mess around with WiFi," and had a 10-minute video call with strangers.
"I didn't even know what I was auditioning for. Then I heard back maybe two weeks later, they're like, 'Okay, we would like you for this project.' And I was like, "Well, what's the project?" And they're like, 'It's for Netflix.' And then my wig blew off," Griffith-VanderYacht says.
While The Big Flower Fight came out of nowhere, Griffith-VanderYacht has been "planting the seeds" (sorry!) for a similar opportunity for years, thanks to his illustrious career in the floral industry.
According to Wild Bloom Floral's website , Griffth-VanderYacht's flowers have been in major publications across the US, including Martha Stewart Weddings , Traditional Home Magazine , and The Knot , and seen on Good Morning America and E! . His flowers for actress Julianne Hough's wedding were featured on the front cover of People .
Wild Bloom Floral is the culmination of Griffith-VanderYacht's lifelong love of flowers. Growing up in Detroit, he spent summers tending to his mother's garden in their large backyard. "I was like, yes, this is amazing! I get to play in the dirt, and pull stuff out. Little did I know it was manual labor," he says with a laugh.
While gardening, Griffith-VanderYacht says he feels "rooted in something very true to [himself]." In 2011, Griffith-VanderYacht took steps to turn his lifelong hobby into a career. "I had never really known anything about the professional side of floristry. So, I allowed myself to really just get into it and observe and read and research and play. That was probably the biggest gift I could have given myself... the opportunity to play with flowers, because through that, I discovered my own voice," he says.
As a judge, Griffith-VanderYacht hopes to be an example for other aspiring florists, especially those of color.
"I want it to be a really good representation, not just on the show, but in my everyday life, of Black excellence, and what it means to be a person of color that other little kids can look up to and say, 'Wow, I didn't know that it could be cool to be a florist!' I didn't get to have that as a little kid. It was something that I had to discover," he says.
There's one child that Griffith-VanderYacht thinks of, especially: His son Hugo, whom Griffith-VanderYacht and his husband, Aaron, adopted back in June 2019 .
"I take that role incredibly seriously, not only for myself, but also for my son. He has the rare and very singular opportunity to grow up having two parents of very different races and very different cultural backgrounds. And so I want him to experience and understand the richness and the dichotomy of both of those worlds," Griffith-VanderYacht says.
In addition to raising his son, Griffith-VanderYacht hopes to have more "flower babies" in the future, too. When asked about challenges that didn't make the season, he's reluctant to give them away.
"I'm not going to tell you because I'm hoping they'll be in season 2, if we get one," he says.
For now, The Big Flower Fight 's eight-episode first season is worth watching for Griffith-VanderYacht's jewel-toned suits, coordinated especially for the challenges, and for his commentary, which is as colorful as the flowers themselves. One particularly memorable zinger? Griffith-VanderYacht staring at the droopy face of a lion statue, and saying: "I asked for character . I did not ask for sloppy ."
While always honest, he tempers his pronouncements with kindness and genuine awe. Even now, he speaks of the contestants' accomplishments with pride. "I feel like those teams are all my babies. They're my flower children," he says.
With that sentiment in mind, he's a mentor first, and a judge second. As the teams build their structures, Griffith-VanderYacht gives restrained pointers (and occasional side-eye).
"When it was appropriate, I would give them advice. Other times, like any parent, you have to let your kids experience failure in order to learn. But it was tempting to go and help," he says.
From his position on the sidelines, Griffith-VanderYacht also bears witness to the small spats that put the "fight" in The Big Flower Fight , like when Irish team Eoghan and Declan stockpile all the tall grasses to prevent others from using it, or when Yan and Henck steal mirrors.
"Even the stealing is a little tongue in cheek. It doesn't even feel like, Ooh, I'm out to get you . It's more like, I'm just being competitive. It's all in good fun," he says.
Being an observer, not a participant, had another perk: While the participants sweated in the humid dome, where the installations were constructed, Griffith-VanderYacht could appreciate its beauty—then get fresh air.
"You can get transported walking into the dome. It feels like you're stepping into the Secret Garden. It's like you're going from black-and-white into Technicolor. You are Dorothy coming out of her house and walking into Oz," he says. He can't wait to get back to the dome—and neither can we.
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Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily.
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Creativity comes in many different forms, and Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is proof. He is widely considered one of the most talented florists in the world. His ability to create beautiful bouquets and designs is unmatched. Although most people think making a floral design is as easy as slapping some flowers together, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht has shown that there is true artistry behind it. He recently gained mainstream popularity as one of the judges of Netflix’s floral design competition show, The Big Flower Fight . Now that his fan base is growing by the day, so are the possibilities for his career. Continue reading for 10 things you didn’t know about Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht.
Direct messages on Instagram are usually reserved for romantic advances and random conversations, but apparently they can also be a great place for business opportunities. Kristen says he received a random DM about a TV project and was asked to do a quick video call. He told The Oprah Magazine , “I didn’t even know what I was auditioning for. Then I heard back maybe two weeks later, they’re like, ‘Okay, we would like you for this project.’ And I was like, “Well, what’s the project?” And they’re like, ‘It’s for Netflix.’ And then my wig blew off.”
Kristen has been fortunate enough to see his wildest dreams come true in more ways than one. In addition to being a talented florist, Kristen is also an entrepreneur. He owns his own flower shop in Seattle called Wild Bloom. Thanks to the show, there’s a good chance his shop will become even more popular.
For Kristen, flowers are more than just something to put in the middle of your kitchen table as a center piece. Instead, he believes they are like art and he believes they have the power to connect people. According to his website , he “views floristry as a gateway to a happier more sustainable life that focuses on bridging the gap between nature and modern living.”
Kristen may have a successful career, but that isn’t the only thing he’s focused on. He’s also a very dedicated family man. He is happily married to Aaron Griffith-VanderYacht. The couple has one child together, a son named Hugo . The couple adopted Hugo in June 2019 and are having a great time raising their sweet baby boy.
When Kristen was young, he spent a lot of time working in his mother’s garden. He says, “I was like, yes, this is amazing! I get to play in the dirt, and pull stuff out. Little did I know it was manual labor.” What started as a simple hobby quickly became something Kristen wanted to take seriously.
Kristen has put in a lot of work over the last several years, and his resume speaks for itself. His website says that his work has been featured in several publications across the country including “ Martha Stewart Weddings, Traditional Home Magazine, and The Knot, and seen on Good Morning America and E! Network . His flowers for actress Julianne Hough were featured on the front cover of People Magazine .”
Representation is very important to Kristen. There aren’t a lot of other young Black men working in the floral industry, and he hopes that he can show young people that a career as a florist is possible and wanting to work in the field isn’t anything to be embarrassed about.
There aren’t many people who can truly say they love what they do. Even though working with flowers is Kristen’s job, it’s also something he does as a way to relieve stress. Kristen says that gardening helps keep him “rooted in something very true to himself”.
Kristen hopes that people who watch The Big Flower Fight come away with an understanding of how complex floristry is. Most people think being a florist is nothing more than picking out some cute flowers and putting them in a vase, but the show provides a more thorough look at what florists are actually capable of.
Judges on reality competition shows have a reputation for being mean and snarky, but that isn’t Kristen’s style at all. Although he is technically a judge on The Big Flower Fight , he likes to think of himself as a mentor. He would step in and offer advice when necessary, but he also let contestants experiment and learn things on their own.
Camille has a master's degree from Saint Joseph University's Writing Studies program, and she currently works as the Writing Center Assistant Director at a small university in western Pennsylvania. Camille's writing has been published on several websites, and she enjoys writing articles and short stories in her spare time. You can follow Camille on Twitter @CamealAshley.
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July 1st, 2020
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I’m so thrilled to introduce you to floral celebrity Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht , the savvy and charismatic head judge on Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight and owner of Seattle-based design studio Wild Bloom .
After binging on all eight episodes of The Big Flower Fight when it debuted in late May, I have to say that Kristen is the heartbeat of this fun, new reality floral and garden design competition. He sets the tone for “friendly” competition by offering each design team his advice, guidance and sometimes painful but necessary reality-checks.
I really enjoyed Kristen’s presence on The Big Flower Fight. He served as the resident floral design expert, as well as the show’s stylish personality whose commentary moved things along during each one-hour episode. When the show launched I didn’t know much about Kristen, although I had been following his Wild Blume Instagram account once I discovered him through other Seattle florists I followed.
Several weeks ago, Mayesh Wholesale’s Yvonne Ashton invited Kristen to be her guest on her Facebook show, Mornings with Mayesh . It was so great to virtually meet Kristen during that interview. You can watch the Facebook Live replay above.
I appreciated Kristen’s transparency and authenticity as a black floral professional, especially since that interview took place right after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police. It was and is such an emotionally wrought time, and Kristen didn’t deflect any questions from Yvonne and those posed by the Mornings with Mayesh audience. He gained my immense regard and respect by speaking directly to these issues.
Later, I messaged Kristen and asked if he would be open to my interviewing him for a Florists’ Review article. Look for my profile and Q&A with Kristen, coming up in the August issue, which you can find online at floristsreview.com . Please enjoy our extended conversation, recorded via Zoom last month.
First, here’s a bit more about Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht of Wild Bloom:
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht specializes in the creation of unique floral arrangements that celebrate enchanting flowers and natural beauty. He is the owner and creative director of Wild Bloom by Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht. His career began in New York City where he worked for some of the top designers in the industry. Since opening his own studio, Kristen’s flowers have been in major publications across the US, including Martha Stewart Weddings, Traditional Home Magazine, and The Knot, and seen on Good Morning America and E! Network. His flowers for actress Julianne Hough were featured on the front cover of People Magazine.
Kristen describes his design philosophy as a combination of editorial with a sensibility for distinctive and organic perspectives. He has an exquisite and rich design eye which has helped to transform the role that florals play in weddings and events. In addition to his extensive portfolio, his studio also provides private classes and workshops for emerging floral artists and enthusiasts.
Kristen views floristry as a gateway to a happier more sustainable life that focuses on bridging the gap between nature and modern living. He continues his work towards elevating the artistry of floral design as a fine art while expanding his design portfolio to include gardening, house plants and home decor.
Wild Bloom design services are available worldwide for weddings, events, workshops, private classes, advertising campaigns, product shoots and fashion featured in print and digital publications.
Thanks so much for joining today’s conversation. You can follow Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht on Instagram .
If you’re as eager as I am to see The Big Flower Fight “season two,” be sure to post your favorite photos from the show and tag Netflix , Kristen , and use the hashtag #thebigflowerfight . Let’s do what we can to ensure that the mainstream media continues to provides programming for people like us: lovers of flowers and plants!
The sixth annual American Flowers Week is underway and we have lots of fun content to share with you, socially distanced, of course.
Earlier this week, on Sunday, June 28th , I went LIVE on Facebook to visit Kim Herning of Northern Lights Peonies in Fairbanks, Alaska, as we toured her peony fields and learned more about Kim’s botanical couture peony gown, created for American Flowers Week.
Watch Part One of our Live Interview Here
Watch Part Two of our Live Interview Here
On Monday, June 29th , our social media manager Niesha Blancas brought Filoli Historic Home & Garden to us LIVE via Instagram. That was just one of the stories and videos Niesha captured as our field correspondent. She was at Filoli to commemorate what was to be the 4th annual Slow Flowers Summit. With concerns over travel and large group gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rescheduled the Slow Flowers Summit to June 28-30, 2021 — the exact same dates one year from now. But thanks to Niesha only living a few hours away from Filoli, she drove to this beautiful location just for us. . . and you can find links to her posts in today’s show notes.
On Tuesday, June 30th , I hosted a group conversation with Tammy Myers of LORA Bloom and her collective of Seattle area florists who collaborated on an American Flowers Week promotion. It was so fun to hear from several of LORA Bloom florists who, like Tammy, are Slow Flowers members. They created this promotion to help raise awareness about the importance of domestic flowers, and to raise funds for important charities — including the Seattle nonprofit Solid Ground .
Watch the LORA Bloom-Slow Flowers LIVE segment here
And more great things continue through July 4th.
You can find the full schedule of activities at americanflowersweek.com . Please join me in sharing your seasonal and local flowers to elevate awareness about domestic flowers. Get involved and support this initiative to promote and educate consumers about the source of their flowers. Download free American Flowers Week graphics, badges and other resources at americanflowersweek.com .
This podcast is brought to you by Slowflowers.com , the free, nationwide online directory to florists, shops, and studios who design with American-grown flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. And thank you to Florists’ Review magazine. I’m delighted to serve as Contributing Editor for Slow Flowers Journal , found in the pages of Florists’ Review. Read our stories at slowflowersjournal.com .
More thanks goes to Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers . Formed in 1988, ASCFG was created to educate, unite, and support commercial cut flower growers. It mission is to help growers produce high-quality floral material, and to foster and promote the local availability of that product. Learn more at ascfg.org .
Mayesh Wholesale Florist . Family-owned since 1978, Mayesh is the premier wedding and event supplier in the U.S. and we’re thrilled to partner with Mayesh to promote local and domestic flowers, which they source from farms large and small around the U.S. Learn more at mayesh.com .
The Gardener’s Workshop , which offers a full curriculum of online education for flower farmers and farmer-florists. Online education is more important this year than ever, and you’ll want to check out the course offerings at thegardenersworkshop.com .
The Slow Flowers Podcast has been downloaded more than 620,000 times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of the American cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. I value your support and invite you to show your thanks and with a donation to support my ongoing advocacy, education and outreach activities. You can find the donate button in the column to the right.
I’m Debra Prinzing , host and producer of the Slow Flowers Podcast . Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more American grown flowers on the table, one vase at a time. And If you like what you hear, please consider logging onto iTunes and posting a listener review.
The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization.
The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. Learn more about his work at soundbodymovement.com .
Music Credits:
Turning on the Lights; Pinky; Gaena by Blue Dot Sessions http://www.sessions.blue Lovely by Tryad http://tryad.bandcamp.com/album/instrumentals http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
In The Field audionautix.com
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2020 at 8:10 am and is filed under American Flowers Week , American Grown , Blog Posts , Creativity , Entertainment , floral design , Gardening , Landscape Design , Plants , Podcast Episodes , SLOW FLOWERS Podcast , Storytelling . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.
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Kristen griffith-vanderyacht on personality through posies, his floral business, and the moment that made him cry, by ashlie d. stevens.
The following contains spoilers from the first season of "The Big Flower Fight," including that bloomin' finale.
"The Big Flower Fight" is Netflix's new floral sculpture competition, blossoming with eye-popping creations and a buoyant energy that's reminiscent of "The Great British Bake-Off." And in a time when people are largely homebound and may feel a little disconnected from the outside world, it's an easily bingeable series that showcases nature with a kind of whimsical halo.
Over the course of eight challenges, 10 different teams of two race against the clock to craft an extravagant floral sculpture — each tied to a different theme, like "enormous insects," "green giants" or the spellbinding "fairytale finish" finale.
Lead judge Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht — with his sunny outlook and sharp suits — is an immediate crowd favorite. He spoke with Salon about developing a rubric for judging contestants, the challenge outcome that made him cry, and how his own business is faring during the pandemic.
What do you think some of the biggest misconceptions about florists or working with flowers are? Because I feel like this show is going to be a shock to people in a lot of ways.
I think the biggest misconception that I've experienced in my professional career is how much time and energy it takes to make an arrangement that looks like it took no time at all. Because if you're dealing with flowers, it's a product of nature. So nature, but its own sort of origins, feels as though it just showed up. It feels as though it just miraculously came from the earth and appeared, so it feels easy.
Really good floral design mimics that sort of relationship between nature and man, so a lot of that takes a lot of practice and that takes a lot of time and diligence. You know, people are like, "Oh, it's so pretty, it's so great," and then they think they can go home and do it themselves, which I do encourage. I always encourage exploring your creative side. But in reality, it took someone probably hours to make something that looks like it took no time at all. That is also the sign of a good floral designer — that effortless communication of an idea.
I think that's such a great point, and it leads into another question I had. So obviously, floral competitions are well-established, but it's not something that people tune in to watch on television to watch super-often. I was curious how difficult it was for you, as a judge, to develop a rubric for what you wanted to see out of the competitor's designs?
It wasn't difficult at all, actually, because I worked very closely with the production team in order to get it down. So being able to have criteria that we were going to give to the teams allowed for me to already have a blueprint of what I was going to be looking for. Then on top of that, I think that what I'm also looking for is the teams to really take it further than what I had originally set out. I really wanted to see their personality, I really want to see their own creative prowess. It was really important for me, for them to be vulnerable as artists and as designers. I think the most successful pieces were by the designers who took risks, but also had the technical understanding to back it up.
I wanted to touch on a couple really emotional moments from the show. One of them, which just made me completely tear up, was when Helen and Andi's crab structure fell. How did that make you feel?
I was devastated. It didn't make it into the show, but I was crying, too, because I knew how much work goes into these installations. I mean this from the bottom of my heart: when creative people put their work out there, they are baring a piece of their soul. And to have it sort of collapse and crumble in the way that it did, it was just so heartbreaking.
Then there's another emotional moment that I think veers a little more heartwarming. Jim and his father Ralph constructed this "monster" that represented anxiety. And you actually crawl into the mouth of that monster with Jim and say to him, "You are not alone." I think this touches on what a special team they were, Jim and Ralph. I was hoping you could talk a little bit about what it was like experiencing their relationship?
Well, it was interesting because Jim, I believe, was the youngest contestant on the show. I mean, all the contestants on the show feel like my little flower babies, they feel like they're my kids. My goal is for them to go out into the world and create so we can make it a much better place.
It was really special to be able to watch Jim, being the youngest, but also expressing himself in one of the most mature ways of all the contestants. So, I think in order to have that vulnerability, he had to be a very self-aware person, and I value that sort of introspection. I think it deepens and enriches a person's ability to connect with the world and that empathy I think we need right now.
And so being able to see Jim have a moment, so publicly, in which he rips off that shame sticker, I thought it was so beautiful. I thought it was so adult of him. I thought it was, you know, so advanced in terms of his emotional intellect.
One of the things that I loved about "The Big Flower Fight" is that it was beautiful, not only aesthetically, but it was so incredibly emotional and inclusive. Was it important for you, as a judge, to exude inclusion and positivity on set?
Absolutely. The way that I approach judging is sort of how I approach any sort of constructive role that I have, as a designer, as a business owner, as a father, as a husband as a friend. It's always to uplift other people. I think in order to uplift other people, you have to take the time to really see them. And so, you know, I really wanted every contestant to feel seen, even if it was an uncomfortable moment. I wanted them to feel like, "Okay, Kristen knows I tried. It may not have worked out, but at least he knows I give my all," right? I was never there to tear anyone down. It was always to guide and mentor and uplift. Because at the end of the day, our creative abilities far outweigh our bad traits. And I want people to focus on creating
And the level of creativity on this show was so impressive. You are obviously a veteran in this field, but I was curious if throughout filming you saw any techniques or materials used in ways that you were like, "Oh, you know what — that's something I'd like to steal moving forward"?
Every day. Every, every day. I was 100% blown away. And I was like, "How'd you do that? What's going on over here? How'd you make that?" You know, because that's part of the fun of design is creating new techniques and developing new ways to get your idea out of your brain and into the real world.
So all the contestants, I've stolen something from them. That's what, that's what you're supposed to be doing. I will always say that I am always learning. I continue to learn, I have not arrived. And I don't want anyone to ever think that I have arrived. Because if you arrive, then you're dead. Like, what are you doing?
Maybe a silly question, but we had all these great designs. What happened to them after the challenges were over?
I know that a lot of the materials are recycled and a lot of the plants were donated. I don't know of anything that was just wasted. The great thing about working with organic matter is that everything can be made into compost. You know, some of the structures were filmed in the heat and by the time we were done, they had been out in the sun so long, they're crispy and burnt. Whatever couldn't be revived ended up in a compost pile to continue that circle of life.
One of the things I noticed people were responding to on Twitter with regards to the show were your suits. They were just so on point. Were they all yours?
They are unfortunately not mine, but I had a very strong hand in picking everything that I wore, even down to my brooches. The wardrobe team was really fantastic. They were so accommodating of my style. I'm hoping for Season 2 — if we get one — that we can take it even further.
So, outside the world of this show, you are a business owner. And while wedding season is typically in full bloom right now — pardon the pun — the pandemic has thrown everything off center. I was curious how your business, and businesses like yours, have been affected?
Well, my business is all about gatherings, and nobody is gathering right now. So it's definitely taken a major hit. A lot of people have pushed the pause button on their weddings, on their events on their baby showers. And I don't have a retail location; that's not really part of my business model.
But the good news is, we still have access to flowers, and I still have an opportunity to create and so that's a huge part of my own sanity, just getting my hands in nature and flowers. So, I think I've been to the nursery like six times since this happened. I'm wearing a hat and a mask and it's all outdoors. It's weird how that has shifted.
But I think as long as you're able to stay creative, keep your skills up and keep them fresh, that is going to be so beneficial and so therapeutic for your soul.
Final spoiler warning! In the "fairytale" finale challenge, how tough was it to make a decision on the winners, Andrew and Ryan? They did the dark Hansel and Gretel house and took a really big risk putting some of the more alluring elements on the inside of the house.
It was really easy, actually, because I was so overwhelmed with emotion — even just talking about it now, I get chills and goosebumps up and down my arm. It was such an experience. Walking around that house, there was so much to take in, and there was such a clear story behind what they designed, you couldn't help but get emotional viewing it.
It was a visceral reaction and my guest judge had it, too. We were both so blown away and it was obvious those two deserved to win.
"The Big Flower Fight" is now streaming on Netflix.
Ashlie D. Stevens is Salon's food editor. She is also an award-winning radio producer, editor and features writer — with a special emphasis on food, culture and subculture. Her writing has appeared in and on The Atlantic, National Geographic’s “The Plate,” Eater, VICE, Slate, Salon, The Bitter Southerner and Chicago Magazine, while her audio work has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered and Here & Now, as well as APM’s Marketplace. She is based in Chicago.
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We recently caught up with our friend Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, the owner of floral design studio Wild Bloom in Seattle, Washington and a long-time friend and creative collaborator of TFS and our floral design studio, Poppies & Posies.
Kristen is the author of a beautiful new book, Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home , a playful, approachable guide to creating forty-five stunning arrangements. To celebrate the launch of his beautiful new book, we sat down with Kristen to chat about his daily rituals, creative process, and studio must-haves.
Read our q+a below and stay tuned for an exciting giveaway on Instagram later this month!
Mornings with two boys (5 and 2 years old) start early and are full of energy. Have you ever tried to wrangle two Tasmanian devils into a car seat at 7 AM? Well, I have, and let me tell you: If you don't have a sturdy net and pocket full of Teddy Graham Crackers, you're in trouble. Then once my beloveds are safely dropped off at school. I head to the flower market for some much-needed flower therapy.
"Days off?" What are those? Because I don't really get a day off outside of a planned vacation, I have really leaned into acts of self-care to reinvigorate myself and prevent burnout. Working with flowers has been one of the greatest acts of self-care I have been able to give myself. To be able to connect with nature and therefore connect with the greater world around me through the beauty of nature has been an essential part of my design practice and life.
What surprised me the most was how personal the arrangements became for me. I wrote this in the middle of the pandemic while raising a newborn. It was an intense moment of change for me and I think it made the arrangements a bit more dramatic than they would have been had the circumstances had been different.
Gotta have a good pair of clippers and some chicken wire. I can create anything with those two things.
Apart from my phone, keys, wallet, etc. I never leave home without my chapstick. Dry lips drive me nuts.
I find fashion and music to be a great source of inspiration for me. There is something about the flow and emotional storytelling that I find to be incredibly powerful and motivating.
We're thrilled to be celebrating the launch of Kristen's new book with this Q+A and a giveaway that will be announced on our Instagram later this month! You can order Flower Love here or at other booksellers worldwide.
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is a florist and also the owner of Wild Bloom which specializes in the creation of unique floral arrangements that celebrate enchanting flowers and natural beauty. He will be judging " The Big Flower Fight " along with special co-judges on May 2020. [1] [7] [41]
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht started his design career in 2011 working for some of New York City's top floral stores and studios. Living in the Pacific Northwest has always been a vision of Kristen's since he first visited Washington in 2005. With its breathtaking mountains, lush forests and coastal vibe, Seattle is the perfect fit for Kristen's design aesthetic and Wild Bloom. Kristen's work embraces the rambling and unbridled beauty of the Pacific Northwest, while remaining true to his East Coast roots, to create something truly stunning and unique. Our design philosophy combines an editorial eye with an organic sensibility to inspire timeless and artfully crafted floral collections for weddings and events.
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is honored to say that he has designed for high end and celebrity clients such as Julianne Hough ( Television and Film Star) & Brooks Laich (NHL Star), Alexis Michelle (RuPauls Drag Race Season 9) and Donald Webber (Hamilton: A New Musical on Broadway).
Kristen's work has been shot by some of the industry’s most talented photographers, such as Sarah Falugo, Rebecca Yale, Erik Madigan Heck, Ruven Afanador, Lindsay Madden and Sarah Carpenter.
His work has been published on the cover of People magazine and seen in Martha Stewart Weddings, Traditional Home Magazine, New York magazine, The Knot, Black Bride Magazine, Seattle Bride Magazine, Manhattan Bride Magazine, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and online bridal publications such as Style Me Pretty, Once Wed, Trendy Bride Magazine, Aisle Society, Wedding Chicks, Magnolia Rouge and 100 Layer Cake. [2]
Wild Bloom specializes in the creation of unique floral arrangements that celebrate enchanting flowers and natural beauty.
Wild Bloom design services are available worldwide for weddings, events, workshops, private classes, advertising campaigns, product shoots and fashion featured in print and digital publications. [5]
The eight-part series sees ten teams compete to create the best flower Installations, with Reeves and Demetriou on hand to give the contestants some moral support.
Every episode will test a different set of skills and feature a unique challenge - the teams are tasked with building a larger-than-life sculpture, competing to design and build the biggest, most outlandish and beautiful works of art possible from flowers and other natural materials and staving off elimination for one more week.
With a conservationist theme, the participants are encouraged to think about plants which give back to the environment – such as pollinating, insect-friendly species.
The overall winner of The Big Flower Fight will claim the honour of designing their own sculpture to be put on display in London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
"The Big Flower Fight " will be available on Netflix from May 18.
The giant floral installations are judged by florist to the stars, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, along with a special co-judge each week.
Kristen said:
"my mission is to help flowers finally get the respect they deserve. This isn't your basic bunch of blooms. This is the real deal. So buckle up and get your shovel ready for some farm fresh floral fantasy realness!"
Other expert judges making an appearance in the series include; Simon Lycett, James Wong, James Alexander-Sinclair, Sarah Eberle and Sophie Walker. [6]
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht got married to Aaron [42] on June 2013 in New York . It was a gay marriage . Many people congratulated them on Facebook and other social media . They have one child. [3] [4]
Updated May 18 2020, 3:43 p.m. ET
The Big Flower Fight sees 10 green-thumbed participants fight for the chance to have a display at London's one and only Kew Gardens.
Akin to The Great British Baking Show and The Great British Sewing Bee, the eight-episode-long series celebrates the power of creativity — and the effort that goes into the magnificent designs.
To decide which contestant is the most talented, judge Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht will be joined by various guests every week.
As the founder of the cultic New-York-based brand, Wild Bloom, Kristen has created dazzling flower installations and wedding bouquets for some of the most exacting clients out there.
Offering services that go far beyond those found at your average flower shop, he turns the simplest displays into a manifestation of artistry.
In the past, Kristen's work was featured in Martha Stewart Wedding s, Traditional Home Magazine , The Knot, and many others.
In addition to his long list of media appearances, Kristen also runs a studio for amateur florists and emerging professionals.
It's perhaps reasonable to argue that this might make him the best for judging. As someone with vast experience in education and design, he is able to assess the creations and offer top-notch feedback.
"I'm a very honest judge but I like to think that I'm encouraging, I'm not here to tear anyone down. I know that the creative energy they are putting into their creations is immense," Kristen explained in a previous interview with Radio Times .
"At the same time, I believe in them, and if I can see that they're coasting through, then what's the point? I don't want you to come to this competition and show me something you've already done," he added.
View this post on Instagram This is the face a Valentines Day survivor! We did it!! Big thanks to @westelm and @westelmbellevue for the amazing opportunity. I couldn’t have done it without my awesome team @stephanie_roseanne_design_ and @calebf07 we shine brighter together 🌟🌟🌟 #wildbloomfloral A post shared by Kristen Griffith VanderYacht (@kristengvy) on Feb 15, 2018 at 8:50am PST
Already hailed as "the new Mary Berry," Kristen is bound to amaze viewers with his level-headed and considerate approach. As Kristen explained in an interview with Good Housekeeping, The Big Flower Fight gave him an unmatched opportunity to champion flower design.
"My mission is to help flowers finally get the respect they deserve. This isn't your basic bunch of blooms. This is the real deal. So buckle up and get your shovel ready for some farm fresh floral fantasy realness!" he said.
As the owner and creative director of Wild Bloom, Kristen aims to utilize his vast knowledge of everything plant-related to create wonderful displays and rare marvels. It's likely that he will promote this ethos on the show as well, encouraging contestants to compose works that go far beyond the standards of floristry.
In addition to his incredible achievements in the world of design, Kristen also has an enviable family life. He and his husband adopted their first son, Hugo, in June 2019.
"I’m definitely my own person. I haven’t seen anyone on TV like me: a black, gay man with a baby who he adopted with his husband. I’ve had such an interesting journey and I want to bring all those experiences, and that authenticity, to my role as a judge," Kristen told Radio Times .
"And I really want to inspire young people to live their lives with passion and chase their dreams. In order to do that, you have to take your craft seriously. But you can have a little cheek and fun along the way!" he added.
The Big Flower Fight is available on Netflix now.
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Netflix's latest entry in the 'Nice Reality TV' canon is emotional comfort food for times like these.
New York City is currently on what our governor euphemistically likes to call a “pause.” I am paused in a neighborhood that, like much of the city, offers residents very little access to green space . The only park walking distance from me occupies the space of two city blocks, and is an expressly social place, somewhere the neighborhood gathers to play sports together, for kids to hang out together, for dogs to get their exercise in together. Feet of pavement, rubber padding, and dirt—basketball courts, playground, dog runs—far outnumber the areas devoted to greenery.
Like many New Yorkers, I don’t have a car, placing parks farther afield out of reach. Sometimes I hatch plans for treks to more distant parkland, but the sight of morgue trucks at my nearby hospital, two blocks away and spotted during every grocery store run and most walks around the neighborhood, tends to break my cabin fever. There is one local spot filled with grass, dirt, and trees: the neighborhood cemetery. It’s a beautiful and moving place to visit, but, of course, far from fun. Especially with all the new graves.
I know that’s a grim way to introduce an article about Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight , but the floristry and gardening reality competition is debuting in a grim world. Works whose spirits are at odds with their eras tend to either be tone deaf or pitch perfect , and this show is absolutely the latter. The competition, which gathers ten pairs of gardeners, artists, landscape designers, and florists under a giant dome in the British countryside to plant and prune way to the title of Best in Bloom, offers a burst of brightness, a celebration of natural beauty that feels like a balm for this isolated and aggressively hand-sanitized time.
Basically, The Big Flower Fight is The Great British Bake Off with carnations instead of cakes. In each episode, the pairs attempt to build a botanical sculpture based on challenges laid out by judges, a rotating cast of horticultural experts anchored by florist-to-the stars Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht, which is exactly the name a person should have if they’re going to be a florist to the stars. Comedian hosts Vic Reeves and Natasia Demetriou steward us through this beautiful world, one that might as well have contestant Helen’s episode two statement as its guiding motto: “We’re competitive, but not in a nasty way.”
On Flower Fight —which, during the episodes made available for review, features almost nothing in the way of fighting—contestants build grand, stunning botanical sculptures. The first episode’s insect-themed challenge produces a beautiful sphinx moth with coconut husk lugs, and the next episode, which finds contestants making couture gowns out of cut flowers, features one lovely creation with a bodice made of lily petals. It’s everything that, holed up far away from sphinx moths, coconuts, and lilies alike, I could dream of. But even during normal times, it would serve as diverting testament to the natural world’s boundless appeal.
The people are great, too. What We Do in the Shadows star Demetriou is quietly hilarious, wording her queries and commentary in a perfectly slanted style, as when she asks one guest judge, “What do your eyeballs dream of seeing when they finish the challenge?” The contestants include wedding florist Sarah and her assistant Jordan, who calls her friendship with her boss one of “my favorite relationships in my entire life,” and seems completely sincere, and father son pair Ralph and Jim, all smiling and supportive and enjoying their quality time together. My taste in reality TV is normally aimed squarely at the gutter, perhaps because I’m lucky enough to have a real life filled with decent human beings who behave in reasonable ways, and have no desire to fill my television viewing time with more of same. But now that so many of the decent human beings we care about most are physically out of reach, it’s comforting to see the ones featured on this show.
Much like Netflix’s glass blowing competition series Blown Away , The Big Flower Fight showcases an art form that often goes unheralded. And like Bake Off , it’s a feminine-coded craft. The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated just how much undervalued yet essential work is women's work, like nursing, teaching, cleaning, and childcare. Floral arrangements are anything but essential, but they are most often exchanged as a form of care and closeness—we send them to the sick, lay them over coffins, give them as presents to our moms and our Valentines. Even those of us lucky enough to be relatively free of worries about the health and safety of ourselves and our love ones could use a little extra care these days, and Flower Fight offers a lovely array.
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OVERVIEW | BUY TICKETS | MEET KRISTEN | FLOWER LOVE
Join celebrity floral designer and owner of Wild Bloom, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, for an immersive four-hour floral design workshop. Whether you're just starting in floral design or looking to take your skills to the next level, this workshop provides inspiration, hands-on experience, and branding know-how to turn your creative vision into a thriving floral business.
Workshop Highlights:
Immerse yourself in a world of creativity, beauty, and camaraderie with fellow floral enthusiasts. Prepare to expand your skills, ignite your passion, and elevate your artistry to new levels!
Reserve your spot today and level up your unique floral vision!
Houston, Texas
Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024 Time: 12 PM - 4 PM Location: 470 Garden Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX 77018
San Francisco, California
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 Time: 12 PM - 4 PM Location: 901 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Charleston, South Carolina
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Time: 12 PM - 4 PM Location: 5935 Rivers Ave, Suite 105 B, North Charleston, SC 29406
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, a celebrity floral designer, photographer, and owner of Wild Bloom studio in Seattle, Washington, has made a name for himself in the world of floral artistry. Best known as the head judge on Netflix's The Big Flower Fight, Kristen has been recognized as one of the top floral designers worldwide by Harper's Bazaar. His stunning floral creations have graced the pages of numerous prestigious publications, including Vogue, O Magazine, and Martha Stewart Weddings, and have been featured on television shows such as Good Morning America and E! Network. As an advocate for using flowers as a form of self-care, Kristen shares his passion through his bestselling and NAACP Image Award Nominated book, Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements For The Heart and Home , which serves as an inspiring guide for flower enthusiasts everywhere. With a design philosophy that combines editorial sensibility with distinctive and organic perspectives, Kristen has transformed the role of florals in weddings and events. His exquisite design eye not only inspires his floral prints and fine art collections but also guides his studio's private classes and workshops, which cater to both emerging floral artists and curious flower friends. Kristen views floristry as a gateway to a happier, more sustainable life that bridges the gap between nature and modern living. As he continues to elevate the artistry of floral design as a fine art, Kristen is expanding his portfolio to include gardening, house plants, and home decor, further showcasing his versatility and creativity in the world of floral design.
Can’t come to the workshops?
FLOWER LOVE
Whether you are new to floristry or have been at it long enough to see carnations come in and out of fashion more times than the mullet, it’s easy to fall in love and stay in love with flowers. For Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, flowers are everything—reminders of nature’s beauty, tools for building creative confidence, and a gateway to self-care.
In Flower Love, Griffith-VanderYacht uses his effervescent sense of humor and a sharp eye for design to bring accessible, sumptuous floral arrangements to flower lovers everywhere, from all walks of life. With stunning photography of forty-five arrangements, visual step-by-step instructions, and a unique, geometric approach to floral design, Flower Love is an empowering and joyful resource for anyone who wants to add fanciful floral whimsy to their everyday life
Learn to source and style lush floral arrangements with this primer on design. All you need are some flowers, scissors, and an appreciation for our planet’s ubiquitous natural beauty. So, pop on your favorite tunes and give yourself some Flower Love.
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Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht (born in 1990) an American reality show star and a florist. The famous magazine Harper's Bazaar named him one of the top florists in the world. ... Real Full Birth Name: Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht. Stage Name: Kristen Griffith. Age (As of 2019) 29 years old. Date of Birth (DOB), Birthday: 1990. Nationality ...
Celebrity florist Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is the judge of the new Netflix show The Big Flower Fight. On the show, teams of floral designers are challenged to create elaborate structures made of plants. In an interview with OprahMag.com, Griffith-VanderYacht opened up his career, the show, and what he really thinks of the contestants ...
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is a celebrity floral designer, floral photographer, and the owner of the floral design studio Wild Bloom in Seattle, Washington. Best known as the sassy head judge with a big heart on Netflix's The Big Flower Fight, he's been named a top floral designer in the world by Harper's Bazaar.He and his floral designs have been featured in Vogue, O Magazine, WWD ...
4. He's A Family Man. Kristen may have a successful career, but that isn't the only thing he's focused on. He's also a very dedicated family man. He is happily married to Aaron Griffith ...
For the grand finale, Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht watches over the teams as they create pieces inspired by fairytales including Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, and Rapunzel.
The Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht Interview with Jason Mitchell Kahn. JMK: Before either of us were in the world of weddings we met in theater. Kristen was an actor in a play that I wrote THE BOYS UPSTAIRS. As my career evolved into being a wedding planner, I learned that so many of my industry colleagues also had a background in theater.
On location with Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, floral influencer and head judge of "The Big Flower Fight" I really enjoyed Kristen's presence on The Big Flower Fight. He served as the resident floral design expert, as well as the show's stylish personality whose commentary moved things along during each one-hour episode.
Fine Art Floral Photography and Design from world renowned artist - Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht.
Kristen is a renowned floral designer and author of the book "Flower Love". He shares his journey in the industry, the challenges he faced, and the valuable lessons he learned along the way. Kristen also discusses his new book and dives into what readers can expect, how he selected the cover images out of the 45 designs showcased in the book ...
Pulling back the foliage of "Big Flower Fight," from the eye-popping designs to the fairy tale final Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht on personality through posies, his floral business, and the moment ...
We recently caught up with our friend Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, the owner of floral design studio Wild Bloom in Seattle, Washington and a long-time friend and creative collaborator of TFS and our floral design studio, Poppies & Posies.. Kristen is the author of a beautiful new book, Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home, a playful, approachable guide to creating ...
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht started his design career in 2011 working for some of New York City's top floral stores and studios. Living in the Pacific Northwest has always been a vision of Kristen's since he first visited Washington in 2005. ... This is the real deal. So buckle up and get your shovel ready for some farm fresh floral fantasy ...
After a year-long break, the fan-favorite series "Beautiful People of the Flower Industry" is back! Host Val McNichols sits down with design superstar Kriste...
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is a celebrity floral designer and the owner of floral design studio Wild Bloom in Seattle, Washington. Best known as the sassy head judge with a big heart on Netflix's The Big Flower Fight, he's been named a top floral designer by Harper's Bazaar.He and his floral designs have been featured in Vogue, O Magazine, WWD, Town and Country, Traditional Home, New ...
10 Things You Didn't Know about Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht. Creativity comes in many different forms, and Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht is proof. He is widely considered one of the most talented florists in the world. His ability to create beautiful bouquets and designs is unmatched.
Source: Instagram. Already hailed as "the new Mary Berry," Kristen is bound to amaze viewers with his level-headed and considerate approach. As Kristen explained in an interview with Good Housekeeping, The Big Flower Fight gave him an unmatched opportunity to champion flower design. Article continues below advertisement.
VanderYacht is probably an English version of the Dutch van der Jagt. Since i was researching German royalty not too long ago, "van der" was used back in the day to denote a person belonging to royalty, or at least high class, but it's not a common practice nowadays. 'Van' is Dutch, 'von' is German.
Hosts Vic Reeves, Natasia Demetriou, and judge Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht. Much like Netflix's glass blowing competition series Blown Away , The Big Flower Fight showcases an art form that ...
Kristen Griffith-Vanderyacht. Self: Daigle Bites. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight
Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, a celebrity floral designer, photographer, and owner of Wild Bloom studio in Seattle, Washington, has made a name for himself in the world of floral artistry. Best known as the head judge on Netflix's The Big Flower Fight, Kristen has been recognized as one of the top floral designers worldwide by Harper's Bazaar.
Wild Bloom: By Kristen Griffith-VanderYacht, Seattle, Washington. 182 likes · 2 talking about this. Shopping & retail