Shelley Hilliker, Professional Florist, CIFD

Shelley moved from downtown Toronto to Guelph in 2018 after marrying her husband, Arthur. With a colourful career that included selling art, running an Italian restaurant, conducting food tours in Sicily and coaching early-stage artisanal food entrepreneurs, she suddenly found herself in a smaller slow-paced community with a lot of time on her hands.

She immediately started renovating the house and tending to the beautiful sunny garden with her two dogs, Gryphon and Miss Pippa, never more than two steps behind her.

Anyone who knows Shelley would call her impeccably stylish, creative and warm. Bespoke Posies was born out of her long love affair with flowers. Whether on the dinner table, on cakes or as gifts, their beauty never ceases to inspire her.

Combining that joy with the skills she acquired from the Canadian Institute of Floral Design and Judith Blacklock Flower School in London, U.K., she skillfully brings colours, textures and blooms together to craft stunning arrangements for her clients.