Flowers are for Celebrations

By Anne Draper

In the heart of James Bay Village you will find a shop full of floral creations to lift your spirits and perhaps inspire thoughts to celebrate your day with a fresh bouquet of flowers.

Jane Brajkovic of Fine Floral Design was born in Victoria and is a mother of two children. She was trained in Vancouver and has been offering floral creations for twenty years on our unique five-way traffic corner of Menzies and Simcoe. Together with Maggie, trained in Europe, the designers offer 24 hour on line-service. In 2002 they were honoured to create the florals for Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee luncheon held at the Empress Hotel.  They also created a presentation bouquet to honour the Emperor and Empress of Japan on their Victoria visit. Specialties include fundraising for the Pacific Opera, the Victoria Symphony plus providing an upcoming event for Eric Charman's eightieth birthday, with flowers.

Movie sets in Victoria have had floral creations supplied by these talented designers. Celebrities often request beautiful flowers when working and visiting Victoria.  For example, a "private island" two day wedding celebration required months of planning. A creation of fresh west coast botanicals with accents of butter yellow orchids interwoven with 14 foot fresh willow branches formed a natural setting; a beautiful archway that framed the marriage ceremony. Large garden roses and hydrangeas, locally grown had to be moved around with the sun to keep from wilting.  Refrigerated trucks were driven onto barges to transport the fresh floral creations.  Tents were decorated with chandeliers filled with cascading flowers and tables with roses and candles.

Jane's talented team of designers and assistants are happy to provide florals for portraits, graduations, corporate events, funerals and family celebrations.  Flowers and botanicals are sourced locally in season and are imported from the Far East and New Zealand when requested for a special theme. Creating fresh floral arrangements are a passion with our neighbours located in the heart of James Bay Village.