Meet Our Owner
Austin Jae
Owner, Founder, Lead Designer, Bucket Cleaner, Processor, etc.
“While I’ve always had an unspoken love for flowers, regarding Floristry as an area of study, my learning dates back to the early 2010s. My formal introduction took place during my senior year at Bakersfield High School, via an introductory class to Floral Design, under the tutelage of Mrs. Jennifer Wilke. Following this, I furthered my floral-specific coursework at Bakersfield College, under the direction of Professor Lindsay Ono. Having this foundation of basic fundamentals proved to be beneficial along my flower journey.
Flowers were always a fun reprieve from my retail job. Through the years, I participated in Floristry as more of a hobby, doing flowers for a handful of weddings, family events, and church functions. While these experiences allowed me to stay in practice, I did not fully tap into all that Floral Design could offer; as a career and rewarding creative outlet.
In late 2020, a new [non-floral] job brought me to Austin, and one year in, I found myself surrounded by flowers. Between 2021 and 2023, I worked for a high volume local flower shop, where I further refined my skill, absorbing as much as I could from many esteemed mentors. After this defining experience, I felt called to explore what could be possible as a soloist, and the rest is history.
During the early stages of Verdant Bloom, I did flowers out of my 400 square foot apartment, freelanced for local event companies, and then emerged in the local vendor market scene. This exposure helped me connect with Austin brands, creatives, and makers, broadening my social circle; thus, impacting visibility via collaborative engagement. Soon after, I took a risk and leased a commercial office suite, which provided a public-facing design studio. After life changes, that much-cherished design studio exists only in memory. I always knew Verdant Bloom would eventually make a comeback. It was all a matter of when, where, and how.
From its 2023 inception in Austin, to now, I’m pleased to announce the birth of Verdant Bloom here in Fresno. With much support, I pursue this journey with a heart of joy and gratitude.”
