Following her win for Best in Show at Fleurs de Villes Downton Abbey at Phipps Plaza, Atlanta, we caught up with Summer Hang for this month’s floral RENDEZ-VOUS.

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WHAT FIRST SPARKED YOUR PASSION FOR FLORAL DESIGN?

I grew up surrounded by flowers, my mom has owned several flower shops over the past 30 years, so floristry was always part of my world, but I never imagined I’d turn it into a career of my own. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic hit that everything shifted. In 2020, like so many others, I found myself rethinking everything. I left my corporate job and started helping out at the shop. At first I thought it would be temporary – but the more time I spent working with flowers and connecting with customers, the more I realized this was exactly where I was meant to be. I realized flowers are more than just fresh-cut stems – they’re a way for people to express love, gratitude, appreciation, respect, and care for the ones who matter most. What truly inspires me is seeing the joy and emotion on someone’s face when they receive flowers. Those reactions – whether it’s a smile, happy tears, or a look of surprise – are incredibly touching. Moments like that are what made me fall in love with this work and turn it into a career. After a year of hands-on learning, I officially took over the business.

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TELL US ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF BRINGING THE MATTHEW CRAWLEY MANNEQUIN TO LIFE EN FLEURS?

Our inspiration was to create a romantic, English garden style display – something that felt timeless and emotionally rich. We were deeply moved by the love story of Matthew and Mary in Downton Abbey. It was touching and unforgettable, and we wanted to capture that feeling in flowers. We used an abundance of red roses to symbolize deep love and passion, surrounding the Matthew Crawley mannequin in blooms that felt both classic and dramatic. It was our way of honoring a story that still stirs the hearts of so many. 

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF RUNNING A FLORAL BUSINESS?

One of the most challenging aspects of running a floral business is balancing creativity with logistics. Flowers are beautiful, but they’re also perishable, seasonal, and unpredictable. Making sure we have the right inventory at the right time – especially for last-minute orders or big events – can be stressful. On top of that, we’re not just designing arrangements – we’re managing deliveries, customer service, staffing, and the day-to-day operations of a retail business. It’s a constant juggling act.

But even with the challenges, I still feel incredibly lucky to do what I love. Seeing the joy our flowers bring to people makes all the behind-the-scenes work worth it.

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WHAT IS THE MOST UNDERRATED FLOWER IN YOUR OPINION?

I think the most underrated flower is the carnation. As a florist, I genuinely love working with them. Carnations come in so many beautiful varieties and colors, and they last much longer than many other blooms. They have this soft, fluffy texture that adds such a lovely touch to arrangements.

I’m always surprised that some people think of them as a ‘cheap’ flower – maybe because they’ve been so common for so long. But in the right design, carnations can be incredibly elegant and modern.

I love using them in monochromatic arrangements or pairing them with more delicate blooms to create texture and depth. With the right styling, carnations can feel just as luxurious as any premium flower.

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WHAT WOULD YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR DREAM GARDEN? 

My dream garden would be filled with peonies, tulips, and garden roses. Peonies are so lush and romantic – they have this softness and elegance that always takes my breath away. Tulips bring a clean, cheerful energy, and I love how their simplicity still makes a big statement. Garden roses are a must – they’re timeless, full of character, and their scent instantly transports me. Together, they’d create a space that feels both peaceful and inspiring.

WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL ARRANGEMENT YOU HAVE CREATED?

One of the most meaningful arrangements I’ve ever created was a funeral wreath for a longtime customer. For nearly a year, this gentleman had been ordering a bouquet of roses from us every single week for his girlfriend.

Then, one day, we received a call from his girlfriend with heartbreaking news – he had passed away suddenly from an illness, just a couple of days after picking up his final bouquet. It was so unexpected. That ordinary delivery ended up being his last gift to her.

She later asked us to create a floral wreath for his funeral, and we filled it with the very same roses he used to give her every week. It was a deeply emotional piece to create, and a powerful reminder of how flowers can hold love, memory, and meaning all at once.

That experience stayed with me because it showed just how personal and profound our work can be. Flowers may seem simple, but in moments like that, they carry so much more – they become a final gesture, a lasting memory, a way to say goodbye. 

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WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER-RELATED QUOTE OR SAYING THAT RESONATES WITH YOU?

One of my favorite flower quotes is, ‘Where flowers bloom, so does hope.’ – Lady Bird Johnson.

It really resonates with me because flowers have this quiet but powerful way of lifting people’s spirits. Whether it’s a small bouquet on a hard day or a celebration arrangement filled with joy, flowers carry emotion and hope in such a beautiful, natural form. That’s what inspires me every day in this work.

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COULD YOU OFFER OUR READERS A SNEAK PEEK INTO ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FROM YOUR  STUDIO IN 2025?

We’re so excited to share that in Summer 2025, we’ll be opening our third location in the Doraville-Chamblee area! This new studio won’t just offer our signature daily bouquets and floral services – it will also be home to something new: flower classes.

We’ve had so many customers express interest in learning more about floral design, and we can’t wait to welcome the community into a creative space where they can get hands-on with flowers, learn new skills, and just enjoy the beauty of floral art. It’s going to be a really special next chapter for Summer Breeze Flowers.