PULSE Newsletter Issue 16

Posted by I.S. Sundries on 13th Oct 2026

PULSE Newsletter Issue 16

This week, we celebrate the FleurEx 2026 and BFA Industry Award winners, including UK Florist of the Year Anja Norris. We also explore the stunning 25,000-flower display created for Pope Leo XIV’s Mass at Lourdes and discover the meanings behind the different colours of remembrance poppies.

The full results from FleurEx (Nottingham, 3–4 October) came out this week. Anja Norris was crowned UK Florist of the Year 2026 and also won the People's Choice Award. Helen Pannitt came second and Katie Haslam third. Macy McMeekin won the UK Florist of the Year Newcomer category, ahead of Natasha Wright and Daiva Barzdeliene.

The winners come from all over the UK, from Helensburgh to Lightwater, and from colleges as well as shops.

The event also produced a sustainability first. The BFA worked with COM:POST to collect the weekend's floral waste, which will make around half a tonne of compost for growers at the start of 2027.

On 27 September, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The setting was made from around 25,000 fresh flowers designed by Belgian florist Tomas De Bruyne.

The original plan had three blue arches. De Bruyne suggested making the middle arch white, so the eye would go straight to the centre where the Pope stood. The flowers followed the same idea: higher and darker blue at the sides, lower and white in the middle. The materials included Delphinium, white Statice and Limonium, white Hydrangeas, blue and white Eryngium, Avalanche Roses, spray Roses, garden Roses, Dahlias and Gypsophila "placed slightly above the other flowers… like a cloud". OASIS® supplied floral foam and flower care products, including Quick Dip and Floral Fresh, to keep everything fresh through the installation.

De Bruyne's advice for everyday commissions: when a client asks for "natural" or "elegant", that's a starting point, not a full brief. Ask what they want the person receiving the flowers to feel, and decide where the eye should go first.

Remembrance season is close. Remembrance Sunday is 8th November and Remembrance Day (11th November) falls on a Wednesday this year. A detailed new guide from Thursd sets out the history and meaning of each poppy colour, which is handy for anyone making wreaths or tributes:

13–14 October 2026 - Flower farming and cut flower design workshops, Common Farm Flowers

https://www.commonfarmflowers.com/blogs/news/whats-on-in-october

Sat 31 October 2026 - Halloween

Sun 1 November 2026 - All Saints' Day: graveside and memorial flowers

https://thursd.com/articles/all-saints-day-commemoration

3–6 November 2026 - Destination Marginpar open house, Aalsmeer, 8:00–15:00 daily

https://thursd.com/articles/destination-marginpar-open-house-aalsmeer

Sun 8 November 2026 - Remembrance Sunday

Wed 11 November 2026 - Remembrance Day

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