Surrounded by fresh flowers of all colours sits Dilshara , with a bright smile as she welcomes you to her second home, her flower shop, Blooms.

The shop which is situated in Colombo 05 – (Near Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda )offers a number of services to those looking for that perfect flower arrangement and chances are you will not be disappointed.

From childhood, Dilshara has always been surrounded by flowers. “Our house has always been prominent in Bandarawela because of the many flowers in our garden,” Dilshara says smiling. “My Thathi’s hobby was growing flowers specially roses and as a kid, I would help him with the bud grafting of the plants, and if the plant is successful he would give me 20 bucks! I was only seven years old at the time, and that’s how I earned my pocket money. ”

She said multiplying the plants in this manner eventually resulted in the production of an abundance of flowers and it was at this stage that her father had decided that the flowers needed to be given away -  thereby in 1994 her father had started his own flower shop and that was the birth of Blooms.

“At the time, I was still schooling in Bandarawela so my dad, a retired planter and who has a degree in agriculture behind him, ran the shop,” she said.   Dilshara says they’ve always maintained a personal touch with their clients and continue to do so with the expansion of the business over the years.

“We’ve come a long way since, constantly undertaking weddings,” she says adding that they have a number of contracts with companies and also undertake parties and cocktails through event organisers. “I also enjoy attending to our weekly standing orders, which I do for many as well as school functions,” she says adding, “We also supply flowers on a whole sale basis to flower shops, salons and to many leading hotels in Colombo.

After completing her Ordinary Level Examinations at St. Bridget’s Convent, Dilshara went on to complete her degree in Management and Marketing and started working what followed then was her son being born in 2006 which she says is “the gift that changed her life.” Dilshara says just couldn’t make up her mind to leave her son Criston in the hands of  anyone else and was determined to look after him herself!

Her driving force is her son, she says adding that she would have easily fitted into the corporate world with her qualifications but preferred to spend more time with him. Little Criston too comes to the shop, after school and during weekends and has learnt much on flowers and plants. He takes pleasure in spraying water into the arrangements and sprinkling glitter on them.  He also loves to go to Bandarawela and spend time with his grand parents and walk around the garden with her dad asking questions as to how the plants are grown!

“My husband Salindra helps me tremendously even though he has a very busy schedule as her works for SriLankan Airlines,” she says, adding, “If not for his support I would  never have been  able to get this business to the place it is in now and he’s always there to remind me of what needs to be done.” She explains that his love for the business lies mainly towards growing the plants, just like her dad!

“You need someone who has a passion for flowers,” Dilshara says and that’s where her father comes in, she adds warmly that he is the strength behind all of this. “My Ammi is a lawyer and – her past time is to decorate the house with beautiful flower arrangements – everyone loves to visit our home in Bandarawela,” She says.

“My parents taught me the beauty of art and nature when I was in Bandarawela and how to enjoy all that was around me. So I guess all this turned my childhood into a fantasy for the senses which opened my mind to the world that I now live in,” she says adding, that her mum has given her a lot of inspiration to be in this business. “My grandmother also used to grow flowers when my mom was schooling – So I guess it has been in me all the time!”

"The biggest challenge for me is being a mum to my son Criston and handling my work at the shop but since I absolutely enjoy what I do, it isn’t all that tough to balance it off,” she says adding, “Once you undertake a job it is a massive responsibility as you have to see it through right to the end,” and explains that she is hands on with the business and even travels out of town on work to make sure the end result is perfect.

Every single flower at the shop is brought from their plantation in Bandarawela, where they are grown in greenhouses.  “You know, most of our clients come to us by word of mouth – We’ve hardly done any sort of advertising or commercials,” Dilshara says, smiling adding that the website (www.bloomsflowers.net) and artwork was designed and maintained by her cousins and her. She adds, “We have a personalised approach and I feel that it is this, that makes us stand out as our tag line says, ‘Hand picked just for you’.” Dilshara says there is a lot of competition at the moment in this field, in spite of that she says the shop continues to do well. Orders are undertaken online and are delivered anywhere in Colombo and Colombo suburbs.

A new species of flower called “gerrondo” is now available only at Blooms . It is a new variety of a Gerbera which Dilshara explains can be used for any occasion and that it lasts longer than a normal Gerbera. “We’re the only flower shop at the moment that has the Gerrondo and it comes in the stunning colours of yellow, white, pink, magenta, red and orange,” she says proudly.

One of the most interesting aspects of the business she says is dealing with brides, she says adding it is all about enhancing the person and the occasion. One aspect she firmly believes in, is that people need to be given awareness about flowers.

Flowers can totally change a room, a person’s mind and mood, according to colour, season and occasion,  “Flowers appeal to everyone. Flowers can be used for any occasion, personally, I feel that you should use whatever suits you, and makes you happy – we have lots of clients who just buy flowers on their way home from work for no special reason or occasion.”

Dilshara says she has a very efficient and creative people on her staff to assist her, “They are like family to me and we all seem to think alike so we all blend well.” She says it is wonderful to see people who have come to her shop for many years, still continue to walk in. “My work revolves around a lot of happiness as well as sorrow – people who have lost their loved ones, people who are sick. I see people coming in from all walks of life. I encounter lot of love and affection,” she says.

“We have many regular clients and some who even come in daily… We see lovers, people getting married touched by love and then having their own babies, and the cycle continuing… It is a wonderful feeling,” she says.

“My pricing has always been reasonable and value for money. I always add something more to what the client expects because I believe my work is more about touching people and winning their hearts. Each arrangement is made with a lot of love and care and I guess it shows when you see a flower arrangement from Blooms!” she says smiling confidently.

Blooms Flower Shop is situated at 317, Highlevel Road, Colombo 5 and they can be contacted on their hotline: 077-350-6506/ 0773 52399 or on 282-2552 or via email on [email protected].

The shop is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays, till 5.00pm on Saturdays and till 1.00pm on Sundays.  Find them online or on Face book as Blooms Flower Shop.

By Natasha Fernandopulle