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By Roberta Hiawathia Staggs | Hiawathia Floral Design Co.
Sadly, in all of our lives, there comes a point where life just… well, lifes. It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post, and I’ve actually missed it. So how fitting is it that I return with The Fresh Cut —my monthly floristry blog filled with tips, trends, and floral adventures—by sharing my dream experience in Ireland?
This journey marks the beginning of Fearless Floristry Abroad, a new floral design travel series inspired by destination floristry, cultural exploration, and storytelling through flowers.
Yes, Ireland.
Yes… a castle!
Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to travel overseas for the very first time to join the inaugural Intrigue Designs Experience Retreat. I traveled with a group of 24 floral designers and six photographers, and I cannot wait to share what unfolded during my time at Markree Castle. Enjoy!
Introduction: Where Travel Fuels Creative Vision
Travel has always been one of my greatest creative teachers. As a floral designer, inspiration doesn’t only come from flowers themselves—it comes from architecture, food, landscape, history, and human connection. Attending the Intrigue Designs Experience at Markree Castle was the anchor of this journey, but the days spent wandering through Ireland and Scotland shaped the story just as deeply.
This was not just a workshop—it was a reminder that artistry is lived, not rushed. There are moments when creativity, travel, and purpose collide so beautifully that your entire artistic vision shifts. My journey to Ireland and Scotland for the became one of those rare chapters—one that changed not only how I design, but how I see the world itself.
This wasn’t simply a floral workshop. It was a pilgrimage—across borders, across color palettes, and through centuries of architectural wonder—pouring directly into the roots of Hiawathia Floral Design Co.
From touring Dublin and Sligo, to exploring Leith and Edinburgh, this trip fused travel, floristry, culture, and storytelling into one unforgettable experience.
My adventure began in Dublin, Ireland. My flight from Indianapolis was a little over eight hours—a direct flight courtesy of Aer Lingus. Despite the length, it was actually an enjoyable experience.
Once I landed, I was in sensory overload (in the best way). After settling into my hotel and running into some of my flower friends for breakfast, I immediately set out to explore the streets of Dublin.
Dublin greeted me with a harmony of culture, color, and warmth. I wandered across the River Liffey, tasted traditional Irish dishes, explored hidden bookstores, and allowed myself to become a student of the city’s textures. Dublin felt lively, spirited, and deeply rooted in history—a reminder that beauty often lives in the everyday.
The historic architecture, cobblestone streets beneath my feet, and unfamiliar accents bustling around the city were incredible—an artistic warm-up before castle life began.
Dublin greeted me with a harmony of culture, color, and warmth. I wandered across the River Liffey, tasted traditional Irish dishes, explored hidden bookstores, and let myself become a student of the city’s texture. Dublin felt lively, spirited, and deeply rooted in history — a reminder that beauty often lives in the everyday. The sights of amazing historic architecture, cobblestone streets underneath my feet and people with accents unfamiliar bustling around Dublin was incredible and the perfect artistic warm up before castle life.
The next morning, the moment I had traveled across the ocean for finally arrived—time for flowers and even more flowers at Markree Castle. Bright and early, all of us excited flower friends from around the world loaded onto our tour bus. Before arriving, we stopped to explore the countryside of Sligo, where breathtaking hilltop views left us speechless.
When I first caught sight of Markree Castle, nestled within Ireland’s wild and winding countryside, I felt like I had stepped straight into a living dream.
I arrived for the Intrigue Designs Experience, led by the ever-inspiring Sarah Campbell, carrying not only my design toolkit but also a heart full of anticipation. As a florist, I’ve always believed flowers are more than decoration—they’re storytellers. And what better stage for a story than a centuries-old Irish castle bathed in golden light?
Markree Castle is more than a venue—it’s an experience. Its stone corridors echo with centuries of footsteps—from nobility to artists to modern dreamers. The air inside hums with quiet reverence, as if every room has its own secret to share.
On our first morning, as the Irish mist rolled across the lawns, we began building the foundation for something extraordinary: floral installations that merged the wildness of nature with the castle’s old-world grandeur.
Outside, deep burgundy hydrangeas wound their way up castle walls like living lace. Inside, the grand staircase—framed by stained glass and crimson carpets—became a river of color and texture. Standing there, surrounded by history and the scent of blooms, I felt the fusion of artistry and heritage—intoxicating.
Floristry is a language—one spoken through petal, texture, and color. Anyone, no matter age, gender, race, or nationality, can learn it and become fluent. That’s what I love most about floristry—the ability to communicate emotion and bridge the gaps that divide us.
And if there’s one thing everyone knows about me, it’s that I genuinely love people—and making flower friends is my superpower.
Working alongside designers from around the world, we created lush, moody installations that felt cinematic—hydrangeas, roses, cockscomb, and velvet-like textures spilling across corridors. Six photographers captured every detail.
There’s magic in realizing floristry isn’t competition—but communion. We can coexist, thrive, and tell different stories in the same soil.
This workshop was magic.
Candlelight and Courage
One evening, the castle transformed into something out of a dream. Two rooms were transformed into a haven under candlelight and the brooding blooms of hyrangea and celosia. A long banquet table stretched through the ballroom, glittering beneath chandeliers that seemed to hover like stars. The glow of candlelight reflected off crystal glassware, turning the air warm and golden.
As I took my seat among the blooms, I felt a rush of emotion. Every hydrangea, every rose, every folded napkin represented hours of thought, labor, and love — a tangible testament to creative collaboration.
I found myself smiling as the flicker of the candles caught the deep plum hues of the flowers. In that moment, everything felt aligned: beauty, purpose, and presence.
Designing Fearlessly
If there’s one lesson I carried home from the Intrigue Designs Experience, it’s this: design fearlessly.
Sarah’s teaching extends far beyond floral mechanics. She challenges you to stretch your imagination — to push past what’s comfortable and lean into what’s possible. She encourages a mindset where creativity is both disciplined and daring.
At Markree, surrounded by stone and story, that encouragement took root. I began to see flowers differently — not merely as materials to arrange, but as instruments of expression. A cascading bouquet became an act of movement. A wreath on a castle wall became a whisper of time.
That’s the kind of artistry that changes you.
Final exterior hydrangea floral installation at Markree Castle in Ireland
Images Courtesy of @amairanithomasonphoto
A Moment of Stillness
On the final evening, I slipped into my blush gown — soft, luminous, and shimmering under the castle lights. I stepped outside onto the stone staircase, the hydrangea installation winding around me like an embrace.
Together we dined on a meal that even now I can still taste. Conversations and laughter with old and new flower friends filled the air. Afterwards, Irish dancing carried us into the late night.
The air was cool, the sky a deep indigo. I formed a heart with my hands, a small gesture of gratitude for everything the experience had given me — inspiration, connection, courage, and joy. In that moment, I realized how far this journey had brought me — from designing small local events to creating alongside some of the most visionary artists in the floral world.
One of my favorite moments: standing in my gown on the castle steps, surrounded by our work, making a heart shape with my hands.
A symbol of gratitude and the beauty of daring to dream big.
Markree Castle had given me not just lessons in design, but a renewed sense of purpose: to continue crafting flowers that tell stories, honor emotion, and celebrate beauty in all its forms.
After leaving Ireland, I traveled to Leith, a charming waterfront district outside Edinburgh. Leith surprised me with its food scene: fresh seafood, modern restaurants, and cozy cafés where time seemed to slow.
It became a space of rest — where flavor and quiet moments replenished me after the intensity of castle work.
Shopping in Leith at Urban Jungle
After the magical retreat and all of the flower friends away to their own separate destinations, I found myself on a plane to Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh is a masterpiece — gothic spires, stone streets, sweeping views, and dramatic architecture that feels pulled straight from a movie. Harry Potter in particular comes to mind. In fact, it is said that the author of the Harry Potter books did get her inspiration from the streets of Edinburgh. I can see definitely see why. It’s a city that blends grandeur with creativity.
Interesting factoid, Scotland is a part of the UK, which consists of England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Scotland utilizes the British Pound as currency. Southern Ireland which contains Dublin is not a part of the UK but its own sovereign state called the Republic of Ireland. Their currency is the Euro. Then there is the EU which consists of 27 other countries such as Italy, France, Ukraine which also uses Euros as currency. This is somewhat confusing for me and at dinner one night two of my newest flower friends, who are theee best, Deidre and Janette of Kay’s Flower School tried to explain to me. I still can’t make heads or tails of all of it. I did find this article that explains some of it a little better.
I spent hours exploring:
– the Royal Mile
– historic closes and hidden lanes
– botanical gardens
– the breathtaking architecture that changed how I see line + structure in my floral work
Edinburgh sharpened my eye — its textures, shadows, and shapes now influence how I design installations.
Between Ireland and Scotland there is a tie for the warmest, kind people. I was actually surprised and humbled by how genuinely kind they are. In fact, I lost my phone on a tram in Edinburgh and what could have been a terrifying ordeal was not as traumatic and actually a testament of how genuinely kind the people are there.
Traveling through Ireland and Scotland expanded my creativity in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Each city gave me something new:
Dublin – color, culture, vibrant energy
Sligo – landscape, grounding, mystery
Markree Castle – artistry, mentorship, imagination
Leith – rest, flavor, quiet inspiration
Edinburgh – architecture, drama, structure
These experiences now live inside my design philosophy — shaping the color stories, textures, and installations created at Hiawathia Floral Design Co. i also got a chance to connect my love for floristry and photography. A little-known secret is that my first artistic outlet was photography. I never pursued it professionally, but I can often be seen with my trusted Nikon camera and/or I-phone. There’s something incredibly therapeutic and rewarding capturing random moments in time and places on photo. Challenging myself into leaning more into the technical aspects of photography while being surrounded with 6 professional photographers was an awesome moment for me. In fact, I have included some of my own personal photos here. Unless photos are credited, they are in fact my own personal captures of my favorite moments in Ireland.
The best part for me on this retreat was the human connections that I made. A flower friend that I made in Sligo while wandering the streets. I wandered into a flower shop and met the owner and we talked about flowers, her shop, and pursuing flower dreams. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams for which I am very grateful.
My next door neighbors in the castle and I bonded over our need to go into town for emergency items for the Gala. The taxi ride into Sligo to the TK Maxx yess riding on the opposite side of the car and street than what we are used to to go to TK Maxx the Irish equivalent to TJ Maxx is a core memory now.
Then the last night of our dinner, a group of us went down to the pub and drank tea (something which is now a favorite pastime of mine) and talked into the night.
Traveling also opened my horizons in being able to dream big dreams and be open to even bigger possibilities. In fact, very soon I will be launching a new extension of Hiawathia Floral Design Co. that was conceptualized from my time in Leith.
This journey inspired the creation of my ongoing editorial project:
A travel-meets-floral storytelling series exploring blooms from around the world.
Ireland was Chapter One.
Scotland became Chapter Two.
And I can’t wait to discover where Chapter Three will bloom.
To the incredible designers of Intrigue Designs, to Sarah Campbell, to the beauty of Ireland and Scotland, and to every creative spark this journey ignited — thank you.
My artistry is transformed.
My vision is clearer.
And my commitment to fearless, romantic, emotive floral storytelling is stronger than ever.
The Legacy of Intrigue
The Intrigue Designs Experience is more than a workshop — it’s a movement. It reminds designers like me that art is meant to evolve, that beauty thrives in collaboration, and that floristry is, at its core, an act of storytelling.
As I look back on those days at Markree Castle, I carry with me more than memories — I carry a mindset. One that calls me to design with intention, lead with kindness, and create with heart.
From the red-carpeted halls of an Irish castle to the quiet corners of my studio at Hiawathia Floral Design Co., the lesson remains the same:
Be fearless in color. Be fearless in creation. Be fearless in love.
Until Next Time, Ireland
As I boarded my flight home, I thought about how Ireland had changed me. Its landscapes, its people, its poetry — all intertwined with the artistry of flowers. Markree Castle may stand still, but its inspiration travels with everyone who’s been touched by its beauty.
To the friends made, the blooms shared, and the moments that bloomed into memories — thank you.
Images courtesy of Illuminate by Theo Milo and Skylar Jordan Photography
Here’s to many more stories written in petals, color, and courage. 🌸✨
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