Hi, I'm Anahit

Owner and creative director of Viva La Flora Designs.

Crafting floral magic is more than a passion for me; it's a way of life really.  My journey into the world of floral artistry began with a deep-seated love for all things creative - from drawing and gardening to hands-on crafting and, most enchantingly, transforming flowers into art. However, my path to floristry was anything but direct. Originally from Armenia, I was on a trajectory towards a career in dentistry, aiming to specialize as a maxillofacial surgery. Yet, life, with its unexpected twists, led me down a different path.

Ironically, it was my time in the dental field that serendipitously introduced me to my floral fascination. The routine floral deliveries to our office, though beautiful, struck me as somewhat mundane. Seizing the opportunity to infuse my artistic vision, I began reimagining these arrangements, adding personal touches that transformed them into something unexpected and different. You should’ve seen the look on the delivery guys face every time he came to replace the flowers. Definitely was not picking up what he delivered, that’s for sure.

My first visit to a local wholesaler pretty much sealed the deal. Out all days, I happened to walk in during a special floral show. Not only I saw the most amazing flowers, but also witnessed my very first floral design competition. The rest, as they say, was history… Shortly after discovering my new found passion, I embarked on a relentless quest for floral education, eager to explore the depths of my obsession. Almost immediately I began competing at a local level and quickly became a known name in the floral world collecting numerous awards and accolades for my unique designs, attention to detail and meticulous mechanics.

My floral journey took a significant leap forward in 2017 when I embarked on the rigorous path to European Master Certification (EMC), a journey that culminated in October 2018 when I proudly achieved the highly coveted EMC credentials. This period of intense learning and growth was paralleled by my pursuit of accreditation from the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD). In April 2018, I was honored to receive my Certified Floral Designer (CFD) accreditation, followed by successfully completing my Professional Floral Design Evaluation (PFDE) in July 2018 in Washington, D.C.. My dedication and hard work were recognized in the summer of 2019 when I was inducted into AIFD during a ceremony in Las Vegas.
Since the fist day I started taking classes and workshops I never really stopped. I learn from some of industry’s best professionals, worked alongside many and collaborated with some. In 2023 I started yet another educational path with Boerma Institute in Netherlands. In 2024 I successfully completed and proudly achieved my International Master Florist (IMF) title. 
I’m as passionate about learning as I am about sharing my knowledge. This led me to create a series of workshops for professional florists and everyday flowers enthusiasts. These sessions are designed to inspire and challenge students, offering a fresh, edgy perspective on floristry that encourages creativity beyond traditional boundaries.

This relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep-seated passion for the floral industry inspired me to start the “Viva La Flora Live” Podcast. Recognizing that our profession touches a myriad of industries and fields—from artists and designers to farmers, distributors, wholesalers, educators, and photographers—I felt compelled to highlight the critical role each plays in our ecosystem. Through the podcast, I aim to offer listeners insights into the vast world of floristry, sharing stories from industry experts, newcomers, trendsetters, and followers alike. My goal is to educate, empower, and inspire, all while continuing to learn and stay inspired myself.

Despite having achieved CFD, AIFD, EMC, and IMF credentials, winning multiple competitions, participating in numerous workshops, and working alongside many of the industry's leading professionals, I see my journey in floral art, business, and design as only just beginning.