Smart Flowers

About Smart Flowers

Smart Flowers has been a fixture in downtown Swift Current for over 40 years and under new ownership with Poppy Parsons since April 1, 2007. Poppy’s floral training began in 1993 while working at Smart Flowers. Having worked under Jim Smart; a highly respected floral designer and photographer, she learned that quality always comes first. Smart Flowers commitment to quality is never surpassed. For over 12 years now Poppy & her staff have worked hard to keep the excellent reputation of Smart Flowers in the Swift Current area. The wedding portion of the business has grown significantly and we have become known for our unique approach to design in weddings, sympathy and everyday floral arrangements. We are truly a flower shop first carrying fresh cut flowers, permanent botanicals, and indoor tropical green & flowering plants. We are also known for our Canadian and Saskatchewan made gifts and gourmet foods. Smart Flowers has grown to be the first choice for stylish and trend setting consumers in the Swift Current area and is well respected for their diligence in flower quality and expertise in floral design. We love working with our customers and enjoy the creative process to help them discover their unique personality and style with flowers. Using the elements and principles in design and using a color wheel we help create floral arrangements from classic to contemporary. We use our abilities of proper floral handling, care & floral design mixed with our creative talents to create a unique design using color, harmony and texture. Never underestimate the power of glorious flowers to transform an event into a truly joyous celebration which delights the senses. Smart Flowers loves their location in beautiful downtown Swift Current and are very active in the community. In 2018 they donated to over 20 community events and organizations and were proud major supporters of the SPCA, Blenders & Long Days Night Music Festival. Poppy & her staff have attended numerous courses, seminars and shows to expand their training and natural abilities. Poppy is happy to teach & share her knowledge with her staff, customers and the community about the joy of flowers!

Meet the Staff
Poppy Parsons

Your local professional florist Poppy Parsons owner & lead florist of Smart Flowers grew up in a small town; Hazlet, in rural South West Saskatchewan. Poppy lived right across the back alley from her Grandparents and spent much of her childhood playing in their garden. She married the love of her life Kelly Parsons and moved to the Parsons’ family farm in 1995. The Parsons celebrated the 100-year family farm just a few years ago. Much of Poppy’s inspiration for her floral design & floral art comes from the time spent checking cows, fixing fence and helping Kelly on the farm. Her love of nature and flowers was introduced by her Grandparents and continues with the time spent in the pastures and hills of her family’s farm. Poppy bought a well-established floral business; Smart Flowers (a staple in downtown Swift Current since 1975) in 2007.

Poppy Parsons AIFD CFD CAFA- her professional florist & floral art career started when she achieved her Certified Floral Design (CFD) designation after testing with the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) in Miami in June of 2012. That same year she also became a member of the Canadian Professional Floral Design Association and of NeoFlora after designing in Vancouver. Poppy passed her Professional Floral Design Evaluation at the AIFD Symposium in Las Vegas July 2013 and was inducted into this prestigious association July 2014 in Chicago. Spring 2015 she passed the written exam for the Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA) & completed the design test later that summer and was inducted into CAFA April 2016. Poppy has volunteered on the fresh procurement team at AIFD symposium and has been a workroom helper for many stage presentations at symposium, and numerous other wholesale design shows in western Canada. She is now building her teaching and mentoring career in March 2018 she had opportunity to design & teach in both Calgary and Vancouver. Poppy has been published in Canadian Florist magazine numerous times and won a few design competitions along the way! Poppy was a floral float decorator at the 130th annual Tournament of Roses Rose Parade Dec 26 2018-Jan 1 2019. Poppy was on the design team for the AIFD symposium Leadership Gala for the #AwakenAIFD2019 in Las Vegas in July 2019. Summer 2019 also took Poppy to Maui Hawaii; attending the Neotropica Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association weddings celebration as 1 of 8 Canadian florists invited to attend as part of a reverse trade agreement to promote and share the beauty of Hawaii flowers and foliage.

Poppy loves to travel and learn from many other floral artists and take as many opportunities to learn and grow the industry and share their knowledge with her customers ! Poppy is proud to be your little #SaskatchewanFlorist the only one florist in Saskatchewan accredited with AIFD & CAFA! Always learning... Always growing.

Ashley Muhle

After I graduated college with a diploma in television production, I packed up my bags and left the big city of Calgary to come back to my roots of Saskatchewan. In 2013 an entry level position opened up at Smart Flowers, and as I’ve always had an interest in flowers I applied. Working with and learning from Poppy Parsons has turned my “hobby” into a great passion. I’ve had many spectacular opportunities to learn and grow. I have had the chance to attend workshops and design programs in Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. I love my “job” and am very blessed to have a hobby turned into a career. I strive to make beautiful pieces of art everyday to put a smile on someone’s face and spread my passion of the floral industry to the world. I continue to gather as much information, knowledge and experience as I can to go further in this beautiful industry and share it with everyone.