A BUDDING florist has set up a shop in the grounds of a country house in St Lawrence.

Lucia dos Santos (19) hand picks fresh flowers and designs bouquets, wreaths and table decorations at competitive prices. Known as the Garden Room, her flower business is set in the garden of local painter Carol-Ann Mawdsley, who is sponsoring Miss dos Santos in her new venture.

The Garden Room has blossomed in the run-up to Christmas with Islanders ordering festive wreaths and centre pieces. People can pop into the Garden Room and choose their own flowers or specify over the phone which colours and types they want. All flowers and plants are grown locally so Miss dos Santos will often pop out to pick more at a customer’s request.

It only takes her two hours to pick and design her arrangements, which she can deliver straight to her customers’ door. The business started three years ago when Miss dos Santos moved to Jersey from Portugal to be with her parents, who were cleaners for Ms Mawdsley.

• Picture: Lucia dos Santos with some of her floral creations. Picture by Matthew Hotton (00606023)