Meet Sybil Sylvester of BHAM’s Wildflower Designs
Sybil Sylvester is the preeminent floral designer in Birmingham, and she makes it her mission to help everyone discover their inner florist. Meet this month's FACE of Birmingham, and prepare to get "Sybilized!" Image: David Hillegas
Sybil Sylvester has shared a connection with flowers her entire life. From apologizing for innocently picking her neighbor’s pansies as a child to teaching floral design workshops around the country as an adult, it seems flowers are sown deep in Sybil’s soul. For 30 years, Sybil has run her own floral design business, Wildflower Designs, which she lovingly describes as “A creative think tank for flower fun.” She also makes floral arranging accessible to anyone who wants to learn! Meet our FACE of Birmingham.
Tell us a little about you. Were you always interested in flowers, even as a kid?
I was born in Baton Rouge, LA, and was the fourth of five children. Growing up, my siblings and I were all outside all day, every day. We moved to Birmingham in time for me to start the second grade at Crestline Elementary. Birmingham is home; both my parents grew up here.
I always loved being out in nature, especially away from the hustle and bustle. I was always picking a handful of flowers and loving their little faces. I vividly remember shame for having to ring our neighbor’s doorbell to confess and apologize for picking her pansies.
How did you find your way to floral design?
I suppose those pansies from the neighbor’s garden were my first arrangement! My mother’s best friend was Lula Rose Blackwell, a well-respected florist known for the English-style arrangements she did for large events and weddings around Birmingham.
When I was around 12 years old, she and my mother decided that I should help on the weekends and holidays with prepping flowers, preparing containers, and just being general support for the ladies as they worked. In hindsight, I am immensely grateful for those years and all of the wonderful instruction I received.
I never actually put together my own flower arrangement for them, but the first time I tried creating a greenery arrangement for my church narthex, I was so pleased with the result! That evolved into requests from friends and family to help with this and that. I’d scurry around to find flowers and figure out how to arrange them.
It was all word-of-mouth for several years. My first wedding almost did me in! Then I went official, got a business license, began purchasing wholesale, and was off to the races. Wildflower was my first business name, and then it converted to Wildflower Designs when I opened my first shop 30 years ago.
Tell us about Flower School! How did you begin teaching?
Recalling my first formal Flower School brings back memories of how hard I worked to deeply explore my own methods: my how-to’s, must-do’s, and don’t-do’s. I used my experience and tried to make school a lovely, fun, and instructive day.
I love to teach and encourage people to be confident with their floral designs. Confidence builds as they continue to create, and it takes practice. I teach the proper mechanics so that students have a solid base for their design, and then they are free to make their creations with confidence.
You’ve been a contributing editor and columnist for floral and design magazines, and your book Fresh came out in 2017. Tell us about exploring floral design through writing.
In my experience, writing has a goal to accomplish, just like building a beautiful arrangement. I envision the image I am trying to create and then describe it as best I can. I actually love the process almost as much as flower design. I like to inspire people.
You keep busy! How do you balance it all?
Honestly, it feels like I am working all the time, and I love it! It is part of the journey. I take my day-to-day experiences coupled with my travels, fashion, art, and interior design, and mix them all together to come up with fresh ideas. So exciting!
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Ideally, I am in the mountains or on the edge of water somewhere. I am enjoying time with my husband and my lovely doggie, Gabby. I love to walk in nature, picking just a few stray blooms or pods and then going home to create a little something. Or, I am set up to paint — flowers, of course! I also love exploring local farmers’ markets to get inspiration for what to prepare for dinner. I love to cook when I have time. All of these activities help me with my creative process.
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
I am continually inspired by the work of other floral designers. Locally, Mark Thompson. In America, Ariella Chezar. Globally, always Paula Pryke, Shane Connelly, and Christin Geall,
What is your best piece of advice?
“Can’t never could.” It’s my motto!
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without:
Gabby, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a new challenge, and my furry Birkenstocks.
LIGHTNING ROUND!
Last delicious local meal? It is a tie between Bottega and Helen
Favorite place to vacation? Nevis, West Indies
Your go-to gift to give? Anything Santa Maria Novella
Book(s) on your bedside table? What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci, The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson, The Waiting by Michael Connelly, The Wild Palms by William Faulkner
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
**********
To stay in the know on the best of Birmingham, subscribe to our daily emails!
Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.