In pairing fruits, vegetables, and other natural design elements, Julia Prokhorova of Wild Veggie Bouquet takes floral design to breathtaking new heights.
Story by Pamela Price
New here? Subscribe to our newsletter.
Born in a village in Northern Russia surrounded by pristine lakes and tall pine trees, Wild Veggie Bouquet founder Julia Prokhorova’s passion for the natural world blossomed at an early age.
“When it came time to make a career choice, there were no doubts what direction I had to follow. I chose biology,” said Prokhorova. “I have a background in ichthyology and molecular biology, because I have a great love for nature.”
An entrepreneurial spirit led her not only to open several ventures in adulthood but also to make a leap to a new life in the States with her eldest son. And that’s where she fell for a Texan, “a southern gentleman.”
“He brought me home to Corpus Christi,” she said. “Together we have built a beautiful life, but with our five children, one hundred horses, seven longhorns, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep and dogs to keep us busy, it was impossible for me to go back to my scientific work for now. Most of the centers that specialized in my field, hematology, are located in Houston area and other big cities too far to commute. When I realized this, I also understood that it was time to invest in my family and personal passions. And that’s how this new chapter in my life began.”
The new chapter involves designing stunning, one-of-a-kind arrangements made of whole fruits, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and other natural items–as well as the occasional French-blue macaroon. Based in Corpus Christi, her delivery area includes Houston, South Texas, and San Antonio.
“I wanted to create a new kind of a gift, something you won’t throw away after party like flowers, but cook and share with your friends and family. Now I am a published floral designer and food artist. I pay a lot of attention to details, and each one of my sculptural bouquets is unique. To me, each bouquet is a beautiful work of art. I like to surprise people and always add some uncommon supplies to make the whole process of receiving this gift a fun journey, one full of discoveries and joy.”
View this post on Instagram
As Wild Veggie Bouquet expands to offer licensing opportunities and workshops to teach others how to make beautiful botanical home decor elements, flower crowns, wreaths, and more, her youngest child is still under one year of age. Prokhorova says the flexibility inherent to running a small business pairs well with her mom life, and the creativity of her work keeps her motivated.
“What drives me daily is the absolute freedom to express myself through my work. I love to make the beauty of simple things shine. Every single veggie, berry or fruit is beautiful, and I want to show it to you. I begin every day by hand picking ingredients, looking for uniqueness rather than symmetry and perfection. We operate from a small commercial kitchen, but since the majority of my clients come to me through social media, I had to set up a photo studio as well to show up my creations in a professional manner.”
Although Prokhorova’s vivid, sumptuous photos on Instagram and Facebook are eye-catching, that doesn’t mean there isn’t serious work involved in creating the arrangements. She has obtained a food manager certificate, and she pushes back on the perception that Wild Veggie Bouquet is “simple” floral work.
“My work is not always the beautiful and sparkly thing portrayed on my Instagram. Fruits and veggies are sometimes much heavier than regular flowers and I have to use physical strength to put the bouquet together at times. I don’t think people realize it when they look at the final product. Of course I like to use only the best quality supplies, and there is a season for everything. I don’t like to include off-season fruits as they don’t taste that great. When I started to sell my arrangements I thought I knew what I was doing, but they look completely different these days when compared to the very first bouquet I made.”
It is a personal creative evolution, and yet it is one that, should it win wider notice, may transform how we think about the arrangement of natural elements–in Texas and beyond.
Pamela Price is the founder of TheTexasWildflower.com.
Thanks for reading!
Want Our Free Monthly Newsletter?
We’d love to keep you personally up-to-date on the stories and events shared here at TheTexasWildflower.com. {Learn more | Privacy policy} You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
