Swapping AI for creativity with purpose….
Monarda was created by me, David Hadden after a career in coding, software sales and working for some of the worlds largest tech companies – mostly in digital marketing solutions and recently AI. Disillusioned by working in a global industry totally divorced from the beauty of things both natural and artisan I left my old world behind – but not before combining my day job with some years gaining new skills. I trained in horticulture with the RHS to Level 2, and then began to train with the Sussex Flower School. Starting with a few one and two day workshops I eventually committed to the full career change course with the brilliant school founder Georgia Miles who convinced me I had what it takes. Supported and encouraged as ever by my wife and muse Denise I took a different path… and have no regrets whatsoever….
Monarda’s purpose is to provide a service to people and businesses who want to share kindness and happiness with flowers and floristry and to be kind to the planet. For many this rules out any old supermarket flowers……. and Temu, and Shein and….. alright they don’t sell flowers , but you get the point. 60% of all flowers sold in the UK are sold via supermarkets, and only 14% of flowers sold in the UK are grown in the UK.
We embrace provenance in sourcing our flowers using British flowers where possible, prioritise sustainability in our raw design materials and localism in our collaborations and partnerships.
It’s impossible to be perfect, but not impossible to try.
As for where the name Monarda comes from – it’s the name of one of the most bee friendly of plants with extraordinary flowers, and we grow lots of it. Its common name is Bee Balm.
