Mon.Na.Mi Flowers: Bouquets That Capture Love, Memory and Emotion

In my opinion, there is no better feeling than receiving a bouquet of flowers from a loved one.

Whether you’re celebrating a new job, an engagement or a birthday, or perhaps you want someone to just know you’re there for them, every bouquet tells a thousand words.

Whenever I have flowers in my room, I can never stop looking at them – the delicate petals and vivid colours brighten up every day.

And every flower means something different to each person: whether it reminds you of a place you visited, it’s your birth flower, or your mum used to grow them in your garden as a child.

However, the story behind every bouquet begins with the florist. Their well thought out use of colour and shape, gorgeous arrangements and passion for the industry means they can create pieces that convey emotion, beauty and memories.

I recently visited St Saviours Yard in Norwich and was immediately drawn to Mon.Na.Mi Flowers. Their stunning bouquets of flowers cascaded out of their shop, offering you a moment of joy and colour.

I spoke to Natali Leonova, the Owner of Mon.Na.Mi Flowers, to discover their inspirational journey, the beauty of floristry, how it feels to be at St Saviours Yard and their plans for 2026!

What inspired you to start Mon.Na.Mi Flowers?

Mon.Na.Mi Flowers was born from a deep love for creating emotions through flowers.

While floristry is, of course, a business, for me it has always been about much more than that.

Around sixty percent of what drives me is the joy of giving emotions — seeing people smile, feel surprised, and truly moved. The business side matters too, but the emotional connection is what gives the work meaning.

I especially value moments when I personally deliver flowers and see people’s reactions firsthand — the moment their eyes light up and they say, “Wow, I’ve never received such a beautiful bouquet before.” Those reactions are incredibly inspiring.

The name Mon.Na.Mi reflects the heart of the brand. “Mon” represents togetherness and unity, “Na” comes from the first part of my name, and “Mi” comes from Mila — my close friend and lead florist, whose artistic vision shaped our style many years ago in Kyiv. Together, Mon.Na.Mi represents partnership, creativity and shared values.

What do you love about floristry?

What I love most about floristry is the ability to create something truly personal and meaningful. Flowers allow us to express emotions in a way that feels natural and sincere.

When we moved from Ukraine to the UK, the environment around floristry naturally changed — different habits, different expectations, a different visual culture.

However, we made a conscious decision not to change who we are. We kept the artistic style we developed in Ukraine and brought it with us to Norwich.

Interestingly, people here notice and appreciate that difference. While traditions around gifting flowers vary, the emotional value of flowers remains universal. We feel proud to bring our distinctive approach into a new cultural space while staying true to our roots.

What makes your business unique?

What makes Mon.Na.Mi Flowers unique is the combination of deep professional experience, a strong artistic identity and a very personal approach to every order.

Before moving to the UK, we worked at a high professional level in Ukraine, creating floristry for clients who valued individuality, emotion and quality. We brought this mindset with us to Norwich.

Our bouquets are never generic. Each arrangement is created with attention to mood, colour and feeling, not just the flowers themselves. We focus on character and emotion rather than trends alone.

Equally important is our closeness to customers. We take time to understand what they want to express — love, gratitude, support or celebration — and translate that into flowers.

What do you enjoy most about creating unique bouquets?

What I enjoy most is the process of creating something truly personal rather than following a template.

I especially love it when clients ask for a “bouquet from the florist” — not a copy of a photo, but something created specifically for a person.

When someone shares who the flowers are for, what kind of person they are and what the moment means, that information becomes the foundation of the bouquet.

From there, colours, style and flowers come together naturally.

For me, it feels very similar to how an artist works — creating not just a visual piece, but a feeling. The most rewarding part is knowing the bouquet creates a genuine emotional “wow” moment.

Do you have a certain design style (or does this alter for each bouquet / customer)?

Yes, we do have a distinctive style, and it was developed many years ago in Ukraine by our lead florist, Mila.

Her style is artistic, expressive and recognisable, focusing on form, movement, balance and emotion rather than rigid structure. This signature approach remains at the heart of Mon.Na.Mi Flowers today.

We do follow trends and understand what clients are drawn to at any given time, but we never lose our identity. Trends may influence us, but they do not define us. Our style serves as a foundation that adapts to each client while remaining true to our aesthetic.

Do you change your flowers on offer seasonally?

Seasonality is important to us, but it does not limit our clients’ choices.

We consider the season when selecting flowers, as seasonal blooms allow for fresher and more expressive arrangements. We also work with flowers grown in English greenhouses, although the local selection is limited.

Like most florists in Norwich, we source the majority of our flowers through trusted international suppliers and auctions, primarily from the Netherlands, as well as regions such as Ecuador. This allows us to offer a wide range of flowers all year round and fulfil bespoke requests even outside the natural season.

Looking ahead, one of my personal ambitions is to develop a small greenhouse in the UK and grow flowers locally in the future.

How important is colour to your business?

Colour plays a central role in our work because it is often the first thing people respond to emotionally.

Before noticing the flowers themselves, people feel the mood of a bouquet through its colours. Colour sets the tone — whether soft and romantic, bold and expressive, or calm and elegant.

For us, colour is never random. It is chosen carefully based on emotion, occasion and the person receiving the flowers. It is one of the most powerful tools for storytelling in floristry.

How did you feel to be offered a place at St Saviour’s Yard?

Being offered a place at St Saviour’s Yard brought a huge sense of relief.

After more than a year of working outdoors, often affected by weather and constant logistics, having a permanent space felt like finally having a home. It allowed us to focus fully on creativity, quality and care.

What I value most is the atmosphere of independent businesses — a supportive, creative environment where people build their own projects with passion. It creates a strong sense of belonging.

What do you love most about the community of independent businesses in Norwich?

What I love most is the openness and mutual respect within the independent business community.

There is a genuine appreciation for craftsmanship and creativity. People are supportive and engaged, making the journey feel human and meaningful rather than purely transactional.

What power do you believe the act of floristry has?

Flowers have the unique ability to express emotions when words are not enough.

They accompany us through life’s most important moments — joy, love, gratitude, support and remembrance. Floristry creates moments of connection, presence and meaning, even though the simplest gesture.

How important is social media to the growth of your business?

Social media plays an important role as a visual and storytelling platform.

It allows us to share not only finished bouquets, but the emotion behind them.

For us, social media is about trust, connection and staying close to the local community, not just sales.

How do you stay up to date with the latest trends in the floristry industry?

We follow international floristry platforms, exhibitions, publications and the work of respected florists worldwide.

At the same time, we approach trends thoughtfully, adapting only what aligns with our artistic identity. Trends inspire us, but they never dictate our work.

Do you have any plans for 2026?

2026 feels like a year of thoughtful growth and long-term vision.

We would love to open a larger studio–salon in the future, allowing more creative freedom than our current container space. We are also interested in creating a shared concept space that brings floristry together with artisan confectionery.

We are open to collaborating with pastry chefs, creative partners and potential investors who share our values.

Our goal is to grow organically, through meaningful partnerships and carefully considered steps, while staying true to the heart of Mon.Na.Mi Flowers.

To keep up to date with the beautiful work of Mon.Na.Mi Flowers, you can head to their Instagram (@monnami_uk)!