It’s the Friday before homecoming, and she is booked. Flowers, ribbons and friends surround her; her hands are busy, and she is happy. 

After teaching herself how to create bouquets, Junior Maryam Aziz created her own floral arrangement business, Bloom by Maryam, during her sophomore year. She’s created arrangements for school dances, birthdays, friends and taught a floral arrangement class this summer. 

“Floral arrangement is a unique way to be creative,” Maryam said. “I feel like not enough people appreciate it. It’s fun to [design] something new.” 

Maryam grew up surrounded by flowers. When her parents would host parties, she would handle the flowers — cutting the ends of flower stems and placing them in vases of water. 

“I taught myself [to make flower arrangements,]” Maryam said. “We’re party people. My mom also gardens a lot, and [I] harvest her flowers.” 

During Maryam’s sophomore year, a group of her friends wanted bouquets for homecoming. Despite having no prior experience creating bouquets for people, she offered to create them. Maryam’s friend junior Laila Galloway is a customer of hers. 

“She’s very creative, hence the flower business,” Galloway said. “She just seems like a good person to be a leader, you know? She’s a good person to look up to.”

In May, she decided to start the floral arrangement business, Bloom by Maryam. Her first official order was for a friend’s birthday party. Maryam said the bouquet was huge with dainty, pink and white flowers. 

“I was really proud of the first bouquet I made,” Maryam said. “I really like how it came out — it was really exciting.”

Maryam receives her orders through her business’s Instagram account, @bloom.by.maryam. Maryam asks the buyer to mention their event and preferred color palette, then she sends her starting prices. Afterward, she asks the buyer about ribbons and whether or not they want a card attached. 

“[I’ve learned to have buyers] put down a deposit before saying yes to an order,” Maryam said. “People will cancel at the last minute and you’re left with their flowers.” 

Four days before an order is due, Maryam will purchase the flowers, set them in water and allow them to bloom. One day before order pick up or delivery, she will cut the flowers, arrange them and wrap them in ribbon. 

Maryam primarily gets her flowers at Texas Wholesale Flowers DFW, due to their sustainable harvesting. Sustainable harvesting involves practices that minimize negative environmental impact. 

“It’s important that suppliers are kind to the plants,” Maryam said. “I want [the flowers] to actually grow and have a life. It’s better for the environment.” 

This summer, junior Eden Brown reached out to Maryam asking her to teach a floral arrangement class for her younger sister’s birthday party. She had never taught a class before, but agreed. Eden supplied Maryam with roses, carnations, baby breath and foliage, and Maryam taught them about the process of harvesting, keeping flowers healthy and floral arrangement.

“She seemed very passionate about [floristry,]” Brown said. “She knows what she’s doing and is very calm. I feel like she was in her element.” 

Maryam said her most memorable floral arrangement is the rose bouquet she made for her sister’s graduation. After graduating, her sister dried the roses and kept them in her room. Maryam said she plans on making bouquets for prom, and hopes to enter competitions. 

“I get to see people [appreciate] the bouquets I made,” Maryam said. “I’m glad that they love them. [Floral arrangement has] made me realize that I really like helping people and making them happy.” 

This story was originally published on The Hawk Eye on October 24, 2025.