The Wild Pansy arrived in Toronto, Canada, in 2021, founded by Deanna Balmer after nearly a decade of learning and experimentation. She walked in from an unrelated academic background but found her calling in floral work, first under mentorship, then designing for big days, workshops, and editorial projects. Her studio has since become a go-to for clients who want florals that feel purposeful yet personal. This week, she's part of the florist special.
The Wild Pansy - Floral Design by Deanna Balmer
In May 2021, Deanna opened her dream flower shop, 'The Wild Pansy', specializing in seasonal floral designs for everyday occasions, events, and swoon-worthy weddings. As a flower shop located in Toronto's West End, she uses creative color schemes and exotic flowers to create purposefully wild, modern floral arrangements that are reminiscent of gardens for weddings, celebrations, and regular occasions.
Deanna and her team use rare and unique floral varietals in unusual color combinations to create floral arrangements that are different from those seen in conventional flower stores. The Wild Pansy leans more toward a classic style rather than adopting every new flower-related fad.
To understand more of what she does, Deanna starts from what looks real and feels honest, such as playful palettes, seasonal flower picks, surprises like garlic scapes or fresh produce tucked into arrangements. The result is neither over-the-top nor overly safe. It’s calibrated to the client and built to last. In addition to her love of flowers, you'll find so many other pretty things in her shop.
Florals in a Natural, Wild Style
The Wild Pansy is built on sustainable floristry and business practices. When feasible, they try to get all their flowers from nearby Ontario producers, but they also use recyclable and compostable materials and occasionally import flowers. At the floral shop, the team does not utilize floral foam (a green sponge that is used in many flower shops) in any of their retail, bridal, or installation flower arrangements. The manufacturers of the other items they stock share The Wild Pansy's beliefs and are socially conscious.
Deanna shares:
"Flowers have the ability to summon happiness, joy, comfort, nostalgia, and many other positive feelings. They can also completely transform a space and are often the only decor element used for weddings. Flowers have even been scientifically proven to boost one’s mood! The shop is full of more than just flowers, including plants, greeting cards, floral prints, pots + vases, candles, and giftware goods."
For any florist building intention into their work, this studio offers a model of a slow-growing style, client-focused value, and materials picked not for trend but for resonance. The Wild Pansy shows how real floristry happens from decision-making to delivery, and invites others to step beyond flowers as decoration to something hand-made and sustainable.
They look to work with people who appreciate floristry as a medium of art. The team is completely obsessed with flowers, and they hope their clients are too. To see more of her designs, check out The Wild Pansy's Instagram.
Photos by The Wild Pansy.
