Behind every beautiful bouquet is a team of talented florists with a story to tell.

At Direct2florist, we're proud to work with independent florists across the UK and around the world. Each flower shop has its own story, with talented people bringing creativity, experience and genuine care to every arrangement.

This week, we're heading to Galston in East Ayrshire to meet the team behind Thistle Du Florist, an award-winning independent flower shop led by experienced florist Heather Martin.

Meet the Team at Thistle Du Florist

With an incredible 48 years of experience in floristry, Heather Martin has spent her career creating beautiful flowers for all of life's occasions. A former Scottish Florist of the Year, Heather leads a talented team who share her passion for thoughtful, creative floral designs.

After 15 wonderful years serving customers from their shop in Darvel, the team began an exciting new chapter in August 2026, moving Thistle Du Florist to new premises in Galston, East Ayrshire.

Although the location has changed, the care and creativity behind the business remain the same. Together, the team continues to create beautiful, bespoke flowers for customers throughout the Irvine Valley and across Ayrshire.

Flowers for Every Occasion

From colourful birthday bouquets and anniversary surprises to beautiful wedding flowers and heartfelt funeral tributes, the team at Thistle Du Florist takes pride in creating something personal for every occasion.

With years of experience and a shared love of flowers, the team understands how much a thoughtfully chosen bouquet can mean. Flowers help people celebrate special moments, express their feelings and remember loved ones.

Whether it's a cheerful bouquet to brighten someone's day or a carefully designed tribute for a meaningful farewell, every arrangement is handcrafted with skill, creativity and attention to detail.

A Few Words from the Florist

Heather shared a little about the team's experience working with Direct2florist and the variety of floral designs they enjoy creating.

"We have been part of Direct2florist for many years and like how it operates, and they're always there for any questions.

With 48 years of experience, it keeps us on our toes being bespoke, and we enjoy doing funeral work as well as weddings and everyday flowers in a busy retail environment."

— Heather Martin, Thistle Du Florist

An Award-Winning Local Florist

The team's dedication to their craft has earned Thistle Du Florist recognition across Ayrshire, with several awards celebrating their work and commitment to beautiful flowers.

Thistle Du Florist has been named Best Florist in Ayrshire at the Scottish Business Awards in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026, a wonderful achievement for this independent flower shop.

The team was also recognised as Best Wedding Florist in Ayrshire 2023/24 at the Prestige Awards, celebrating their creativity and skill in designing flowers for such special occasions.

These awards reflect the hard work, experience and passion that Heather and her team bring to their customers every day.

A New Chapter in Galston

Now based in their new shop in Galston, the Thistle Du Florist team continues to create and deliver beautiful flowers throughout Ayrshire, helping customers celebrate life's happy moments and offering comfort when words aren't quite enough.

It's stories like theirs that remind us why independent local florists are so special. Behind every bouquet is a team of real people, years of experience and a genuine passion for bringing a little happiness to their community.

Thistle Du Florist, an award-winning independent flower shop now based in Galston, East Ayrshire.

Heather and the talented team at Thistle Du Florist share a passion for creating beautiful flowers for every occasion.

Discover More Local Florists

Inspired by the Thistle Du Florist team's story? Explore Direct2florist's community of talented independent local florists and discover beautiful bouquets recently delivered by flower shops across the UK.

When you choose an independent local florist, you're supporting real people, their skills and their passion for creating beautiful flowers.