The perfect summer for florist Lily of the Valley

• Summer brings plenty of energy, with different customers such as tourists and special assignments like weddings.

• In August, she takes a holiday but remains involved with her shops remotely.

• Italy is her source of peace and inspiration, thanks to the nature, colours and beauty around her.

• Christmas does not enter her mind until October; during the summer, she simply enjoys the season itself.

• Summer favourites: sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, dahlias and gladioli.

Summer feels as though I am living at two different speeds. Paris may seem a little quieter in the shops, but my customers certainly do not disappear, quite the opposite! Summer actually brings plenty of tourists. Some are looking for a beautiful bouquet for their Airbnb, others need flowers for a photoshoot, and then, of course, there are the weddings. There are international couples who dream of getting married in Paris, as well as many French couples. Flowers are abundant, bouquets become more colourful and people are in a good mood. There is a lighter atmosphere in the air, even while working.

Personally, whenever I can, I recharge under the Italian sun.

I take three weeks off in August while continuing to manage orders and customer enquiries remotely. The shops remain open with adjusted summer opening hours: from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and closed at weekends except during the week of 15 August. It is a conscious decision, as many florists close completely in August. I choose not to. As a result, I often welcome their customers, and many of them eventually become loyal clients. It is a wonderful way to grow the business naturally, without having to force it.

To recharge, I almost always head to Italy! I usually exercise even more than normal there, which means I return exhausted… but completely recharged in a different way. That is my balance. Inspiration comes naturally in Italy: the markets with their colourful stalls, the gardens, the wildflowers you encounter along the way and the architecture. And, of course, the effortless Italian sense of beauty in everyday life. I observe and absorb everything: beautifully set tables, colours and small details.

Sport helps in its own way too: it clears my mind, allowing me to see things more clearly when I return. I always come back with a mind full of inspiration, excited to translate it into flowers.

Christmas? Not at all during the summer! My focus is on the new school year: new interns, a new organisation and the pace picking up again. Christmas does not begin for me until October.

When it comes to flowers, summer is all about radiant, impressive sunflowers, colourful zinnias and delicate cosmos with a natural, countryside charm. And, of course, dahlias and gladioli, two absolute must-haves that we look forward to every year at the end of summer.