Florist, flower farmer, mother, dreamer and do-er — Jess Connor has lived and breathed flowers for most of her life. Her journey began at just fourteen when she started working in a small local florist. From the moment she first held a pair of snips, she knew she’d found her place. Flowers became her world, a way to create beauty, express emotion and stay connected to the natural rhythms that guide us all.

By twenty-one, Jess had opened her first florist, a traditional brick and mortar store in Lismore, Northern NSW. It quickly became a much-loved part of the community, known for its abundant, heartfelt designs and welcoming atmosphere. The shop was recognised multiple years in a row with local awards including Lismore Business of the Year and People’s Choice Business, celebrating Jess’s creativity, dedication and deep connection to her customers.

When she became a mum, Jess shifted her focus, creating wedding and event florals from a home studio while her babies were babies. Those years deepened her love for meaningful design and strengthened her dream of growing flowers in a gentler, more sustainable way.

Guided by her love of the land, Jess went on to study horticulture and permaculture, following her desire to understand plants and ecosystems on a deeper level and to grow in a way that gives back. That passion eventually led her to The Farm Byron Bay, where she joined the community just over seven years ago, a place where everything she loved finally came together. Surrounded by soil, sunlight and connection, Poppy & Fern was born, a living expression of Jess’s vision to grow, design and teach with heart.

Inside the flower shop at The Farm, visitors find more than just blooms. It is a world of botanicals, filled with handmade products, garden-grown herbs and gifts that celebrate nature’s beauty in all its forms. Every corner of the space reflects Jess’s philosophy: natural, simple, earthy and made with love.

For Jess, flowers are more than her craft; they are her language and her spiritual connection to the world. She feels deeply attuned to the energy of each bloom, often describing it as a higher, unseen rhythm that runs through her work. Even those who don’t believe in the “woo woo” often say they can feel something extra in her flowers — a quiet warmth, a soulfulness that can’t quite be explained but is instantly recognised.

Jess has also shared her knowledge as a teacher at the Byron Bay Community College and through private workshops, inspiring others to connect with flowers in meaningful, sustainable ways. Her dream has always been to open a larger flower school, a place where people can learn the art and ethics of floristry from the ground up, surrounded by the very blooms they’ll one day design with.

Today, Jess continues to live her lifelong dream, growing flowers under the Byron Bay sun, designing wild, heartfelt arrangements and teaching others to do the same. She still feels that same sense of wonder every time a seedling pushes through the soil or when the flower field glows at dusk.

Because for Jess, it has never been just about the flowers. It is about energy, intention and love — and the beauty that blooms when we grow in harmony with nature.