When you feel a musician move you to tears, see a ballerina leap flawlessly into the air, or experience a work of art that took hundreds of hours to complete, the first thing out of your mouth is probably \u201cthey\u2019re so talented!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while yes, talent is a factor, what you really mean to say is \u201cwow, they\u2019ve mastered<\/em> their talent.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Talent, strictly speaking, refers to a natural aptitude or innate ability to perform a task with proficiency and ease\u2026 but unrefined talent isn\u2019t what takes your breath away. Instead, that awe inspiring performance is the result of a well-balanced scale where passion, talent, and discipline are all factors that each and every individual must hone on their journey to mastery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Such is \u201cthe golden equation\u201d embodied by Michael Skaff, the designer behind the wreaths at The Magnolia Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Talent isn\u2019t something you know you have\u2026 until you do. It\u2019s usually the first sparks of passion that clue you into an untapped talent. Being full of new wonder for the world and curious at every corner, kids are experts at discovering what lights their fires. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI tell the story that when my dad would take my sister and I fishing, I would be the one picking wild flowers to bring to my mom,\u201d recalls Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was no one magic moment that made it click for him, but rather an entire childhood spent surrounded by and admiring plants. Wildflower bouquets for mom turned into a treasured summer job at a local greenhouse, where his passion for horticulture caught the attention of the owner and his first mentor, Sam Staiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael\u2019s work in the greenhouse eventually became his field of study at the University of Massachusetts, where he majored in Plant and Soil Science. There\u2019s much to be learned from books about the wonderful world of plants, but all passionate plant pupils understand that the best way to learn about plants is to get your hands dirty. True to his roots, Michael worked at the campus conservatory as a plant breeder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n University study has a funny way of crosspollinating young minds in other areas of study that ultimately change the course of their lives, thanks to the occasional side quest or happy accident. Michael\u2019s life-changing left turn: an \u201cout of the blue\u201d decision to take a class in Floral Design. Thanks to that class and his new mentor, Nancy Garabrants, Michael made the decision to pursue a career in floral design. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To this day, Nancy holds a place of honor as one of his dearest friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any college graduate eventually learns that the real work begins after graduation, and Michael was no exception. At the ambitious age of 23, he opened his first business venture: Skaff Floral Creations, based in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. His experience led him to decide to pursue projects with larger floral companies and distributors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a \u201cthe rest was history\u201d kind of way, Michael\u2019s career blossomed. He met the love of his life, Paul Giguere, who has supported Michael season after treasured season. He also began to accumulate his now long list of professional memberships and accolades. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Michael now holds memberships to the top floral associations in the states: the American Institute of Floral Design, the American Academy of Floral Culture, the Society of American Florists, and the Professional Floral Commentators Institute. He thanks Tom Powell of the American Institute of Floral Design for being an unforgettable guide and mentor throughout the process. He also held a position with the Color Marketing Group, which serves to set and forecast annual color trends for various industries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, Michael climbed to the esteemed position of Vice President of Product Design for the Floral Transworld Delivery Association, which expanded his reach beyond the US and inducted him into a community of international growers. He would even go on to teach European design classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In case you haven\u2019t yet gathered, this is a man who takes his love of floristry very seriously. At this point, the trifecta is complete: a childhood passion gave way to this discovery of talent, sharpened by years of discipline and study. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Admittedly, we\u2019re making this all sound a bit serious; Michael, for all of his dedicated work, still maintains a beautiful joie de vivre about him. Creating art through nature\u2019s effervescent medium of life requires a certain degree of enchantment with the world \u2013 something that Michael has worn on his sleeve his whole life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael\u2019s career has certainly rewarded him with the fruits of his labor. His designs and creations have been featured in landmark publications and events. You\u2019ve probably seen them without realizing it! Let\u2019s hit the highlight reel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n See? Told you. Impressive! Obviously, he has more than earned his bouquet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, if you ask Michael what projects he\u2019s most proud of, you\u2019ll receive a more unsuspecting answer. Oftentimes, the things that look small on a resume make the biggest impact \u2013 and that\u2019s where love of art and work dwells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuite honestly, the most rewarding events I have worked on have been weddings and funeral tributes \u2013 being part of a bride\u2019s \u2018special day\u2019 and creating an everlasting tribute and memory for a grieving family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s Michael\u2019s love of life\u2019s landmark moments that made his partnership with The Magnolia Company a match made in heaven. He met Julie & Matt Roth in 2009 while on the hunt for a source of good quality magnolia products. Nearly two decades later, he\u2019s still lending his eye and skill to the wreath designs of The Magnolia Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Product development isn\u2019t just about creating something beautiful; there are several factors to consider. Market availability, trends, styles, flowers, colors, the primary customer base, price point sweet spots\u2026 everything has to come together in a perfectly gorgeous (and well-considered) blend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whenever he takes on a new batch of seasonal product designs for The Magnolia Company, Michael creates a design book containing concepts, designs, and trends. From there, the process comes a little more organically. Julie describes watching Michael work his magic as if it\u2019s cut straight from a fantasy book, and she says you can tell when he\u2019s in the zone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI like designing for corporate clients like The Magnolia Company, as it allows me a bit more freedom in design and price point,\u201d says Michael. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Life-long passion doesn\u2019t cease when a business venture ends. Sometimes, that business venture is a critical part of the passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael now resides in Savannah, Georgia. He took a stab at retirement, but the life of a retiree isn\u2019t in the cards at the moment. Shortly after his attempt at laying down his career, he reopened another business in 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Passion First<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Honing the Talent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>The Real Work Begins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a>You Reap What You Sow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>A Bountiful Partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a>It\u2019s a Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Just Keep Growing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n