Holland floral designer has boxes of awards, and met the Queen of Denmark
HOLLAND — Holland’s Southshore Village sits a short trek from the heart of downtown. It's a hidden gem, with a stretch of quaint small businesses selling flowers and coffee and pizza.
But there’s one gentleman working in Southshore Village that could be considered a hidden gem himself.
His name is Craig Montanye and he works as a floral designer at Pat’s European Fresh Flower Market.
While it’s a career he officially started over 45 years ago, Montanye's love of flowers goes back to his childhood in Nebraska. It was there he began to learn and develop an eye for flowers and design.
As he grew older, he decided to study radiology — but it never took off. Instead, he went on a backpacking trip with friends before getting a job at a shoe store. Then, he got a part-time gig delivering flowers.
“And that was it, I was hooked,” he said. “I was a delivery guy, but then they wanted me to start designing.”
Shortly after, he entered a flower design competition that he’d go on to win. He entered another, then another, winning each one.
“Flower design is an art and I’m really interested in the art and architecture and design of flowers,” he said.
Montanye took floriculture classes at the University of Nebraska and others along the way.
“I just studied and learned,” he said. “Back then, there were no online classes ... so I read a lot of books on design, design theory and history of design.”
Montanye was nominated to be a member of the Nebraska Academy of Floral Designers, inducted in 1985. The next year, he was voted Designer of the Year in the state.
Montanye would eventually leave Nebraska, moving to Indianapolis in 1992 to work for a large floral company. The company wanted him to become a master designer.
After months of studying, he earned the recognition. He was also inducted into the American Institute of Floral Design, an organization with members from around the world.
His career eventually led him to Holland, as he looked to simplify his life and slow down. He started working at Pat’s in 2011 and has been there ever since.
He's had some unique opportunities over the years. He met the Queen of Denmark, designed the floral display for the stage at the victory banquet of the Indianapolis 500, and decorated the main altar for the Saint Cecilia Cathedral Flower Festival in Omaha.
While he remains humble, the truth is, he has boxes of awards in his basement.
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In the future, he hopes to continue to learn and teach those around him.
"It's always a learning experience."
— Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland floral designer has boxes of awards, and met the Queen of Denmark
