As we continue our trek along Goodwood Road, we discover that all the loveliest humans must be florists, as we chat to Pretty Petals owner, Lieu Elder.

Much like the flowers she tends to, Lieu Elder is an incredibly bright presence.

It could be because she is surrounded by beautiful and immaculately presented bouquets, or it could just be an innate loveliness – whatever the case, the owner of Pretty Petals has certainly found her calling.

“I’ve been a florist for 15 years now, so I love it,” she says.

“People have sad events and stuff like that, and you can cheer someone up, buy an arrangement of flowers for someone. That’s what I love.”

Even her 5:30am daily farmers’ market trips and 12-hour workdays don’t dim her outlook.

“We see people walk past every day and we wave. They don’t have to buy any flowers, they come in and say hello and we wave and yeah, very friendly. That’s what they love about us,” she says.

After studying floristry at the Tea Tree Gully TAFE campus, Lieu moved into the industry, working in other people’s stores to gain experience, until two years ago when she decided it was time to start something of her own.

“[It was] a bit scary because it’s a big industry, it’s scary to get started, but… I have a very supportive family and community, so I’m so happy,” she says.

“I trust my skill, and I think I’m good enough to offer the customer what I’m passionate about, and… I want[ed] to give myself a chance to see how I’d go with my own business.”

Lieu proudly describes growing her customer base from nothing to now having a steady flow of regulars, as well as building a strong reputation arranging floral décor for weddings. Not an easy job, but one she approaches with the same unbridled enthusiasm.

“Weddings are very stressful because some girls, they plan their wedding for two or three years, and so our job is to… help them to organise [it],” she says.

“It’s very intense, very stressful job, but I love it.”

As a Goodwood local, she was already aware of what kind of community she would be part of as a business owner and has been warmly embraced by her working neighbours.

“Two Sisters down the road, they’ve got our flowers… and then the Century 21, we do their corporate settlement gift, and we do Tabor corporate flowers every week, and Saint Thomas [Primary School] as well,” she says.

“I just love it here. Very small community and very friendly.”

It’s easy to see how Lieu found a home on Goodwood Road, they’re a perfect match.