Lily started her journey in Floral Designs in l986, by helping a friend start a floral shop. It was there that she met Catherine Hillen-Rulloda AIFD that suggested she take classes at City College of San Francisco. Within one year, Lily had immersed herself taking all the classes required to become a floral designer. It was there that Holly Money-Collins AIFD and Soho Sakai, Riji Master (Ikebana), inspired her to become a floral designer. She continues taking classes from Soho Sakai, Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, and online classes with Gregor Lersch. She has also enjoyed working alongside Max Van de Sluis, Tomas De Bryne and Pers Benjamin at several AIFD Symposiums.

Lily received her AIFD credentials in 1990 and her EMC certification in 2016. She is the past Co-President of OFAD, the Organization of Floral Art Designers and is currently on the Board for the Northwest Chapter of AIFD, the California State Floral Association and serves on the Advisory Board for City College of San Francisco Environmental Horticulture & Floristry Department.