Stories
April 2026
Flowers Are My Therapy
by the girl behind Once & Flor'al
I didn't plan on becoming a flower farmer. It kind of just happened — the way most good things do. I started growing dahlias
because I genuinely loved them, and somewhere along the way that love turned into a business, a routine, and honestly,
one of the best parts of my day.
There's something really satisfying about planting a dahlia tuber in the spring. It looks like nothing — a little knobby thing
you press into the dirt — and then a few weeks later there's a shoot pushing up. Every time. It never stops being a good feeling.
"The garden has a way of making everything else feel a little more manageable."
Morning in the rows — my favorite part of the day.
Farming has a rhythm to it that I really appreciate. You deadhead, stake, water — same things, same rows, every day.
It sounds repetitive, but it's actually just nice. There's no multitasking. You're just out there doing the thing,
and the bees are doing their thing, and it's all pretty great.
Jaden gets it. He watched me come in from the field one evening — muddy, tired, but in a good mood for the first time all week —
and just said, "You should do this more."
"There's no multitasking in the garden. You're just out there doing the thing, and it's enough."
Jaden, who has been on board with this farm from day one.
Once & Flor'al started because I wanted other people to have access to really good, fresh, locally grown flowers.
There's a difference between flowers that came from a field nearby and flowers that traveled across the country in a box —
and once you know that difference, it's hard to go back.
The whole crew. Waffles considers himself essential staff.
"Good flowers, grown close to home. That's really what this is all about."
If you've ever thought about trying a flower subscription or picking up a bouquet at the market — just do it.
Fresh flowers around the house are a simple thing that makes a real difference. At least they do for me.
