Dorene Titus, the owner and visionary behind A Bloom and a Prayer, located in Sioux City, Iowa, got the gardening bug about 18 years ago when a long time friend asked if she could help plant stuff Memorial Day weekend. The experience changed her life. She noticed when she was in the garden she would instantly feel centered, joyful and happy. She remembers thinking she wanted to feel that way all the time. She quit a stressful  job, pursued becoming a Master Gardener and took a job caring for plants at the local garden center.  And she never looked back.

Dorene started her journey in flower farming in Michigan in 2018. After completing online flower farming school, she started growing and selling cut flowers by the stem, wrapped market bouquets and flower arrangements from a metal building she converted into a Garden Studio. She sold to florists. Got hired for her first full service wedding, provided on-going make and take projects during open studio hours, provided field trip opportunities for local private school children, and attended farmers markets. All this was in addition to learning what flowers to grow, how to grow them, when to harvest them, how to succession plant to have flowers continually in bloom, natural pest management, natural weed management, and so much more. Unfortunately most things learned were learned the hard way.

The first winter, about $800 in dahlia tubers were stored in an outside storage building.  Though protected, most did not survive. That was both a personal and financial loss. Learning how to overwinter dahlia tubers became a trial and error process each year until finally being perfected in 2024.

In the Fall of 2020 Dorene decided to move back to her hometown of Sioux City to be near family, and sold her flower farm property in Michigan. And she prayed, and waited, and trusted God for an opportunity to purchase farmland again closer to “home.” Until then, she grew flowers in her Sioux City backyard, attended an area Farmers Market and sold flower arrangements on Facebook Marketplace.

Finally, farmland became available. It was truly a blessing and a miracle to be able to purchase this diamond in the rough property in Sioux City.  The first year in 2022 was spent clearing and leveling the land, getting a well drilled, getting electricity, working on soil health and preparing garden beds. 

In 2023 the season opened in July and it was a busy summer and fall, with two weddings, custom flower arrangements, flower subscription deliveries, several on-site events, sales at vendor fairs and pop-up events, and sales to a local florist. 

Essential infrastructure, such as a walk-in floral cooler, is still needed. Soil health still needs work. It’s still a work in progress. As such, fresh flowers are harvested and sold by the bulk flower bucket, available for flower bar experiences for private and community events, and workshops are offered as well.  Custom flower arrangements are also our specialty, so think of us for your next special event!

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In 2025, let’s grow, “bloom” and experience hope, joy and beauty through flowers!