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. In addition to fresh flower sales, other flowers were pressed or hung in bundles to dry for use in winter crafts and workshops. Dahlia tubers in 2023 were also dug up, divided, and shipped nationwide. 

In 2024,  it was much of the same… but the custom floral design for special events side of the business grew. Bulk Flower Buckets and Bloom Bar experiences were also introduced and were a big hit during the summer and fall for D.I.Y. Brides and special events. Pop-up market experiences with the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce and with other Siouxland businesses provided fresh, field-grown flowers and flower experiences in the community. Dahlia tubers were again dug up and divided, ready for early Spring sales in 2025. Seed pods were harvested in the fall of 2024, and for the first time, seeds specifically for home cut flower gardens will be offered in early Spring.

In 2025, also look for curated dried flower D.I.Y. Kits, ongoing workshops using fresh, dried and pressed flowers, and flower subscriptions for the flower enthusiast.

Essential infrastructure, such as a walk-in floral cooler and a floral processing building/workshop building is still needed. Soil health still needs work. Other infrastructure still needs completed. It’s still a work in progress.  But it’s happening, thanks to your continued support. Thank you!

To follow along on this flower farming journey, please find A Bloom and a Prayer on Facebook and Instagram. 

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