Today we’d like to introduce you to Indumani Bheri.
Hi Indumani, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My growth as a flower farmer has been one of growth, challenges, and boundless joy. It all began modestly with a few flower beds in my backyard. Soon, I found myself dedicating more time and space to growing beautiful seasonal cut flowers. I’ve delved deep into flower farming, drawing knowledge and inspiration from the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG.ORG). I have expanded my skills in seeding, growing, irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvesting of various specialty cut flowers while exploring sustainable farming practices like no-till methods. I have also learned how to make beautiful market bouquets & arrange centerpieces with a mix of locally grown cut flowers and sourced specialty cut flowers. It gives me immense pleasure to be spreading smiles and love through our floral creations. We’ve connected people, bringing time to a standstill as hearts intertwine. Ultimately, my goal is to continue sharing the beauty and magic of flowers with my community and beyond.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While flower farming can be rewarding in many aspects it comes with its challenges due to various factors. My journey has not been without its challenges, such as growing in an urban setting with limited growing space, weather variability, limited growing window (for example, we have such a short window for Ranunculus, literally 3 to 4 weeks), market demand and competition, post-harvest handling, labor challenges are just a few that I can think off the top of my head. Also, being a small business, we are limited in our resources. My academic background is in computer applications, so it was not just learning about growing flowers; I also had to learn the aspects of running a business. Every step I made did take some learning, unlearning, and relearning but at the end of the day, I was able to make progress and when we saw how happy our customers where I felt it was worth every bit of the struggle. The local community has been a big help in supporting and encouraging me in my journey and believing in my dream. I have persevered and grown as both a farmer and a person. I have learned the value of hard work, patience, and resilience and have found great satisfaction in flower farming.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Florista?
Florista is an urban flower farm based in Pearland, TX. My humble journey to offer locally grown fresh-cut flowers through my urban flower farm started in 2019. At Florista, we specialize in growing seasonal flowers which bloom naturally during specific times of the year according to the local climate and environmental conditions. My mission is to grow high-quality flowers, foliage and to promote the availability of specialty cut flowers. Local flower farmers faded away as the flower industry turned to wholesalers abroad. What was once a miracle of nature now turned into a miracle of logistics, and the way flowers connected us got lost in the shuffle. We are committed to bringing back that sense of community that can be found only through growing and giving flowers. While we are not opposed to using flowers grown elsewhere and substituting as needed, we are striving to bring back those forgotten flowers that don’t make it through the flights and shipping containers.
What distinguishes us from other florists is our unique approach to cultivating the flowers we use in our bouquets and arrangements, complemented by sourcing additional blooms as required. We are local, and several if not all of our customers know us from the community where we live and grow our crops.
We want your readers to know that we are committed to growing our flowers sustainably, collaborating with other flower farmers offering our blooms to people, markets, and shops in our local Pearland community and Greater Houston area.
At Florista, we offer a diverse range of floral services tailored to suit any occasion. From birthdays to anniversaries to graduation ceremonies to intimate weddings to sympathy florals, our bouquets, vase arrangements, centerpieces, corsages, and boutonnieres capture the essence of every special moment. We also offer seasonal subscription bouquets, allowing our clients to enjoy the beauty of fresh flowers delivered to their doorstep weekly. We deliver to local boutique stores and wellness clinics that focus on self-care. We also attend local Farmer’s Market on an on-demand basis. At Florista we are dedicated to providing a floral experience that is inspired by a connection to Mother Earth.
In addition, we are excited to announce that we are expanding our offerings to include an exclusive small selection of nursery items featuring popular Melliand fragrant bare root roses and some of the old garden roses.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is don’t hesitate to reach out. There are so many good organizations and great groups of people who are willing to share their knowledge. I owe so much to the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers (ASCFG.ORG) for the wealth of information that the organization provides and also their members. Collaborating with fellow flower farmers opened up new connections and opportunities for me.
Pricing:
- Subscriptions – $22/ week with a minimum # of weeks to subscribe
- Bouquets – $75 – $100; Market Bouquets – $40 – $50
- Vase Arrangements – $50 – $200
- Small to Medium weddings – $300 – $3000
- Sympathy – $300 – $800
Contact Info:
- Website: www.floristaflowers.biz
- Instagram: @To_Florista
- Facebook: @ToFlorista
