Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Dundule.
Hi Kelly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In the winter of 2022, I found myself looking at my lawn and imagining something different. I decided to convert more of it into flower gardens and began planning for the season ahead. Around that time, I became determined to grow ranunculus, a flower I had completely fallen in love with while planning my own wedding florals. I dove into research, watching countless YouTube videos from commercial flower farmers who shared detailed insights on how to successfully grow them.
Before long, I had ordered ranunculus corms, packets of flower seeds, and dahlia tubers. That spring, I planted my very first growing space, a 50’ x 50’ plot, not fully realizing it was the beginning of something much bigger.
Today, we are utilizing about 1 acre of growing space for our cut flowers, we operate a self-serve farm store seasonally, and we have a full array of offerings, including CSA subscriptions, retail and custom arrangements, wedding florals (diy, à la carte, and full service), and more.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In many ways, yes, it’s gone incredibly well. Our community has been so supportive and has truly embraced what we’re building. We have amazing customers who cheer us on and share our farm with their friends and families, and that kind of encouragement means everything.
That said, farming definitely comes with its share of challenges. Weather, pests, disease, there’s always something outside of your control. You can research and plan all you want, but so much of farming is learning by doing and gaining experience season after season.
One of the biggest personal challenges has been learning to be okay with an unfinished to-do list. There is always something waiting, flowers to harvest, beds to weed, seeds to start. The work never fully ends, and there are only so many hours in a day.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bella’s Blooms Flower Co.?
Bella’s Blooms is a flower farm based in Erie, PA, where we grow specialty cut flowers and foliage using sustainable practices. Our growing season runs from April through October, and during that time customers can purchase bouquets directly from the farm, or through one of our retail partners. In addition to our CSA subscription, we also specialize in custom arrangements for weddings, birthdays, showers, and other special events.
More than 80% of the flowers sold in the United States are imported, and the global floral industry tends to focus on varieties that can survive long shipping timelines. What makes us different is our commitment to seasonality. We design with what’s naturally blooming here, so our customers get to experience the full range and beauty of flowers as they were meant to be enjoyed.
What I’m most proud of, though, is our dedication to caring for the land itself. The farm is my childhood homestead, a 40-acre property with a farmhouse that’s nearly 200 years old. It means so much to me to carry on its agricultural legacy in a way that blends thoughtful land stewardship with the creativity of floristry.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
There are many, but my favorite would be that everything will turn out exactly how it’s supposed to, and I only have a limited part in that equation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellasblooms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellasbloomspa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellasBloomsPA/
