Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Manthei.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my floral design journey in 2022 with designing a few local weddings, getting my feet wet with establishing a small scale flower farm and freelancing with other local event designers. Grace Blooms Farm developed from an understanding that the only reason I am able to grow in my passion is by God’s graces and then wanting to plant something that could give the glory back to Him.
Flowers are engrained in my DNA, my grandfather cultivated his own roses in the back lean-to greenhouse attached to the house. My grandmother grew and sold cut flowers at the local county fair, the same county fair where this summer I plan on hosting my first booth of my own. I was never able to talk with them about their passion for flowers, only pictures and stories passed along but I can feel their presence in the flower field and I’ve now become very aware in my mind how full circle life is. In ways I gravitate towards that simpleness and look forward to growing at our farm and what’s to come.
One of the things I’ve found a great passion for is wedding design and coming alongside brides to create their floral dreams. The feeling of creating and embracing the natural beauty of God creation and then pairing that with the excitement and love that comes with their wedding day is what makes this journey fun and fulfilling. I love getting to know my couples and pray for their union while I create their arrangements. It’s truly a blessing to be a piece of their story.
We have big plans for the farm’s future here, we want to cultivate a feeling here that is welcoming and where you feel like you can slow down from the busyness of life and enjoy God’s beautiful landscapes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A lesson I have learned while growing flowers is that nothing is guaranteed. I personally put a lot of sweat equity into my crop and to see those efforts result in failure is very discouraging. Getting to know the land and letting it work for me instead of against me is a focus for me now. Last year I made an investment and planted 35 bare root peony bulbs in the fall very much so anticipating and envisioning the amazing portrait they would become in Spring. As I dug and planted each one by hand I could picture in my mind the beautiful coral blooms that were sure to grace my arrangements in the future. What I wasn’t anticipating were the odd weather patterns, 60 degree days and a melted lake from snow sitting over my new peony patch in November. I chipped at ice to divert it the best I could to avoid the water reaching and rotting my peony roots. I could do nothing but wait and see if my efforts were for anything. They were not. One out of 35 peonies sprouted the following spring. I hold out some hope that maybe this year I will be surprised with little peony sprouts. Praying.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My focus this year has been large-scale installations for weddings and events. Bringing large natural elements to indoor spaces really changes the esthetic- hanging greens, baby’s breath clouds, large floral landscapes. They are so fun to create and we are excited to expand our horizons and create more masterpieces.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Only to encourage with a quote by my generations favorite funny guy Jim Carrey- ” Flowers don’t worry about how they are going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful”
God is our light and will turn our hurt into beauty if we let Him!
We hope you can make it out to the farm soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.gracebloomsfarm.com
- Instagram: Gracebloomsfarm.mn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E5b4zACET/
