This week, we are sharing some “flowers for thought” as we recently had the opportunity to visit Windy Acres Farm and Garden in Wattsburg, PA. Windy Acres is the family flower business run by Katie Scarabino and her daughter, Camille Flinn, that has been supplying Edinboro Market with colorful arrangements of various sizes.

“It’s not all flowers, all the time,” Katie remarked as we walked through beds of flowering plants in various stages of growing, budding, and blooming. With about 10 acres in cultivation, Katie has quite the array of flowers considering she only started Windy Acres at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

As the world went on pause that spring, Katie ended up being laid off from her full-time nursing job. So, like many others faced with nowhere else to go but the backyard, Katie turned to her garden. Being raised on a farm taught her the basics of growing plants and she kept a small veggie garden for years. But as she found herself filling her yard with flowers, an idea sparked: perhaps this budding hobby could bring in some extra cash.

When asked, “Why grow flowers?” Katie responded that she loves everything from the growing process to seeing what people create with the flowers she grows. She sells mainly to two florists in the area and noted that there is a growing florist network in Northwest PA. Locally-grown flowers means higher-quality, longer-lasting bouquets with less of an ecological footprint, and more opportunity for collaboration among growers. They see each other as community—not competition— which allows them to exchange just the right flowers for their arrangements, whether they’re for a baby shower, wedding, or catered event.

Cut flowers can often hold special memories. Katie mentioned that peonies are her favorite flower as they remind her of her grandmother and the “2 long rows of peonies she grew along her driveway.” She recalls her grandmother making bouquets for her church during the growing season and how that made her appreciate the gesture of sharing floral arrangements.

Throughout our tour, it became apparent how some extra time and space to let your passions surface can nurture opportunities to connect with others, and maybe bloom into a successful business. Thanks Katie, for sharing your story and letting us see the farm and garden behind the flowers!

Hummus and Veggie Pita 

Pita Pie

Salmon Pita