On this week’s episode, I traveled to Waldorf, MD to interview the husband and wife team behind Quince Blossom Ridge, Alex and Dan Till.

What happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you want?

For Alex and Dan, both trained chefs who spent years working in restaurants and bakeries, the answer began with a pandemic, a backyard garden, and a desire to escape the windowless kitchens where time seemed to disappear. What started as a hobby eventually became Quince Blossom Ridge, a cut flower farm shaped by constant pivots, unexpected challenges, and a shared vision for a more connected life.
In this episode, we visit Alex and Dan at their farm to talk about leaving hospitality, building a business from the ground up, and learning to adapt when nothing goes according to plan. They share what it really takes to grow and sell flowers—from months of planning and unpredictable weather to tariffs, rising costs, customer demand, and the true economics behind a $30 bouquet.
We also explore the importance of storytelling, community, and staying connected to the people who support your business. Because behind every beautiful bouquet is a lot of labor, risk, creativity, and care.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Alex and Dan from Quince Blossom Ridge
00:07 Origins of the flower farm and initial ideas
00:09 From culinary school to flower farming
00:30 Impact of COVID-19 and business reflection
00:51 Transition from bakery to flower farm
01:10 Reinvention and adapting to change
01:21 Seasonality and crop planning
01:51 Pricing, profit, and market strategies
02:19 Tariffs and import challenges
02:46 Community and customer relationships
03:08 Partnership and working with a spouse
03:19 Future vision for the farm and events
03:25 Closing thoughts and support for the farm

Resources

Online Store: https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/
website: https://quinceblossomridge.com/
Newsletter signup - https://auspicious-feather-79247.myflodesk.com/o51cqq5xdn
Alex interview on Garden DC Podcast: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-253-farm-to.html

Where to buy our flowers:
Tuesdays May-June, August-October - City Center DC https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/citycenterdc

Saturdays April-Mid December - Monroe Street Market/Brookland Arts Walk -https://www.freshfarm.org/markets/monroe-st

Saturdays April-November - Gateway Farmers Market https://www.instagram.com/gateway_farmersmarket/?hl=en

Stem Share Bouquet Subscriptions - Pickups on Thursdays in DC, MD, VA - https://quince-blossom-ridge.square.site/stem-share-bouquet-subscription