Meet Ava Prohaska

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Prohaska.

Hi Ava, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
My story started in high school. I used to visit my family in Spokane, Washington, and we’d pull over on the side of the road and pick lilac. The aroma would trail all around the house, and I was just in love with spring and all the types of foliage and blooms that grew outside of my hometown and state. I’d find overgrown ivy, peonies, Queen Anne’s lace. I started to realize my eyes for blooms became embedded in my day-to-day life. Chasing wisteria blooms every year in an overgrown back lot I’d drive by. When the season would change in high school, I’d find cherry blossoms to admire, or when the jacaranda trees would bloom, I would take photos and admire them. I came back home and saw floral design courses available after high school at a local off-campus school. I took the beginner course then the next year I advanced to the next. From there, I landed my first job at Pocket Full of Petals in Huntington Beach for the next three years before I started my flower business, Little Darlin Flora. I started this business as I knew I couldn’t keep spending all my money from my restaurant job paychecks on flowers anymore as I was getting older. I’d go to local farmers markets such as the Long Beach farmers market and chase blooms like Lilac, Sweet peas, Dahlias. Sometimes, even giant garden roses if I got lucky enough. I started small, figuring out where I could source local flowers now, I mainly source blooms from my wholesales in Orange County Mayesh, Mellano, OC flowers, or CA Flowers. I have grown and owe everything to word of mouth. I have made so many amazing memories on this journey. I am home-based, doing everything out of my garage and with no employees. I have come so far from two years ago. I love that it is me behind my designs. My flowers are now located in two of 602 coffee house locations in Huntington Beach! I have sold out multiple times and have been doing very well! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. I started my business with no previous knowledge on how to do any of it! I just pushed myself in and began swimming. There have been countless learning lessons. I have struggled a lot with imposter syndrome’ thinking my work was not up to the standard it should be. I see now, however, it is an art. There is no box I need to be stuck in. I create my own. It took me until I did the “scariest wedding” of my life alone this year, where I learned I could really do anything if I tried hard enough. I had about ten close friends and family all showing support to help me get it done. A learning lesson and the absolute best feeling in the world. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a florist who focuses on whimsical floral design. I specialize in made-to-order flower arrangements & bouquets, along with weddings and events. I am known for eccentric colors and staggered heights. Not one of my arrangements is alike, as each one has its own blooms, which are not all similar. Flowers all have different ways in which they grow; for example, I will get a box of tulips, and one will have another bloom coming out the side! Almost like a separate life! I am most proud of wedding archways when I finish designing them or a really beautiful arrangement. I recently attended a wedding I had flowered for and could not contain my elation as I had the privilege of appreciating my work as it was. What sets me apart from others is I have built my business through word of mouth. I’ve networked all of my customers before I had a website this past summer. That was about two years of referrals that have kept my business alive! I have customers who will stay and talk to me for long periods of time just to catch up as well. It is my favorite thing in the world to be able to cultivate relationships based on my services to them and become friends. I value my customers and deeply care for them. Work doesn’t feel like work with this passion of mine. It will be my ninth year as a florist this year. But my third as a business owner this year. 

What does success mean to you?
I would define success as showing up to work every day, knowing it’s exactly where I want to be. Success is having this business. It’s when I’ve been processing flowers all day, forgot to eat, and have about ten more arrangements to make and I still am forgetting to eat! It’s embedded in my character this love of flowers. I will drive around and find flowers on the side of the road and get out to forage them! I would not need success to pursue this line of work. I would just need the will, like I have had all this time, to pursue something so in line with who I am. I come from a long line of gardeners and florists. My family in Holland owned a Tulip Farm before the war. Then came here on the Queen Mary and sold flowers to make it in America. I am deeply moved by the success of being able to even attempt to be successful with this business. 

Contact Info:

• Website: Littledarlinflora.com
• Instagram: Littledarlinflora
• Facebook: Littledarlinflora
• Yelp: Littledarlinflora

Image Credits
Jennymarkhamphoto