Our Story

I’m Zhanna, founder of Pretty Flower Farm.

Faith, family and flowers are the cornerstones of my life.

My love of flowers began when I was a young girl working and playing on my father’s tulip farm. Each year our family would prepare the soil, plant the tulip bulbs and get ready to watch them bloom. I remember laughing with my siblings, having my hands in the earth and enjoying nature. Seeing the first tulip blossom in early spring was always an exciting time in our house. To this day I am still in awe of the way flowers grow. 

When I was eleven, our family suffered a devastating loss, my mother lost her battle with cancer. Had it not been for the values I learned while working on the farm alongside my mother, father and siblings, I don’t know how I would have made it through that time. 

The two years following my mother’s passing were difficult. My father changed careers and our tulip farm was long forgotten. However, from that day on, I dreamed of one day having my own greenhouse, where I could plant and grow flowers. In 2000, my father moved our family to the United States as refugees to build a new life. I am forever thankful to him for his bravery and love. He encouraged me to do well in school, attend church and to live from a place of gratitude. 

When I was thirteen, I joined a youth group at our church. It was through that group that I met Pavel, the man who would one day be my husband. We were good friends growing up and fell in love after high school. We started a family and our life together continues to be blessed by God. 

Pavel and I have eleven beautiful children. Long before my oldest was born, I wished that I would have an opportunity to share my connection to flowers with them and teach them all of the values my mother and father taught me.

My life has been filled with unexpected gifts. Discovering an article in Magnolia magazine about Erin Benzakein, owner of Floret was one of them. Miraculously, Erin’s farm is a twenty minute drive from my home. I was inspired, and wanted to learn everything about owning and operating a flower farm. A year later I signed up for a workshop at Floret. Erin shared her knowledge, passion and generous spirit with the workshop attendees. The information she provided combined with her kindness and support empowered me to develop the skills I needed to get started. I persevered, and in 2019, I opened Pretty Flower Farm. My dream of having flowers in my life again became a reality. These days when I am making bouquets I seem to have a line of at least four of my children by my side creating their own posies. Nothing in the world brings me more joy than to watch them find their own connection to flowers.

Thank you to Pavel, my children, my siblings and family, Erin at Floret, Magnolia magazine, and everyone that has supported me and cheered for me on my floral journey. I am endlessly grateful to do what I love everyday and bring flowers to our wonderful community.