Budding florist sees business bloom in Dartmouth

Feb 6, 2022

Growing up, Dartmouth resident Lily Berube would go on hikes with her mom and sister and was drawn to the flowers and would see which ones would go best together.

While initially just a fascination, the 20-year-old has turned that love into her own home-run business named “Little Fern Florals.”

“I just thought I’m a small business — I’m a little fern,” she said with a laugh.

The idea to start the business came about when her classes at UMass Amherst went remote in early 2020.

Berube said while at home, her mom suggested she make some wreaths ahead of that year’s holiday season. After assembling seven bouquets, she posted some photos to social media to see if there was any interest in buying her creations.

All seven sold in one day.

“From there I thought, ‘Okay, I can do something with this,’” she said.

After Thanksgiving of 2020, the then 19-year-old got 35 orders for bouquets and wreaths and has been working on arrangements ever since.

“It all happened very fast,” she said. “I definitely did not expect things to pick up.”

Berube said while she had her interest in nature as a child, she didn’t begin to fully appreciate it until she began attending the Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton. She said it was thanks to her instructors there that they encouraged her to follow her passion for flowers through the school’s floriculture program.

“I love Aggie,” she said. “They made me who I am, that’s for sure.”

Ultimately, she hopes to become a vocational educator like the ones who inspired her.

Now at UMass Amherst, the Dartmouth florist is working on a bachelor's degree in horticultural science and a minor in natural resource conservation. 

The college student said she’s been trying to take what she’s learning to help her in her business venture — particularly, how to better source local plants that can last longer in the New England climate.

“You really want to keep everything all together within your town,” she said. “Stuff is usually a lot fresher than when you get something shipped from say Florida.”

The Dartmouth resident said she tries to source most of her flowers from nearby woods, along from farms and wholesalers in the area.

What she enjoys most about being a florist is how it allows her to be creative and experiment with different combinations of plants like zinnias and dahlias.

“It’s always changing,” Berube said. “I’m never making the same thing twice.”

Her favorite kind of arrangements to make, she said, are for funerals. 

“I know a lot of people think they’re morbid,” she said. “But I see them as a way to honor someone’s life.”

The 20-year-old also enjoys working on arrangements for bridal showers.

“It’s a special moment and you really want them to remember it,” she said.

Getting a business off the ground was certainly a learning curve, Berube said.

“Sometimes I’d over-order or under-order,” she said. “Like with any business, it’s very experimental.”

Thankfully, she said, there’s been a lot of help along the way from family to establish the logistics of running her venture and their ability to get word out.

The young florist also tries to get some advice from her former instructors at the Agricultural High School.

“You have to take your pride aside and learn from others,” she said. “They’re just trying to help you succeed.”

So far, business has been good for the Dartmouth resident and she’s looking forward to seeing where her business goes.

“I definitely want to keep trying and growing,” Berube said. “I’m very happy with things.”

To request a floral arrangement, email Berube at littlefernfloralss@gmail.com.