Amelia started Rooted Farmers in 2019 after seeing opportunities to improve the business of farming for flower growers. As a flower grower herself, she found that she was spending far too much time on the administration of her farm and the process of selling: hours dedicated to inventory management, availability lists, managing multiple sales channels (wholesale, CSAs, etc.), order management and generating harvest lists were coming at the expense of her ability to produce more flowers, and she knew that there had to be a better way.  After extensive research of existing sales platforms and add-ons, she realized that none of them effectively solved the problems specific to the nuances of flower farming.

Amelia is passionate about improving access to locally-grown flowers, and is so excited to be working alongside hundreds of growers and florists across the country; together, they are building resources and tools to solve challenges facing those in our industry

Amelia Ihlo

Lillian Calhoun

Calhoun Flower Farm

You can find the gals at Calhoun Flower Farms (mom Diane and daughters Susannah and Lillian) at the spot where the Rio Grande crosses from New Mexico into Texas – a fertile river valley bordered by desert landscapes. These 4th generation farmers supply field-grown flowers and botanical items to local groceries, boutique markets, and florists in El Paso, Texas, and New Mexico.

A little more than ten years ago, eldest daughter Emily Calhoun James planted a few flowers in between the rows of pecan trees on our farm. Emily now owns Floriography and Florecita floral design companies based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and continues to prioritize locally grown cut flowers in her designs. Thanks to Emily’s ground-breaking efforts (pun absolutely intended), a little bit of luck and a lot of love, we have blossomed into the largest specialty cut flower farm in southern New Mexico. We are known for our colorful selection of annuals and perennials and the magical ways they make our specialty creations unique and memorable. 

Rhea was born in Colorado and raised on the East and West coasts.  Flowers have been calling to her for as long as she can remember.  Some of her sweetest childhood memories are of exploring all the growing things in the fields and forests near her home.  After receiving a BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, Rhea moved to Manhattan and worked as an interior designer. In 2011 she returned to Richmond and founded Photosynthesis Floral Design.  Her interior design background is particularly helpful when working on weddings and events because she takes the whole environment into consideration, allowing for the overall designs to feel like they naturally belong in the space.  

Her approach to florals can be considered both wild and cultivated.  Fascinated with the ephemeral beauty of flowers, she sees floral design as an impermanent form of sculpture and is particularly inspired by the movement each bloom or green creates.  

As the business has grown, so has Rhea’s recognition that floral design is the ideal medium to express her love for nature, art and design, and to bring joy and happiness to others.