Leaving the cut and dry world behind to pursue a love for flowers
By Liz Dennerlein
When Dana Vargo left her corporate job in the insurance world, she knew she wanted to pursue a career that meant more to her.
And for Vargo, that entailed flower farming.

“I didn’t garden before. I wasn’t sure if I was even going to like it or not,” Vargo said. “I knew I wanted to do it, but I didn’t know why.”
Vargo is the founder of Flowers From the Farm in Farmingdale, where she grows and designs a variety of flowers in small quantities. She grows dahlias, lilies, eucalyptus, lavender, salvia, mint, nasturtiums, Ammi and more.
Before diving headfirst into the flower industry, she spent years working with medical malpractice insurance — a job she described as cut and dry.
“Now, I surround myself with artisans, and crafters and people who have a more artistic nature,” Vargo said. “Before, it was a colder environment. Now, I can surround myself with the type of people I want to be.”
It didn’t take long for Vargo to learn how to grow and arrange flowers. She took one floral design class, where she quickly caught on.
“I just knew how to do it. It’s one of those things where either you have it or you don’t,” Vargo said, “like someone who knows how to play piano or who knows math. When you find what you’re supposed to do, it just comes naturally.”

Vargo said she didn’t fully realize how unhappy she was in her former career until she started seeing the results of her hard work. She was able to witness firsthand her work transform from seed to plant.
Seeing customers’ reactions only added to her excitement.
“(When) people look at the flowers, they literally smile all the time,” she said. “Even if you’re not necessarily buying the flowers … if you walk by me and see them, you instantly smile. They kind of light you up. It instills something in everybody. That’s something you don’t find everyday.”

Check out Flowers From the Farm on Instagram to learn more.
