Flowers changed Erica Holland's life. Now she's helping bring that experience to people across St. Pete.
In Episode 101 of Talkin' St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Erica Holland, owner of Roaming Petal, to talk about the journey that took her from graphic design and international travel to building one of St. Petersburg's most unique creative businesses.
Erica shares how a trip to Bali introduced her to a culture where flowers are part of everyday life. That experience changed the way she viewed flowers and inspired an idea that would eventually become Roaming Petal.
What started as a flower workshop business operating out of an apartment and garage has grown into a storefront, workshop space, and community gathering place in St. Pete. Today, Roaming Petal hosts private events, corporate workshops, public classes, and creative experiences designed to help people step away from their screens and spend time creating something with their hands.
Throughout the conversation, Erica explains why her mission was never to train professional florists. Instead, she wanted to make flower arranging approachable for everyday people who want to learn a new skill, spend time with friends, celebrate a special occasion, or simply try something different.
The conversation also covers:
- How Bali inspired the creation of Roaming Petal
- Starting a business in St. Pete from the ground up
- Growing from an apartment to a dedicated storefront
- Mobile flower workshops across St. Petersburg
- Private events, corporate workshops, and public classes
- Why creativity and hands-on experiences matter
- How flowers can help people slow down and be present
- Creating a flower dress for Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts
- Tips for keeping flowers fresh longer
- Common mistakes people make when caring for flowers
- The surprising statistic about men receiving flowers
- Working with Ronald McDonald House and the Children's Cancer Center
- The role St. Pete's business community played in Roaming Petal's growth
One of the most memorable parts of the conversation is Erica's story about bringing flowers to families staying at Ronald McDonald House and hosting workshops for mothers at the Children's Cancer Center. Those experiences reinforced her belief that flowers can do more than decorate a room. They can create moments of connection, comfort, and joy during difficult times.
Erica also shares practical flower care tips, lessons learned from building a business, and why St. Pete's collaborative community helped Roaming Petal grow into what it is today.
If you're interested in local businesses, entrepreneurship, creativity, wellness, or discovering unique experiences around St. Pete, this is a conversation worth watching.
🎙️ Real conversations with people shaping St. Pete.
➜ Follow The Roaming Petal on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theroamingpetal/
➜ Book a private workshop: https://trppetaltribe.mykajabi.com/
➜ The Roaming Petal Website: https://www.theroamingpetal.com/
➜ Follow Ryan Bogden on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ryan.bogden/
➜ Subscribe to Talkin’ St. Pete on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLQaOD7_fKqYL_XzXaDN5Q
➜ Interested in being a guest on the show?
https://linktr.ee/talkinstpete
➜ Ryan Bogden is a licensed REALTOR®.
➜ Sponsored by Bogden Homes:
https://www.bogdenhomes.com
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