Today we’d like to introduce you to Yelitza Quintero.
Hi Yelitza, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to the United States from Venezuela in 2018, carrying with me the courage to start over, the nostalgia of leaving my home, and the hope of building a new life. A year later, something unexpected happened that shifted my path forever. I visited the Tulip Festival for the first time, and what I experienced there felt almost magical. Being surrounded by fields of vibrant colors, thousands of blooms dancing with the wind, and the gentle fragrance of flowers everywhere awakened something inside me. It was a sensory and emotional “calling” — a feeling of beauty, peace, and belonging that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It reminded me that even after being uprooted, we can bloom again.
That moment planted a seed in me. I began taking floral design workshops and courses, learning with curiosity and passion. I launched my online flower shop shortly after. I later joined a florist network — an experience that, although challenging and not what I hoped for, taught me valuable lessons about the industry and strengthened my resilience. It showed me what I did not want to become, and pushed me to trust my own vision. Eventually, with faith and determination, I left my regular job to dedicate myself fully to this dream. The process was slow, but my heart was in it — and that kept me going.
From the very beginning, I knew I didn’t want to be “just a florist.” I wanted every floral piece to carry intention, emotion, and a story. Flowers speak a language that words sometimes cannot — so I began sharing the stories behind them in my social media posts, honoring the love, gratitude, celebrations, and even the healing moments that each bouquet represents.
As my business blossomed, so did my purpose. Flowers had helped me reconnect with myself in a difficult stage of life, and I felt called to share that gift with others. I started volunteering with non-profit organizations and created a workshop designed to support emotional well-being through sensory floral experiences. In these spaces, I guide women to reconnect with their emotions, their inner voice, and their sense of self — using flowers as a tool for healing, reflection, and transformation.
Today, I continue to serve my customers — many of them men looking for meaningful ways to express love — and I also lead emotional-connection floral workshops for women. My journey has taught me that flowers don’t just decorate life’s moments — they heal, they speak, they hold stories, and they remind us that even after the hardest winters, we are capable of blooming again.
My hope is that through my work, others feel seen, held, and inspired to florecer por dentro — to bloom from within.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has definitely not been smooth.
Starting a new life in a different country comes with many invisible challenges. When I moved to the United States, I had to adapt to a new culture, a new language, and the reality of beginning again from zero. Even with previous entrepreneurial experience, stepping into a completely new industry in a foreign country felt overwhelming at times. There were moments when I doubted myself, questioned my abilities, and battled the fear of not being “enough” especially while learning everything from scratch.
Financially, the beginning was tough. I didn’t have the resources to start with a full shop or a large inventory, so I began slowly, with what I had, and built from there. I also experienced disappointment and hurt when I joined a florist network hoping to learn and grow, but instead faced negativity and situations that did not align with my values. However, those experiences, although painful, taught me resilience and clarity, they showed me the kind of businesswoman, leader, and human I wanted to become.
A big turning point in my journey came when I was diagnosed with ADHD. For a long time, I struggled internally, feeling that my mind worked differently, and I often felt misunderstood — even by myself. Receiving this diagnosis didn’t break me; it opened a door of self-compassion and discovery. It inspired me to learn about mental health, emotional awareness, and how our minds and hearts need safe spaces to express and regulate feelings. That is what awakened my desire to integrate mindfulness, sensory experiences, and emotional healing into my work with flowers.
My struggles helped me understand that flowers are not just beautiful objects — they can be a tool for grounding, presence, and emotional connection. Through mindfulness with flowers, we can learn to slow down, breathe, feel, and come back to the present moment — something that has been life-changing for me personally, and now for the women I guide.
The road has been filled with challenges, but each one became a lesson that allowed me to grow, to heal, and to give more meaning to what I do. Today, I can say that the obstacles didn’t stop me — they shaped my purpose.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work goes beyond traditional floristry. I am a floral artist, a creative, and the founder of Yeli’s Flowers & Gifts, where I combine floral design, storytelling, and emotional well-being to create meaningful experiences rather than just beautiful arrangements. I specialize in intentional floristry. every bouquet is designed with purpose, emotion, and a story behind it.
What I am most known for is the way I connect flowers with the heart. Many of my clients, especially men, come to me because they want to express love, gratitude, or support in a meaningful way, and I guide them to choose arrangements that speak on their behalf. I believe flowers have a language of their own — they communicate, honor, hold memories, and heal.
What sets me apart is that I don’t see flowers as a product; I see them as a tool for connection, presence, and transformation. Alongside my floral studio, I created a workshop called Florece por Dentro (“Bloom From Within”), where I guide women through sensory floral experiences that integrate mindfulness, emotional awareness, and self-expression. Through these workshops, I help women reconnect with themselves using flowers as a bridge to heal, reflect, and bloom from the inside out.
I am most proud of the impact my work has had in my community. From the bouquets that carry emotional meaning to the workshops that help women feel seen, supported, and empowered, I’ve witnessed how flowers can change someone’s day and sometimes, their life. Bringing beauty, connection, and emotional well-being together is the heart of my mission.
What truly sets my work apart is the combination of art, soul, and purpose. I don’t just create floral arrangements, I create moments, memories, and spaces where people can feel, heal, and bloom.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are several people and communities who have played a meaningful role in my journey, and I am deeply grateful for each of them.
First, my husband, Hugo Peña, deserves a great deal of credit. He has believed in me even in the moments when I doubted myself, and his support has been exceptional. His encouragement has given me the strength to continue growing, creating, and staying faithful to my purpose.
My children have also been a source of inspiration, especially my oldest daughter, Mimi. She has been one of my greatest teachers — in life, in resilience, and in understanding the importance of emotional connection. Through her, I have learned to see the world with more compassion, patience, and love.
I am also grateful to the organizations that opened their doors to me, allowing me to share the beauty of connecting with nature through flowers. These opportunities helped shape my vision of using floristry not only as art, but as a pathway to healing and emotional well-being.
I want to give special recognition to my clients, who have trusted me with their most meaningful moments — birthdays, anniversaries, births, loss, apologies, and love stories. Many of them, especially my male clients, have allowed me to guide them in expressing emotions through flowers. Their trust has not only helped my business grow, but has also inspired me to continue creating with heart and intention.
Additionally, the professionals who have joined me on my YouTube platform to speak about mental health and emotional wellness have played an important role. They have supported my mission to open conversations within the Latino community (a community that is often very reserved and hesitant when it comes to mental health). Their willingness to share knowledge and guidance has helped break stigmas and create more awareness, understanding, and support for emotional well-being.
I truly believe that my journey has been guided not only by my own efforts, but by the love, trust, wisdom, and generosity of the people who chose to walk with me along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yeliflowers.com
- Instagram: @yeli_flowers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yeliflowersandgift/#
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YeliFlowersGifts
