In August 2021, the Dixie Fire destroyed the small northern California town of Greenville. L.A. Times staff writer Diana Marcum wrote about Kjessie Essue, a flower farmer who was raised there, survived that tragedy, and is now planting hope. Marcum joined host Lisa McRee on LA Times Today with more. 

Marcum talked about Essue, who lives in nearby Taylorsville, and her experience during the Dixie Fire.  

"Kjessie and her family were evacuated over and over and over again, all summer long, like so many people in the Dixie Fire. They had a lot to worry about. She had her house, they had livestock. But she just couldn't stop thinking about her flower garden. This whole time, she was most worried about her flowers. One neighbor had stayed behind because she was a rancher and was trying to take care of her herd. And she watered [Essue's] flowers," Marcum shared.

Marcum said Essue's flowers survived the fire and inspired her to do more. 

"She got home from evacuating and her garden was still there. All these flowers were still there. She thought it was a sign. She'd thought a long time about doing a flower garden, a business. She also sells to farmers markets, but most of it is subscription based. People sign up to get flowers once a week or once a month," Marcum said.

Essue worried initially that selling flowers would seem trivial to her neighbors who had gone through such a traumatic event. But, Marcum said, the cheer the flower deliveries bring is palpable.  

"She sold out her subscription service within a week. They deliver the flowers, even to Greenville, where the destruction is at its worst. Some of the houses survived, but all around them is destruction. And that can be really wearing. I went around on delivery day and people just immediately, you know, buried their face in the blooms. A couple even got teary-eyed. They have told her that beauty has never been more important," Marcum shared.

Essue's husband Andre and their young children help out on delivery day. Marcum detailed how Essue wants to expand her flower business.

"She wants to make 80,000 a year eventually, which in the mountain communities would support a family. Beyond that, she has even bigger dreams. Maybe she could provide jobs in an area that jobs are hard to come by and maybe teach other people how to grow flowers in the Sierra, because so many people told her it couldn't be done," she said. 

Watch the full interview above. 

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