A life in bloom

Submitted photo
Seanne Buckwalter in her seasonal flower garden at their farm. Buckwalter founded Buck and Bloom Acres, a seasonal flower farm northeast of Mantorville.

Seanne (Patrick) Buckwalter never imagined living on a farm in Minnesota while growing up on the south side of Chicago. She is one of six children, the fourth oldest in a hardworking family. Her parents chose the Gaelic spelling of Sean before knowing they’d be welcoming a daughter.
Sports were a major part of her high school years, and she often helped with her family’s carpet installation business, learning early the value of hard work. Family trips to national parks in the western United States sparked her lifelong love of nature — a love that would eventually become central to Buck & Bloom Acres.
She attended Saint Mary’s College at Notre Dame, Ind., earning degrees in biology and history while playing softball. After graduation, she worked as a biological science technician at Indiana Dunes National Park, focusing on prairie restoration and fire response. Her interest in ecology led her to Idaho State University, where she completed her Master’s Degree.
Pat Buckwalter grew up northeast of Mantorville on his family’s farm with his brother Andy. A KM graduate, he participated in track and cross?country before earning his bachelor of science in biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth. He later completed his Master’s Degree at Idaho State University, where he and Seanne met — their first date was a cross?country ski outing.
The couple moved to Fort Collins, Colo., and married in 1999, where Pat worked as a research associate at Colorado State University and Seanne worked with the U.S. Geological Survey.
In 2001, Pat had the opportunity to join his father and brother in the family farming operation, prompting their move back to Mantorville. Pat went on to earn a second Master’s Degree in agronomy from Iowa State University.
Seanne briefly worked at Whiting’s Nursery before joining Mayo Clinic in 2002. She has now been at Mayo for nearly 25 years and serves as a principal developer in the mycobacteriology/mycology lab, as well as an assistant professor of laboratory medicine and pathology. She develops molecular assays for clinical use and played a key role in creating early COVID?19 testing.
With a family history of entrepreneurship and a deep love of plants, Seanne launched Buck & Bloom Acres, located four miles northeast of Mantorville. What began as a small flower garden has grown into a thriving seasonal flower farm known for its fresh?cut blooms, u?pick experiences, subscription bouquets, and custom arrangements for weddings and special occasions.
Seanne’s background in ecology and horticulture shapes the farm’s aesthetic — natural, abundant, and rooted in the landscape of southeastern Minnesota. Pat and their sons, Jake and Charlie, help prepare the gardens each spring, and the family also maintains a large vegetable garden in raised beds.
Buck & Bloom Acres has grown steadily through word of mouth, community events, farmers markets, and Seanne’s active use of social media, where she shares bloom updates, bouquet offerings, and behind?the?scenes glimpses of farm life. The farm’s website, buckandbloomacres.com, and Facebook page provide seasonal information, contact details, and previews of upcoming offerings.
Outside her work and business, Seanne enjoys hunting and hiking with Pat and their sons, reading crime novels, cross?country skiing, and canning produce from her garden. She has been a University of Minnesota Master Gardener for more than 20 years and volunteers to support community education in gardening and horticulture. She served on the Oxbow Park Board for ten years and was involved in planning the new nature center. She has also contributed to Marigold Days and science fair programs at the KM School.
Pat serves as the vice president of the Al?Corn Fuel board and is also involved with the University of Minnesota Extension committee, continuing his leadership in local agriculture.
Jake and Charlie, who will be juniors at KM School, are active in sports and both love baseball. The Buckwalter’s enjoy visiting and hiking National Parks, and have recently added MLB stadiums to their family travel adventures.
Seanne considers fieldwork like the fall harvest and soil sampling one of the great joys of her life. She loves the quiet, the space, the stars, and the chance to live close to nature. Buck & Bloom Acres is a natural extension of that love, and she looks forward to expanding the flower offerings next season and welcoming even more visitors to the farm.