Wow.
It had been a…read morecouple of years since I first became aware of Bloom Ranch. I'm not originally from California, but in the spaces I've moved through, I've always done my best to support Black-owned businesses whenever possible. Unbeknownst to me, I had no idea Bloom Ranch hosted a jazz brunch experience on the property.
I was reminded about Bloom Ranch by someone whose opinion I trust deeply. She had traveled all the way from San Diego for the experience and left without words. She couldn't quite explain the levity, the love, the light, or what she had felt there. That was all I needed to know. I immediately booked a Sunday brunch and came with my partner and another couple.
The experience begins long before you arrive.
Driving from Pasadena into Acton, the landscape slowly transforms. The city gives way to rocky hills, rugged peaks, and wide-open skies. Then suddenly, you turn into Bloom Ranch and find yourself transported. Lush gardens, lavender, herbs, fruit trees, and rows of vibrant greenery welcome you onto the property. It feels as though you've stepped into another world entirely.
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed not only by the Bloom Ranch staff, the people who steward and cultivate the land, but by what genuinely felt like family.
From start to finish, we were cared for, supported, and guided through an experience that felt intentional in every way.
The soulful jazz music would periodically pull you out of conversation because it was simply too beautiful not to fully absorb. The food was prepared in-house, sourced from the land, and served by people whose care and intention could be felt in every detail.
What surprised me most was how spiritual the experience felt.
There is something profoundly grounding about being surrounded by people who genuinely love the land, nurture it, and share its abundance with others. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, Bloom Ranch offers something increasingly rare, presence. It invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and remember your connection to nature, community, and yourself.
I am filled with immense gratitude for having experienced something so special, created by people who look like me, people who feel like me, people who are intentionally cultivating peace, connection, stewardship of the land, and community.
I was also filled with an incredible sense of pride. Bloom Ranch is the largest Black-owned ranch in Los Angeles County, and its existence feels both meaningful and necessary. Dr. Bill Releford is a beacon, a pillar of optimism, wisdom, and possibility. To witness someone carry the values and lessons of his upbringing through a successful medical career and into the creation and stewardship of Bloom Ranch is truly inspiring.
And then there is Debra Releford, the Matriarch, whose warmth and presence seem to illuminate the heart and soul of the ranch itself.
To say that I will return almost feels inadequate. It makes it sound like Bloom Ranch is simply a venue where one has an experience and then goes home. That is not what this felt like. What it felt like was being welcomed into a family. Into a community. Into a frequency of love, joy, nourishment, and belonging that has been needed for a very long time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Dr. Bill Releford, Debra, and the entire team who made this experience possible. What you have created is deeply meaningful.
Forever grateful.
