Botanical Brouhaha Podcast

In this episode, Natalie (my BB podcast co-host), Meg, and Erin of Native Poppy sit down with me to talk about  Flower Moments , their new book. We talk about everything: the 95-page proposal, the agent they emailed until she wrote back, and the publisher who came along at the perfect time. They also share what it took to write and photograph a floral design book around full-time jobs, young kids,...

Marsha Parker is back on the podcast two and a half years after her first visit in Ep. 118 , just before she retired from teaching high school and devoting her time to growing her floral business. A thriving three-time cancer survivor, she now runs Refined Gatherings full-time as a social enterprise, offering floral workshops for cancer survivors and social and emotional learning workshops for tee...

We're back with Semia Dunn who first joined us on the BB podcast back in Episode 35, sharing how she bought a flower shop at 22 and later launched Flowers by Semia (which was later rebranded as SEMIA ) and then The Floral Reserve , a wholesale flower company (built by a florist, for florists!). In this catch-up episode, Semia returns to reflect on what's changed and what hasn't. She talks candidly...

In this episode, we sat down with Bloom Trust Co and Circle member Shelley O'Neill, a former fourth-grade teacher turned florist who recently added a retail shop called  Oyster Flower Co. to her existing wedding flower business in Annapolis, Maryland! Shelley walks us through what pulled her into CIRCLE (we talk more about that in the episode), what's kept her in Bloom Trust Co. for three years ru...

In part two (Ep. 151) with Alex Vaughan of FLWR Shop in Nashville, Tennessee we dig into the real, tactical side of her decision to step away from wedding florals. Alex opens up about the politics and power dynamics of working with luxury wedding planners, the financial reality of pivoting to retail and corporate events, and how she and her husband Quinn split the business responsibilities between...

How Alex Vaughan Built a Beloved Flower Shop Alex Vaughan of  FLWR Shop in Nashville built her shop with her partner Quinn from nothing — no family money, no connections, just a rented house, a second mortgage, and a vision for what a flower shop in Nashville could be. In Episode 150, she traces the wild, winding path that took her from a hippie commune in the forest to a flower shop in Boston to...

We've waited so long for today's episode to drop (Ep. 149)! We're chatting with Sophie Felts, Founder and CEO of Sophie Felts Floral Co , along with her President and Director of Operations, Erica Gamble. We're thrilled to introduce them as the newest CIRCLE Weddings facilitators — and we think it'll be clear within the first few minutes of the interview that this was worth the wait. Based in the...

Decades in the Soil at Mountain Flower Farm Walt Krukowski didn't set out to become a flower grower for life — he just wanted to grow something, make a little money, and have the winters free to ski in Vermont. Nearly three decades later, Mountain Flower Farm has become a thriving operation across 10 acres, known for its organic peonies, hydrangeas, and the idea that growers and floral designers s...

Sarah Donjuan didn't set out to become a florist. In 2018, fresh out of business school and looking for a creative side hustle, she landed on a 1967 Volkswagen flower truck — and accidentally started a floral business with staying power in Atlanta. In this episode (Ep. 147), Sarah walks us through the full arc of JJ's Flower Truck and Shop: from a curtained kiosk at Ponce City Market to a 1,500-sq...

Building a Sweet Pea Seed Brand In this episode (Ep. 146), we sit down with Colleen Raney, founder of Songbird Seed Co and Diadem Flower Co. If you love a great story, this one's for you. Colleen's path into the flower world is anything but conventional. From studying aerospace engineering and training as a professional actor, to performing Irish music internationally, to building a flower farm in...

Linda D'Arco returns to the Botanical Brouhaha podcast nearly five years after her first appearance to share what's changed since we last spoke. Based in northern New York, Linda is the founder of Little Farmhouse Flowers and Ampersand Bulb Co. , and she brings a valuable, behind-the-scenes perspective on importing flower bulbs, ethical sourcing, and sustainable supply chains. Drawing from firstha...

In this bonus episode, Amy and Natalie take a deep dive into Bloom Trust Co. CIRCLE—what it is, why they started it nearly five years ago, and how it's evolved since that very first session in 2021. They reflect on how CIRCLE grew from just an idea about how to connect with other florists into a trusted, small-group community for florists who want a safe, candid space to talk about the real work o...

Redefining Success as a Florist In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 144), we're visiting with Evelyn Krebs, a Swiss florist, shop owner, and creative entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience in the floral industry. As founder and owner of Stil & Stiele in Zurich, Switzerland, Evelyn shares what 25 years of shop ownership taught her about growth, courage, and building a business that act...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 143), we're visiting with Evelyn Streeter, founder and owner of Eve Floral Co in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our conversation follows Evelyn's deeply personal and inspiring journey as a florist who grew up in the middle of the hum of her mother's small-town flower shop in Michigan. What began as a family trade became both a lifeline and a legacy when Evelyn unexpectedly to...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 142), we're visiting with Diane Szukovathy, co-owner of Jello Mold Farm in western Washington and a founding member of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market Cooperative . Diane shares her decades of experience as a flower farmer and cooperative leader, discussing the realities of small-scale farming, the importance of industry standards, and the newly released Flo...

From Summer Job to Wedding Legacy In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 141), we're visiting with Amanda Theodoropoulos of Twisted Willow Flowers in Princeton, New Jersey. What began as Amanda's teenaged plea for a summer job unexpectedly blossomed into a thriving floral design business that now supports two households - hers and her mothers. In this episode, Amanda shares how she and her mom transfo...

From Chopping Stems to Calling the Shots In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 140), we're visiting with Juliana McWilliams, owner of Sweet Memories Flowers in Visalia, California. Julia grew up in her mother's shop, where she began experimenting with floral design at just 11 years old—using leftover materials and eventually reverse-engineering corsages when customers began asking for them. What star...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 139), we're visiting with world-renowned floral artist Kiana Underwood and her husband and business partner, Nate Underwood. Eight years after their first appearance on the Botanical Brouhaha podcast, we invited them back to reflect on the massive evolution of their business, Tulipina —from planting bulbs on their New York farm to becoming a global floral powerho...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 138), we're visiting with Janelle Gerestein—better known as Janie of Flowers by Janie —a Calgary-based floral designer whose career spans over two decades and multiple continents. From her early dreams of becoming a wedding florist to launching a successful business in Bolivia, then rebuilding from scratch in Canada, Janie's story is a testament to resilience, cr...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 137), we're visiting with Wilfred de Wit, founder and CEO of  iBuyFlowers where florists and event planners can shop online for wholesale flowers directly from 100+ farms in both the US and abroad. Will shares his background in the floral industry and the challenges he witnessed, leading to the inception of his company. The conversation covers the importance of t...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 136), we're visiting with Rachael Lunghi, owner of Siren Floral Co based in Southern California. Siren Floral Co was born out of a wedding and event planning company Rachael founded initially. Her love of flowers led her to eventually focus on floristry full time. Since that time, Rachael has developed a style all her own that's easily recognized and sought after...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 135), we're revisiting Chloe Murray, CEO/Creative Director of MUD Urban Flowers in Glasgow, Scotland and our second guest ever back in 2017 ( Ep. 3 ) when the BB Podcast was just getting started. When we last visited, Chloe was only a couple of months into her new business and absolutely on fire! She was seeing quick growth and loving the process. Fast forward to...

Building Olivee Floral In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 134), we're visiting with Karla Smith-Brown, founder of  Olivee Floral . Karla's inspiring journey evolved from a career in public relations to becoming a successful floral artist. Her story isn't just about flowers; it's about weaving passion, sustainability, and heritage with personal connections to make a powerful impact. Starting out, K...

A Vision for Sustainable Funeral Flowers In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 133), we're visiting with Carole Patilla, co-founder of the Farewell Flowers Directory and owner of Tuckshop Flowers . She joined forces with Gill Hodgson, founder of Flowers from the Farm , to address a need in the floral industry that is often overlooked and avoided — sustainable funeral flowers. This conversation will b...

In today's BB Podcast episode (No. 132), we're visiting with Layla Robinson , a creative force in the flower industry known for her specialization in dried flower arrangements and installations. This conversation is specifically for you if: 1) you're interested in dried flowers or 2) you're struggling to find your niche in the floral industry. Layla's journey into the flower industry began over 15...