The Florist's Table

For the very first episode of Thorns & All, Abby Chick sits down with two people who changed the trajectory of her own business: Natalie Gill and Meg Blancato, co-owners of Native Poppy in San Diego. What started as one storefront (and a cold-call email that read "I don't have a lot of experience, but I'm a joy to be around") has grown into a floral powerhouse — retail shops, large-scale weddings,...

After 30 years designing weddings and events, Susan Davis knows the reality: florists need to show clients their vision before they build it, communicate clearly with their team, and execute flawlessly, all while maintaining creative control. That's why she created BloomVision, a tool built specifically for the way florists actually work. With professional templates, a curated flower library, and...

  In this episode of Beautiful People at the Florist's Table, Val McNichols sits down with Pennylyn Woosley, founder of Blossom and Bee Floral in New Jersey. Pennylyn shares how growing up in her family's garden center shaped her path — even as she tried to escape it — and how a degree in business and finance ultimately became one of her greatest assets as a floral designer. She opens up about the...

Join Yvonne Ashton as she discusses with three seasoned florists their biggest failures and how these moments became pivotal for their growth. Discover how confidence, preparation, and resilience can turn errors into valuable lessons. Ellie Siegel discusses overcoming self-doubt, Patty Nix recounts recovering from a wind-toppled arbor, and Sara Lunn reveals how candle wax disasters fueled her grow...

In this episode of  The Florist's Table: Beautiful People , Val McNichols sits down with floral artist and content creator Trey Brown, founder of Trey J Creates. Trey shares how he approaches floral design as storytelling—creating pieces that draw people in, spark emotion, and invite a second look. From his standout Wicked-inspired installation to his signature use of texture and movement, his wor...

What does it mean to feel both content where you are and called to something more? In this episode, host Val McNichols sits down with Jen Cavender of Nectar & Bloom for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, intuition, and building a life in floral design that feels aligned. Jen's journey began on her family's produce farm, where she grew and sold flowers alongside her sister. Though she late...

Ever feel like Instagram is working against you instead of for you? You're not alone. In this episode, Yvonne Ashton, Ali Zimmerman, and Ana Romero from the Mayesh marketing team get brutally honest about Instagram's biggest frustrations—from the 90-second song limit and shadow-banning to the verification process that feels impossible, the collaboration caps that hurt our industry, and the schedul...

What does it mean to build a creative business on your own terms? In this episode, host Val McNichols sits down with Glory Barbaris of Wildflower Hill Co. for an honest conversation about intuition, identity, and staying aligned with your values. Glory's path to floral design wasn't traditional. From tech to nonprofit work to wedding styling, she taught herself the craft and let emotion guide her...

Pull up a chair and join us for the very first episode of The Florist's Table. Host Yvonne Ashton welcomes three past Mayesh Design Stars to discuss Pantone's controversial 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer. When the announcement dropped, reactions ranged from disappointment to outright mockery (one designer called it "plain toast and deconstructed water"). But is white really that boring, or a...

Join host Yvonne Ashton for a special Holland edition of Mornings with Mayesh! In this episode, we sit down with Natasha Barnhill, Charlotte Branch Manager, and Jenna Duncan, Raleigh Buyer, who recently returned from an unforgettable trip to the Netherlands. Natasha and Jenna take us behind the scenes of their floral adventure, from gliding through canals on a boat to visit stunning lilac farms, t...

What does it take to build a floral business rooted in whimsy, authenticity, and community? In this episode of Mornings with Mayesh, we sit down with Camille Craig, owner of New Leaf Floral Design in Seattle, Washington, to find out. Camille's journey into floral design started in her mother's garden, where she'd gather fistfuls of blooms and present them with pure childhood excitement. Twenty yea...

Join Yvonne Ashton and David Dahlson for an exciting episode of Mornings with Mayesh as they unveil two game-changing updates for the floral industry. First, David introduces Mayesh's newest farm partner, Designer Cut Flowers from Guatemala, and their stunning collection of cymbidium orchids. These blooms fill the seasonal gap between New Zealand and Holland's availability, offering florists gorge...

Tired of working six days a week, chasing one-off weddings, and feeling trapped in the seasonal ups and downs of the event floral world? This episode is your roadmap to freedom.  Host Yvonne Ashton sits down with Franceska McCaughan, international floral strategist and founder of The Hotel Florist®, who has revolutionized how florists think about sustainable income. From her beginnings in foster c...

What are the top 6 flowers you absolutely need to know about right now? Join host Yvonne Ashton as she welcomes back resident flower guru David Dahlson for another exciting flower show and tell on Mornings with Mayesh! In this episode, we reveal the top 6 stunning flower varieties that every florist, designer, and flower enthusiast needs to know about. David shares his expert insights on timing, a...

Missed last week's live stream? Catch the replay! Host Yvonne Ashton sits down with David Dahlson to explore the incredible wave of new varieties from Rosaprima and Floraprima – over 35 introductions in just six months! Discover stunning new roses like Superstition, Champagnier, and Popcorn, plus beautiful ranunculus varieties including Cloni Nuance and Cloni Nebbia. Get the insider perspective fr...

What if flowers could be more than beautiful arrangements? What if they could be community art, television content, and catalysts for human connection in the most unexpected places? In this episode of Mornings with Mayesh, we sit down with Katie Lila, the visionary Flower Director behind Flowers For People and creator-host of the PBS series "FOLLOW THE BLOOMS." Broadcasting from Spokane, Katie sha...

Join us for an exclusive look at the 2025 AIFD Symposium "Reflection" happening July 12-15 in Palm Springs! We sit down with symposium chair Lori Novak, a 45-year floral industry veteran, and Susan McLeary, who will be presenting at the 2026 symposium. Together, they share insider details about AIFD's 60th anniversary celebration, standout programming, what first-time attendees can expect, and adv...

Join host Yvonne for an inspiring conversation with Charity Reel, Vice President of Sales at Mayesh Wholesale Floral Distributors. In this episode, Charity shares her journey from selling freight services to leading national sales operations across Mayesh's 20+ locations in 13 states. With nearly three decades at Mayesh, Charity offers insights into effective sales leadership in the floral industr...

In this illuminating episode of Mornings with Mayesh, we dive deep into the transformative power of continuing education in the floral industry with Kristen Pulcheon, Executive Director of Fiori Florals Design Studio in Central Ohio. Since launching in January 2020, Kristen has built Fiori into a powerhouse that executes nearly $2 million in events annually. Drawing from her 20-year journey throug...

Join host Yvonne Ashton as she sits down with celebrated floral artist and educator Susan McLeary in this enlightening episode of Mornings with Mayesh. Susan, known for her boundary-pushing floral art and wearables, shares insights into her revolutionary "floral constellation" techniques that are transforming how designers approach wedding personals and wearable pieces. In this conversation, Sue r...

If you missed our recent "Mornings with Mayesh" live episode, don't worry, we've got you! Yvonne welcomed Mayesh's own globe-trotting flower specialist, David Dahlson, for an eye-opening presentation on new concept wholesale spray garden roses that left viewers buzzing with excitement and inspiration. This recap captures the highlights of that informative session, where David shared his insights o...

The latest replay of Mornings with Mayesh, features floral design expert Amy Balsters of The Floral Coach! In this episode, we explore the captivating world of color theory and dive deep into Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse. Whether you're planning your Valentine's Day collection or looking to stay ahead of design trends, Amy shares expert techniques for incorporating this sophistic...

Welcome to Mornings with Mayesh with host, Yvonne Ashton. For those joining us for the first time, this is your go-to destination for all things floral design, industry insights, and inspiring conversations with incredible designers who are shaping our floral community. We are thrilled to have welcomed Ashley Overholser of Primavera and our final 2024 Mayesh Design Star. We dove into a powerful co...

NOTE: The video replay is best for this episode due to all the visuals. Join Yvonne with special guests Joey Azout, President of Alexandra Farms, and David Dahlson, our very own flower specialist. In this episode, you will discover: ✨ Popular Alexandra Farms varieties ✨ Joey's personal favorites ✨ Care & handling tips ✨ Exclusive Mayesh customer promotion Let us know what your favorite Alexand...

Dive into our conversation with Erice McNeff of Everboom Floral Design, where we unpack: - Transitioning from weddings to brand collaborations - Pricing strategies that value your work - Navigating "exposure" opportunities - Building a killer portfolio Whether you're a seasoned florist or just starting out, this episode is packed with game-changing insights for your floral design career. Listen to...