The Flower Podcast

It's all things dahlias this week with Steve and Sarah Pabody of Triple Wren Farms on The Flower Podcast! Steve and Sarah are here to share their journey, from choosing the perfect dahlia blooms to finding joy in the balance between passion and life. From understanding about dahlia seeds to their Dahlia Legacy Program and the Novice Hybridizer Program, its's a conversation filled with learning, la...

This week we're replaying a favorite episode from 2019 in Season 2 with Françoise Weeks. Françoise Weeks, floral artisan and teacher, is this weeks guest on The Flower Podcast. Françoise is a master of the Woodland Design and Botanical Couture. Her passion for nature, materials, and mechanics will ignite your own curiosity to create with an inspired botanical vision. In this episode, Françoise sha...

I am pleased to welcome back Jennie Love of Love'n Fresh Flowers to The Flower Podcast. Jennie continues to inspire us with her commitment to flower farming and her obvious love of flowers. Her work is a testament to her dedication to no-till farming, supporting local growers, and her approach, not only nurtures the soil and local ecosystems with nature but also brings the unique beauty of each se...

My guest this week is Kim Delgado, the Owner and Creative Director behind Mary Stuart Flowers, a bridal floral design enterprise that prides itself on capturing the unique narrative with her couples through the charm of local, seasonal blooms. In this episode, we're discussing a lot about sourcing local flowers and how she has this conversation especially when booking weddings. Kim shares her part...

This week we're exploring another specialty crop that has its unusual roots here in North America where it's a botanical native. But first, our guests are Steve and Margo Galic from Stanwood, Washington. Their business is Fox Leaf Farm and they specialize in growing and breeding Sarracenia also known as pitcher plants. After seeing these cut stems in person last summer, I knew then I wanted to ask...

In this week's episode we are diving into the world of retail floristry with Abby Chick. Although mainly speaking about the florists side of flowers, I encourage you to listen because so many of the points we cover apply to all businesses. Starting from her early days at a traditional flower shop to becoming the successful owner of Blakemore's Flowers in 2012, Abby Chick is more than a florist. Sh...

I am excited for this week's episode of The Flower Podcast, where I chat with the Alla Olkhovska of Linden Grove Gardens from Kharkiv, Ukraine. When Erin Benzakein of Floret shared Alla's story with me, and I visited her website, I discovered Alla's incredible garden of flowers especially her amazing work with clematis. Alla's not just a gardener; she's a treasure chest filled with knowledge. Her...

Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Erin Benzakein of Floret, one of the country's most influential farmer/florist and trailblazing a remarkable path to growing cut flowers. From prestigious awards, including the Martha Stewart American Made award, to her New York Time's bestselling books and an Emmy-nominated documentary series called "Growing Floret," Erin's contributions to the world...

Mountain Flower Farm is synonymous with stunning blooming branches and beautiful peonies. Our guest this week is Walt Krukowski and his flower farm is located in Warren Vermont. Walt and his team grow more than flowers, he also grows roots for peonies which is where everything begins. Today we're talking about what to look for when selecting peony varieties to grow, we touch on growing lilacs and...

Today, we're starting the year off with a burst of color and creativity, as we're joined by none other than Simon Lycett. Simon's journey with flowers began in his youth which continues to bloom today with beautiful floral creations. A familiar face on TV and radio, Simon has graced the airwaves with his floral expertise and charming persona. He's the author of the captivating book, 'The Flower Ma...

Hello everyone! This is a special episode of The Flower Podcast. Often during this time of year we replay past episodes of our podcast, but this year I would like to share something from our family's archives. My Dad for many years has collected a wide range of old time radio shows. His collection is made up of over 30,000 different shows and of course there are several Christmas specials. Since C...

Today, I'm calling this a holiday edition as we talk about one of my favorites…. Foliage and this time of year I especially love Christmas greens. So I am excited to welcome an expert in the world of floral greenery, F.J. Trzuskowski, Vice President of Sales at Continental Floral Greens. F.J.'s journey in the floral industry, from his early days in Holland to his current role at Continental Floral...

Lennie Larkin, the founder of B-Side Farm, took her passion for flowers from a background in adult education to establishing an educational farm. Lennie's experience extends from managing educational farming programs to contributing as the West Coast Director for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and teaching at Santa Rosa Junior College. This week we're going to learn about Lennie's...

Today, I'm particularly excited because we're joined by someone I've had the pleasure of spending some time with during a trip to California – the incredibly talented Cathy Hillen-Rulloda. A true legend in the floral industry, Cathy's dazzling career spans over 40 years. Not only is she a phenomenal designer whose work captivated audiences at the 1984 Olympics, but she's also a trailblazer in flor...

I am thrilled to have a familiar face rejoin us – Steve from Sunflower Steve Seed Co. Many of you might remember Steve's inspiring story from his previous visit on The Flower Podcast. It all began in 2007 with a rogue, multi-colored, double-flowering sunflower in his cut flower field. Since their early days in 2000, Steve is at the forefront of creating unique and captivating sunflowers for cut fl...

After spending this week with the flower growing community of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, also know as ASCFG, I've come away more inspired and encouraged to see more growers and especially so many first time attendees to this very full conference. I'm Scott Shepherd and this is The Flower Podcast, where I love to chat with florists, floral designers, and flower farmers all ove...

Imagine growing up among tulips and lilies in the Netherlands, and then taking that green thumb all the way to building the first Dutch Glass greenhouse in California. From managing the growth of flowers to CEO and President of Sun Valley Floral Farms, Lane DeVries has forged a path as a grower and is a reflection of his devotion to his craft. Over the years, Lane has served the floral community i...

For those who might have missed their previous visit to our podcast, let me quickly reintroduce this great duo. They're not just flower farmers; they're visionaries in flower farming, dedicated to being the most sustainable flower shipping option in the U.S. Their mission of "Principles before Profit" has guided their journey from the beginning. Steve and Mandy O 'Shea' s story of 3 Porch Farm is...

A fourth-generation florist, J Schwanke is a flower expert, content producer, and professional speaker, and has not only made an mark within the flower community but has become a trusted voice and a source of inspiration for flower enthusiasts worldwide with a career that encompasses various facets of the floral industry. He is the host, creator, and producer of Life in Bloom, CEO of UBLOOM, and h...

My guest this week is a Horticultural Sales & Marketing strategist with a remarkable 30-year career journey, he has navigated through the world of retail, wholesale, import, and export, licensing, sales, and marketing and more. He has established three horticultural businesses, oversees operations in Australia and California, serves 300+ clients globally, and distributes flowers from over 200 loca...

I am excited to introduce Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales in the UK. Specializing in creating sustainable, everlasting designs with dried flowers, Bex skillfully takes them through their lifecycle, from seed to breath-taking displays. We're diving deep into the mesmerizing world of dried flowers, exploring the magic and technique of designing with these timeless beauties. We will also be chatting...

Today's guest is John Mark Sharpe and his business John Mark Enterprises is located in Germantown, Tennessee outside of Memphis. In 2009, with Gran's encouragement, John Mark took the leap and started John Mark Enterprises. He began by selling mesh wreaths, reaching out to retail booths, holiday shows, and anyone in his family and friend circle. John Mark has come a long way since those wreath-sel...

In this episode, we'll introduce you to a seasoned flower farmer who has not only cultivated breathtaking blooms but has also opened the gates to their "Pick Your Own Flower Farm." My guest is Nikki Bartley of Cross Street Flower Farm and she shares her insights and experiences, offering a glimpse into the joy and challenges of her floral haven on preserved town-owned farmland at the 300-year-old...

This week, step into the multifaceted world of the Colson sisters, Dawn Clark and Mary Coombs of A Garden Party and A Milkhouse Party. From growing & designing to managing their own venues and running a retail shop - these two women do it all! Our chat is bursting with floral business insights especially about starting your own venue for weddings & events. Trust me, it's an episode packed with ins...

This week we're replaying one of our past episodes with our guest Charlotte Smith. She teaches farmers the skills they need to make money on their farms AND live calm, balanced lives through mindset coaching. Going against what most of us have been taught, Charlotte coaches in 13 countries to build successful profitable farms while also getting out from feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious. I...