Chrysal: Wholesale Flower and Plant Care Product Guide

 
 

Guest Blog Post

Chrysal has always pushed the envelope when it comes to flower preservation. Their persistent dedication to quality, research, and pursuing environmentally friendly techniques has gained them the trust of florists, gardeners, and flower enthusiasts all around the world. Whether you're a professional florist looking to wow your customers with long-lasting arrangements, a passionate flower grower looking for post harvest care, or simply enjoy a lovely bouquet at home, Chrysal's product line has something for everyone.

Chrysal has generously provided our listeners with a special offer. Elevate Your Floral Experience with Chrysal Flower Preservative: Save with Coupon Code: Scott23 and receive 10% OFF the site. Create your account and start saving! Be sure to look into the Chrysal Reward Points and earn with each purchase.

Want to learn more about Chrysal? Listen to The Flower Podcast episode with Dennis Wheeler, Sales Manager of Chrysal.

 

Top Reblooming Iris from Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Liz Schmidt of Schreiner’s Iris Gardens this past week. I think the family of stunning bearded iris has long been a garden favorite, but I’m ecstatic to see the demand for cut flowers from this family of blooms gaining in popularity. The family we’re talking about is not any ordinary iris but Iris germanica, the grand taller more statuesque member of the Iris family.

Several years ago when looking for new varieties to plant, I found a subgroup within this family of rebloomers! Yes it’s true, you heard that right, rebloomers!! For quite some time, breeders especially at Schreiner’s have been trying to create new hybrids that exhibit this characteristic consistently. One of the requirements for these magnificent beauties is a longer growing season. Many northern places can’t achieve this second flowering due to their earlier winters and early frosts. Depending on your location hovering around these northern areas a variety might be possible but may take a few years to reach that full potential.

I’m happy to share my interview with Liz but there is more! When we finished our chat, she was gracious to share her top favorites for their dependability of blooming in the spring then again in the fall. These varieties aren’t listed in any particular order, it’s just wonderful that they made the list plus we’ve included a couple of extras for fun.

August Treat

Intermediate Bearded Iris

Standards blue-lavender; Falls very pale blue-lavender; beards blue. With a height of 20in., and no fragrance, August Treat is a welcome to any garden, and its frilly petals are pure delight. Originator: J. Terry Aitken. Year: 2012. Bloom Season: Mid Rebloom: Yes

Best Bet

Tall Bearded Iris

Light wisteria blue-violet standards sharply contrast the deep hyacinth blue-violet falls in this floriferous bitone. It often produces two to three stems per plant early in the bloom season and then tends to bloom again in the fall. This child of Titan's Glory combines the vigorous growth habits and flower size of its parent with its own distinctive color pattern.

Cantina

Tall Bearded Iris

A delectable blue wash at the centers of the falls lends a mellifluous bitone effect to these large reddish violet flowers. The unusual color pattern and heavy ruffling accentuates the distinctive coloring of the falls. Cantina is a dependable August rebloomer for us in Oregon.

Champagne Elegance

Tall Bearded Iris

Connoisseurs of fine Iris recognize this delicately shaded apricot amoena as one of the best. Its near-white standards are classically arched while its ruffled falls present a gentle blending of buff, apricot and peach. A prolific bloomer, Champagne Elegance produces 7-10 buds per stem and consistently reblooms in late summer. Sweet orange blossom fragrance.

Elainealope

Tall Bearded Iris

Splashes and splotches of reddish purple randomly pepper Elainealope's tailored light lavender petals. In addition to its unique broken color, this child of Maria Tormena X Master Touch has a delightfully sweet fragrance, produces multiple stems per rhizome and reblooms in the summer.

Mother Earth

Tall Bearded Iris

Mother Earth's large flowers possess gently undulating ruffles. The lavender falls pale at their centers and are touched with beige shoulders. The ivory standards have a hint of lavender at their bases. Stalks are tall, strong and well-branched, averaging 9 buds.Reblooming variety.

Pure As Gold

Tall Bearded Iris

Reliable rebloom and strong growth are the hallmarks of this deep golden yellow. Exquisite ruffling graces the edges of Pure As Gold's well-formed flowers. One of the most consistent rebloomers each summer.

Sugar Blues

Tall Bearded Iris

This deep wisteria blue self is well known for its consistent reblooming habit even in the colder climates. As another bonus, Sugar Blues has a pronounced sweet fragrance. The tailored flowers have modern appearance. Excellent rebloomer

Vintage Charm

Tall Bearded Iris

Vintage Charm’s warm colors - sunshine yellow and plum red - stimulate. “Look at me!” they implore. Yes, it’s the familiar red and yellow variegata updated to 2018. Conspicuous buff undersides of the falls, along with the undulating border, both add dimension and reply, “I hope it’s not rude to stare.” As illustrated in our photo, balance and proportion are satisfying. The contrast between the falls and standards is sharp. Falls boldly flare. Vintage Charm flaunts 2-3 branched stems, each displaying 8 big flowers.

Summer Olympics

Tall Bearded Iris

We recommend Summer Olympics on the strength of its outstanding bloom habits. These ruffled lime yellow flowers are among the first to bloom in the spring, then they dependably bloom again throughout the summer! See how the centers of the falls pale to white around the self beards creating a yellow bitone effect. Slight sweet fragrance.

Rosalie Figge

Tall Bearded Iris

This dark reddish violet self, a child of Dyke's Medallist Titan's Glory, offers great growth and bloom habits. Its moderately sized flowers have a slight ruffle and are completely saturated in dark reddish purple. Enjoy their sweet fragrance in the spring and then again in the summer and fall.

Mariposa Autumn

Tall Bearded Iris

This lightly ruffled rosy violet plicata's pedigree (Jesse's Song X Earl of Essex) assures us of very good vigor, floriferousness and strong rebloom. Mariposa Autumn has been recognized for these outstanding attributes.

What excites me about these beautiful irises is their faces and the opportunity to enjoy two cutting seasons depending on your location. So many perennials bloom once and are finished for the year, but these reblooming beauties provide stunning blooms again in the fall. I hope you’ll consider growing these if you’re a cut flower grower.

I want to thank the team at Schreiner’s for providing these fabulous images and descriptions of these varieties. We’ve included the links to all of the Schreiner’s resources for your convenience. Be sure to place your orders early because I’m sure these will sell out fast.

 

Embrace Pricing, Profit, Boundaries, and the Sales Process

“It takes more than a talent for floral design to run a successful flower business.” Alison Ellis

Adventuring into the flower industry is not for the faint of heart. In my experience over the years, when someone asks what I do, and I proceed with “I’m in the flower business”, the response is always greeted with an assumption of ‘it’s a job surrounding yourself with beautiful flowers and working long hours during the holidays. Well, again in my experience, I have never met someone in the floral industry that meets this assumption.

The floral industry in all its beauty and wonder thrives under the continuous efforts of determined, enthusiastic visionaries engaging in the day-to-day grind of ordering and processing flowers, administration duties, meetings, the pressures of growing and maintaining profitability. It is a magnificent industry not stifled by concrete walls and endless hours confined to a desk, but it is still business.

This episode is meant to answer a reoccurring theme of questions I receive on a regular basis. I have invited a previous guest and friend of The Flower Podcast to give her insights to these issues, and I encourage you to visit her website for more information that may be helpful in your business.

Alison Ellis

Real Flower Business, Flower Math, and Floral Artistry

Alison Ellis is the founder of realflowerbusiness.com, creator of Flower Math, and author of Falling Into Flowers, A step-by-step guide to today’s modern wedding business. She’s a floral designer and educator who teaches florists around the world how to increase their income and find more freedom in their small business with honest, actionable strategies and step-by-step courses.

Alison graduated from the University of Vermont in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Plant and Soil Science and a minor in Small Business. She trained in flower shops for 9 years, worked on an organic flower farm, and has been running a home-studio floral business for almost 20 years. Alison understands the challenges that floralpreneurs can face when growing a business on your own!

Since 2015, over 8,000 florists around the world have enrolled in Alison’s online business courses, private & group coaching, and free resources for florists.

Highlights from my conversation with Alison Ellis

  • 2 reason why we start to dislike customers is because of boundaries and profitable pricing, yet these are the 2 reasons when done correctly are what keep us happy.

  • When we do a good job it simply feels like good customer service.

  • Minimums are a healthy important boundary.

  • An easy first boundary is to block days on your calendar ahead of time. Be sure to block not only vacation days or important events but prioritize a few YOU days to refresh yourself.

  • Set the precedence of communicating through email and not texts.

  • Lists help get things out of your head and gives us direction for the following day.

  • Alison has encountered a lot of colleagues frustrated by ‘Educating their clients” We shouldn’t act like our clients are uneducated but as engaging the sales process with our client.

  • It’s ok to do small inexpensive weddings. Demographics and your location do play an important part. Your area may not be flourishing with new business or a thriving economy but that doesn’t mean you can’t be profitable.

  • Establish yourself and build your way, but if you are not over the hump after some time, likely it is because there hasn't been intention on your messaging. Go back to your business plan. You might benefit from some introspection of your goals.

  • We have to look at our weaknesses. If you are complaining there is probably something you could be doing better.

  • Leaders always have something to learn if they are willing to learn.

  • You must be in tune with what is happening in the market and the world.

  • When you know there are clients out there and they are not coming to you that’s when you know it just may be you.

  • Alison sets her minimum based upon what the client wants.

  • A questionnaire gives insights to the clients needs and serves as a ‘get-to-know you’ helping you create a wonderful experience for them.

  • At the end of the day, what we really want to do is to get serious about our business.

  • Embrace pricing as the sale process. This attitude is extremely helpful to allow ourselves to enjoy it and not dread it.

  • Have grace for your client, yourself and create a wonderful experience for you both.

Sources From Alison

 

This 35 page book is part memoir, part how-to and 100% honest regarding my 25 years in the industry and 17 years as a small business owner. I share some of the MOST VALUABLE LESSONS I’VE LEARNED.

 

Online Business Courses For Florists

As a floral designer, you’re in charge of so much more than “just flowers”. Because to run a successful business, you also need to master Pricing for Profit, Closing Sales and Marketing so that you maximize profits and book great clients consistently! Alison

Many thanks to Alison for another great episode of The Flower Podcast. I appreciate your questions and hope you found answers and encouragement today. Please feel free to DM @theflowerpodcast or contact me through email at scott@theflowerpodcast.com.

More From Alison Ellis on The Flower Podcast

 
 

Invasive Species to Avoid When Foraging by Becky Feasby of Prairie Girl Flowers

Thank you so much to Becky Feasby for this informative post. What a great read to follow up with my recent chat with Becky on The Flower Podcast. Listen to our episode featured at the bottom of the page.

—Scott Shepherd

‘Tis the season, it seems, for foraging in search of the perfect dried crispy bits or other special specimens for wreaths, bouquets, or installations. But heading off on your searches requires an understanding of ethical foraging principles and an intimate knowledge of invasive species in your area.

Harvesting invasive species is a big no-no. The issues can vary, but they come down two main areas of concern: economic and environmental.

The economic impacts of invasive species include things such as management costs (which can include using toxic pesticides to control their spread), monitoring programs, reduced crop yields for farmers, and impacts to international trade and tariffs. The environmental impacts of invasive species - although harder to quantify - can be significantly more devastating. Reduced biodiversity, loss of native species, and changes to ecosystem services can spell disaster for the environment. Many invasive species invade forest areas and displace native species, altering soil conditions and wreaking havoc on important ecosystem functions - increasing flooding, reducing resiliency to climate change, and increasing soil erosion.

So beware - clipping little bits of this and that can have far-reaching implications.

Invasives vary by region, so it’s important to consult your local authorities to find out what is and isn’t ok to harvest. But here are a few to really beware of:

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Japanese honeysuckle has few natural enemies which allows it to spread widely and out-compete native plant species. Dense growths of honeysuckle covering vegetation can gradually kill plants by blocking sunlight from reaching their leaves. Vigorous root competition also helps Japanese honeysuckle spread and displace neighboring native vegetation.

 

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Chinese Tallowtree (Triadica sebifera)

Tallotrees grow into fully mature trees in just three years, far outpacing native maples, oaks, cypress and elms. Their leaves are toxic to some animals, and they cast off litter that changes soil chemistry and disadvantages competitors. Chinese tallowtree is a serious threat because of its ability to invade high quality, undisturbed forests.

Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

Buddleja davidii readily invades disturbed sites and riparian areas (riparian = near water sources such as rivers and streams). Although butterflies will use this plant as a nectar source their larvae cannot survive on it. By replacing native larval food source plants butterflybush can have a negative impact on wildlife.

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Tansy invades disturbed areas, ditch banks and riparian areas and replaces important native plants through aggressive spreading. Can be toxic if animals or people ingest large amounts of it.

Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)

An escaped ornamental that has become extremely invasive in many parts of North America. When it develops seeds and matures, the plant breaks off and rolls long distances to spread across the landscape (a bit like tumbleweed) – each plant has the ability to spread over 10,000 seeds!

Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Purple loosestrife can become the dominant plant species in wetlands. One plant can produce as many as 2 million wind- dispersed seeds per year and underground stems grow at a rate of 1 foot per year.

The bottom line here is that if you don’t know what you are cutting, don’t cut anything. Know before you go. And don’t think that taking just a little bit is ok, because it’s not. Many plants have the ability to spread thousands of seeds from one cutting. Plus - by showcasing invasive species in your work, you are creating demand for that look, which could encourage others to harvest them or for local growers to even start growing them.

Just say no to invasives!

Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

The bottom line here is that if you don’t know what you are cutting, don’t cut anything. Know before you go. And don’t think that taking just a little bit is ok, because it’s not. Many plants have the ability to spread thousands of seeds from one cutting. Plus - by showcasing invasive species in your work, you are creating demand for that look, which could encourage others to harvest them or for local growers to even start growing them.

Just say no to invasives!

A Fresh Approach to Outdoor Spaces

Although the dreary cold days of winter may be approaching for much of the country and preparations for the holidays are being added to the to-do list, outdoor activities and gatherings have become an essential part of our well-being. Reimagining an outdoor space to be more than just patio furniture and a few planters has become almost important as preparing our indoor sanctuaries. We have definitely witnessed an ‘outdoor’ boom in the last couple of years as many weddings, events, and family gatherings embrace the beauty of our natural surroundings and accentuate them for one’s perfect event.

 
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The Creative Team at Accent Decor analyzes trends around the world and continues to be the go-to-source for what’s new, current and trending. The multiple collections include purposefully designed pieces for home as well as pieces for small and large scale events, decorative spaces, and so much more. The Great Outdoors is a beautiful canvas awaiting the artistic creations from this amazing industry.

Featured below are images from the Accent Decor Outdoor Collection for 2022 but with an occasional image from the Accent Decor Catalog 2021. Click images for more details. Be sure to take note of the icons that are extremely helpful while browsing the Outdoor Collection.

The beautiful backdrop of the outdoors provided a much needed destination for gatherings. The creative genius behind planning events is only limited by lack of imagination and ingenuity. The last few years, we have seen boundaries being pushed like never before and outcomes have been nothing short of magical.

Accent Decor has designed pieces to be not only functional but versatile, and many are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Archways, Wall Stands, Gates, and Wall Hangings create ideal canvases for inviting entryways and stunning backdrops. With an assortment of metals and wood grain options, these pieces are a must for any collection.

Lighting, Lighting, Lighting…..We all know the importance and necessity of fabulous lighting. I believe the vibe of any space is effected by lighting and something as simple as a small votive flickering on a workspace desk can bring a sense of calm to a stressful day in the office. Accent Decor has an extensive collection of lanterns, votives, candleholders, candelabras, and candles for creating the desired ambience for the home, your own serene garden setting, and options for your business.

Anyone who knows me is well aware of how much I love plants. Accent Decor designs functional yet stylish vessels to not only serve as container vessels but are true design pieces for creating the perfect greenspace in any setting. Working from home and spending more time indoors only fortifies my love of having fresh greenery in the home. Not only for its obvious beauty but also as a necessity for cleansing the air and nurturing the environment.

Vessels for tabletops to large troughs for a variety of plant material, Accent Decor designs for all spaces and aesthetics. Adding height to any plant is not a problem with the addition of stands. The new collection also has a great selection of textures, materials, and colors that are classic and trendy yet still remain functional.

 
 
 

Kenji Plant Trough

Juneau Pot Collection

With the anticipation of a new move, I am looking forward to creating a relaxing outdoor space to enjoy the beautiful backdrop of the Tennessee mountains and precious time with my family.

Scott Shepherd

Explore and Shop the amazing collections of Accent Decor through their Virtual Showroom or peruse the pages of the Accent Decor Catalog and Trendbooks. With expanded and extended customer support the team at Accent Decor is available to answer your questions!

Create your account today and be inspired!

Celebrating Flower Farmers of The Flower Podcast

"We have neglected the truth that a good farmer is a craftsman of the highest order, a kind of artist." Wendell Berry

 
Florals by @twigandvine | Photo by @ryleahfoehlphoto

Florals by @twigandvine | Photo by @ryleahfoehlphoto

 

I don’t recall ever thinking of a farmer as a “kind of artist’, but I am loving this! A colorful flower field is truly the working palette of our flower growers. Stunning, fresh blooms may be the beginning of a florist’s creation, but these blooming treasures are the result of meticulously, planned color selections, trial and error planted varieties, and seasons of hope, sweat, tears, and celebration.

I’ve always been grateful to share the stories and insights from flower growers in our industry.  They pour so much into these wonderful blooms, and I believe it is important for us to acknowledge and understand the challenges and obstacles they overcome every day.  Every July, I’m thrilled to highlight the flower heroes featured on The Flower Podcast over the last 12 months!! If you’re a grower I hope you find encouragement and helpful tips from the experiences of past guests.  If you’re a floral designer or enthusiast, I hope you find inspiration with each farm-fresh bloom.

Let’s celebrate the flower growers as they tirelessly supplied the floral community when trucks were late, inventories were limited, and continued to bring joy to their local communities through difficult times. Our floral industry is stronger when we all work together and show our support for one another. We have had amazing stories this year, and I believe you will be touched by their journeys.

Jennie Love

Love N’ Fresh Flowers

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Jennie Love is the Creative Director of Love N’ Fresh Flowers and President of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. A Certified Naturally Grown urban flower farm and a premier wedding florist in Philadelphia, Jennie’s story will inspire you to think outside the box, get your hands in the dirt, and revaluate what you can do to grow your business. With a passion for educating florists and future farmers, Jennie is sharing her knowledge and experience from both perspectives. Jennie also shares her Guiding Beliefs of why she created Love N’ Fresh Flowers.

Natasha McCrary

1818 Farms

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Natasha McCrary, of Mooresville, Alabama, owns and operates 1818 Farms. She started the business in 2013 when her son fell in love with Southdown Babydoll Sheep. She had no experience raising the sheep, let alone running a farm, but she had an idea of how she could make it work: combine a farm with a small business that would help cover the cost of food for the animals. The result was 1818 Farms: a working flower farm, event venue, Babydoll sheep, and a hand crafted line of bath and lifestyle products. Besides being featured in several magazines, in 2019 Natasha won Amazon’s Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year award, thanks to these best-selling products.

Melanie Harrington

Dahlia May Flower Farm

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Dahlia May Flower Farm, founded in 2014, is a small family farm specializing in growing specialty cut flowers. Melanie brings a background in art and horticulture to her work in building community through locally grown flowers on her family’s third generation farm. Melanie is a tremendous source of information and I’m excited about her suggestions for extending your season and finding new streams of income. After speaking with her, it was very clear why she’s won so many awards for entrepreneurship.

 

Jonathan Leiss

Spring Forth Farm

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Jonathan Leiss, along with his wife Megan, have settled their small, family farm in Hurdle Mills, NC. and are committed to drawing from a wide range of ecologically-friendly farming practices, including no-till, to grow outstanding cut flowers. Members of The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and  Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, they are passionate about learning and teaching others about their farm and no-till practices. 

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Lisa Ziegler

The Gardeners Workshop

It all started in 1998 and a desire to make working in her garden a career. Lisa's business, The Gardener's Workshop began as a small market farm but grew into so much more. Please join Lisa and me as she share's her floral journey through the world of gardening. A leader with the ASCFG, author of several books, an online store, Lisa helps others grow their own love of flowers.
With new workshops coming soon with topics covering the basics of flower farming, florist-farmers wedding process, growing in structures, local flower sourcing and more, Lisa is truly sharing her passion and love of flowers with us this week.

Kara Jamison

Blooming Joy Flower Company

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After suffering a family loss, Kara Jamison and her family embarked on a life changing adventure from city life to farming. That adventure flourished into the Blooming Joy Flower Company located in Murfreesboro, TN. Kara began this heart project with the desire to grow and share flowers for spreading joy. She now grows flowers, does custom designs, hosts floral workshops, and farm events. Kara shares her flower journey, her approach to social media with Instagram, and a few of her farm favorites. She juggles a lot, but always finds time for her “Flower Friends” that she connects with regularly on her IG feed @bloomingjoyflowerco .

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Deanna Kitchen

Twig and Vine/ The Growing Kindness Project

 
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Image by @ryleafoehlphotos

Image by @ryleafoehlphotos

Deanna Kitchen, flower farmer, designer, and educator, along with her family started Twig and Vine Farm, a micro cut flower farm specializing in dahlias.
Deana shares a little about her floral story, the family farm, and her heart for gathering, teaching and community service that ultimately led her to founding The Growing Kindness Project. The Growing Kindness Project now leads a team of gardeners and growers across the world on a mission to change the world, one stem at a time.
Deanna quickly learned the joy and power of giving flowers freely in her community and she set out to find ways to support, encourage, and assist others to do the same.

Eric Tanouye

Green Point Nurseries

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Entering their 3rd generation of the family business, Eric Tanouye, President of Green Point Nurseries, continues his father's legacy growing gorgeous tropicals and foliages and connecting clients to the beauty and romance of Hawaii.
Eric continues to study farming methods of ancient Hawaiians, developing customer relationships, and leadership involvement in trade and flower associations. We discuss connecting with the land and protecting the natural resources along with sustainable improvement to flower farming.

Amelia Ihlo

Rooted Farmers

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From her personal experience as a flower farmer, Amelia Ihlo saw the need to improve the process of actually selling the harvested flowers. So the research began, and the end result was the creation of Rooted Farmers. An online marketplace that connects local flower farmers and floral designers, Rooted Farmers Simplifies the process of purchasing local and seasonal blooms, Saves you time to focus more on the crucial areas of your business, and Connects farmers with wholesale and retail buyers to sell flowers more efficiently. We were excited to sit down with Amelia and record this tutorial demonstrating all of the features and benefits of Rooted Farmers. Amelia also demonstrated the buyer side, allowing florists to shop from all the farmers in a given area.

Janis Harris

Harris Flower Farm

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Following in the footsteps of her parents as organic farmers and passing that love of growing to her children,  Janis Harris, owner of Harris Flower Farm, operates her mulitgenerational farm in southwestern Ontario.  Janis discusses flower production, working with local farmers, and how she approaches cracking the code of flower farming. As regional director for Canada’s branch of ASCFG, Janis also shares her personal experience as a member and the benefits of membership in this great organization for cut flower growers.

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Ed Coughlin

Southern Eucs

Some may have a like/dislike relationship with the continued trend of eucalyptus but there is no mistake it is among one of the most requested greeneries still. I am actually a fan but perhaps that may be because I have had the opportunity to explore the numerous varieties. Most are familiar with a few varieties but did you know there are other eucs besides 'Silver Dollar' and Seeded? And this tree is a wonderful choice for your landscape design too! Ed Coughlin, owner of Southern Eucs. Ed has been seeking species of eucalyptus that have a resilience to colder temperatures allowing for more production in these regions.

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Sarah Daken & Tom Precht

Grateful Gardeners

 Sarah Daken and Tom Precht, Founders of Grateful Gardeners were disenchanted with their corporate careers and desired to go back to the basics and be stewards of the environment. Committing themselves to farming beautiful flowers through sustainable practices such as no-till farming, cover crops, worm and compost tea fertigation, and hydroponics, Sarah and Tom are also committed to serving their own local community and sharing their knowledge of flower growing.

Kimberley Hautau

Hautau and Sons, LLC

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'Kerry Patel of the Flowery realized the economic impact that was facing the floral industry. Seeing an opportunity to help ease this economic impact more locally, Kerry reached out to Kimberley Hautau and the two joined forces to begin selling bouquets of gorgeous greenhouse-grown flowers within their community - donating the proceeds from the sales to local charities that helped both struggling restaurants feed front line workers and the furloughed employees of the community YMCA.' A beautiful story of what is possible when we embrace friendship, flowers, and life's challenges.

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We at The Flower Podcast are thankful to be a part of the floral industry and delighted to have the opportunities to share with others. Thank you again to all of our guests and listeners in allowing us to spread flower goodness throughout the world. As we begin a new season, we are looking forward to more exciting guests and hopefully more personal interactions with all of you. As always, please feel free to contact me with your thoughts, suggestions, and requests.

Scott Shepherd

The Original Floral Decorator

Constance Spry: Her inspiration and Innovation continues

New York Times

New York Times

'Do whatever you please. Follow your own star: be original if you want to be and don't if you don't want to be. Just be natural and gay and light-hearted and pretty and simple and overflowing and general and baroque and bare and austere and stylized and wild and daring and conservative. And learn and learn and learn. Open your mind to every form of beauty.'

—CONSTANCE SPRY

We are sharing this week’s podcast episode as a blog post to highlight the influence of British educator, self-declared floral decorator, and author, Constance Spry. Our guest this week is currently serving as guest curator for a new exhibition celebrating the life of Constance Spry set to open in April at the Garden Museum in London. Join me now for my chat with Royal Florist and previous guest of The Flower Podcast, Shane Connolly, as we take a peak into the brilliance of this legendary floral artist. Shane also shares the influence of Constance Spry on his own designs throughout his floral journey.

We're thrilled to host Shane Connolly again to The Flower Podcast. This week Shane and I chat about the amazing life and influence of Constance Spry. Constance Spry is a pioneer of floral design and her life's work was to coalesce her love of gardening, nature, and her passion for teaching.

Floral pioneer Constance Spry in her drawing room at Winkfield Place in 1952 CREDIT: Alamy/ The Telegraph

Floral pioneer Constance Spry in her drawing room at Winkfield Place in 1952 CREDIT: Alamy/ The Telegraph

The Marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten Credit: The Halton Royals Collection/ The Telegraph

The Marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten Credit: The Halton Royals Collection/ The Telegraph

The Marriage of Nancy Beaton and Hugh Smiley Credit The Daily Herald Archive/The Telegraph

The Marriage of Nancy Beaton and Hugh Smiley Credit The Daily Herald Archive/The Telegraph

Credit to The Derby Telegraph

Credit to The Derby Telegraph

A few thoughts from Shane

Image courtesy of Shane Connolly

Image courtesy of Shane Connolly

  • Embrace the process of trial and error. Many times we produce our most memorable work by staying the course.

  • Danger…We should never design to be safe but design for what suits your creative explorations and your clients requests.

  • Constance Spry was a true believer that beauty uplifts people. The simple expression of giving flowers is very personal.

  • Sometimes your best actually happens when everything is failing, and you have to go with your instincts. It also builds your confidence in trusting yourself.

  • Constance Spry’s view was that nothing was off limits in design. It was never just about flowers but incorporating fruits, vegetables, foliages, and other items of nature.

  • If you want to be a floral artist, you have to do something unique, something different. You must behave as an artist.

 
 
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Shane spoke of his mantel designs from this year’s Cathedral Antiques Show in Atlanta. Using the art as his inspiration, Shane’s designs, once again reflect his beliefs of incorporating additional natural elements along with foam free mechanics. Also, the simplicity of using a single flower choice and minimal decor pieces can be just as enticing as the bold and brilliance use of color in the third piece.

 
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  • When you are new and adventuring into your own floral journey, it is almost instinctive to want to please everyone. You may find yourself using everything in sight. A wonderful lesson to learn early on…You do not have to! As your floral journey unfolds, you will gain confidence as you progress in your own design style.

  • Designers may worry about what is expected and in the process one ends up doing the same thing. Designs become serviceable not original and beautiful.

Shane Connolly and Emily Thompson

We know this is extremely short notice, but we wanted to mention an online event conversation with Shane Connolly and New York florist, Emily Thompson. The event is hosted by Garden Museum, Feb. 23, 2021 at 6:30pm (GMT). Click here for more information 

If you would like to learn more about Shane Connolly or Emily Thompson, listen now to their floral stories on The Flower Podcast

Shane Connolly, Owner of Shane Connolly and Company, chats with Scott Shepherd this week on The Flower Podcast. He discusses the wedding he designed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, his love for the meaning of flowers, and his passion for creating foam free designs. Shane is a wealth of knowledge and experiences.

This week's guest is Emily Thompson owner of Emily Thompson Flowers is located in New York City. I have followed Emily's creative artful design work for years and her artistic gift for taking the raw beauty in nature and orchestrating a floral masterpiece in any season.

We would like to thank Shane Connolly for giving us a glimpse into the life of this amazing trailblazer and for sharing the personal impact Constance Spry has had on his design and approach to florals and the abundance of beauty in nature. If you have any or know of any items, students, or images concerning Constance Spry please email shane at shane@shaneconnolly.co.uk.

Staying on Trend with Accent Decor

I believe we have all learned from the events of 2020: the importance of flexibility, adaptability, perseverance, and empathy. We are thankful to have the support of companies that understand the nature of the floral business and continue to accommodate the changing needs of the industry.

I am excited, once again, to highlight just a small offering from the beautiful collections of Accent Decor. Each season Accent Decor’s Creative Team analyzes trends across the globe and continues to be the go-to-source for what’s new, current and trending for the coming year. This year, with so many changes from large scale events to microweddings, Accent Decor’s versatile selections provided ease in adapting to any event.

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Show Stopper

Create a memorable WOW moment for any size event with the new addition of the Moon Gate and Lunar Grid Hanger. I am loving the Moon Gate! Made of metal, this sturdy piece will withstand the weight of full floral covering yet beautifully designed to accommodate partial exposure. Perfectly sized to be the focal point or used in multiples, the uniqueness of the Lunar Grid Hanger adds a starry element of magic and celestial ambience. Explore more options for suspendible pieces, hanging saucers, vases, pots, and more at Accent Decor.com

Geometric Metals

Geometrical structures have always fascinated me. A piece of art by design alone, geometric patterns bring an element of dimension and character to design. I chose these pieces for their modern yet classic appeal not only in shape but material. To me, metal will always be in style. It’s look can be very simplistic and can stand alone, or incorporated into innovative and futuristic design. Available in an assortment of finishes from burnished finishes to timeless golds, Accent Decor has a fabulous collection of metal vessels, stands, columns and more. 

Make a Statement

More than ever, we are longing to gather and connect with family and friends. Events and weddings have always provided the perfect backdrop for such gatherings. Although the grandeur of an entrance, the splendor of the venue, the thoughtfully, curated welcome gifts are wonderful components of an event, I believe the most intimate element for guests may be the reception, dinner, etc. Each season, Accent Decor introduces standout pieces fashioned to compliment any design or aesthetic. Search your favorites of vessels, stands, urns, compotes, and more.

Ambience

Last but certainly not least, llighting. An essential element to create the perfect ambience, lighting transforms a beautiful space and sets the mood for an event.  Whether you are creating a romantic starry sky, illuminating garden paths, or setting a romantic tablescape, the choice of lighting cannot be neglected. Explore Accent Decor’s vast selection of lanterns, candelabra, chandeliers, candles, votives, and more to add a warm welcome and romantic element to your event.

Although my focus for this blog post is events and weddings, Accent Decor has collections for so much more. Accent Decor brings you a vast selection of ceramics, glass, and natural vessels along with accessories for the home as well as the great outdoors. Visit their newly user-enhanced website, create an account, and begin your floral inspiration experience.

Catalogs and Trendbooks of Accent Decor

Sunflowers: Exploring the Sunshine of the Summer

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do. – Helen Keller

Flowers and Photo by Basecamp Farms

Flowers and Photo by Basecamp Farms

Sunflowers have been a staple in the floral industry for as long as I can remember. They have been the shinning star of the summer season, the sunshine of flower field, and I can’t help but smile when I see a sunflower! Over 20 years ago I was asked by a customer if I thought sunflowers would be a fleeting fad or would they endure as a long lasting favorite. I thought back then, as I do now, that sunflowers were here to stay and stay they have. They have only grown in popularity which has led the breeders to develop more and more varieties and styles.

I hope to share some of the names and faces so you can ask for them by name. With every season there is a shift in certain types of flowers and colors. Why not include sunflowers in that transition from spring through fall. There is so much variety within this flower group, we will never have to look at sunflowers as a one trick pony.

This variety is Starburst Lemon Aura, grown by Sapelo Farms.

This variety is Starburst Lemon Aura, grown by Sapelo Farms.

As a grower, there are several determining factors when deciding to grow sunflowers and then which variety to grow. Do you have enough space to grow successions of sunflowers? Is your season long enough? (and most are.) How are you selling them and when are you selling them? Many of the varieties grown for cut production are single cut flowers/plants and the size of growing space and timing plays an important role in profitability.

When we write a blog post, especially about flowers, it’s usually to help you grow in awarenesses of all the varieties or choices that are out in the world of flowers. Well, the family of sunflowers is quite extensive so I hope to scale this information down to the top choices in the family of sunflowers.

I want to also add that all the varieties that I’ll be sharing are considered pollen-less. Your customers will appreciate this more than you’ll ever know. No matter if you make market bouquets or bridal bouquets, pollen gets messy. I’ve seen it happen several times, especially with new growers, if you don’t pay attention and check the varieties you’re going to grow, you may have unhappy customers with yellow stained dresses and tableclothes, or worse.

Vincent’s® Sunflower Series

I have to admit that I was surprised that these three sunflower varieties above are so popular. As I learned more about them, I can totally understand. This series meets all the regular criteria for growing sunflowers. They have a high germination rate and are pollenless. When growing a flower that only produces a single cut flower, days to maturity is key factor for turning the land and increasing your total production. Vincent’s® Sunflower Series is perfect for cut flower production and has become a favorite among flower farmers. Being day length neutral gives more flexibility and is a wonderful choice for succession planting to provide sunflowers through your seasons.  Vincent’s® Choice and Vincent’s® Deep Orange have traditional brown eye centers while Vincent’s®Fresh brings a refreshing pale green center. With its extra layering of golden petals, its appearance boasts a double flowered and fabulous look while also being perfect for bouquets with its bloom facing more upward.

ProCut® Sunflowers

If there is one series that I hear discussed time and time again, it is the tried and true ProCut® series of sunflowers. I’ve heard from several people that the first ProCut® Orange is one of the favorites for strength of stem and brightness of the traditional coloring we’ve all come to love in sunflowers. The second variety is ProCut® Gold. Again, great stems and with the absence of the brown center the brightness of color is bold and beautiful. Last, but not least, ProCut® Horizon has all of the great qualities of this series, however the flower tends to be directed more upward when compared to its cousins. Horizon, refers to the orientation of the flower, which by the way, only enhances this wonderful flowers curb appeal in bouquets or bunches.

I have heard it said that sometimes their flowers are too large. However, these varieties as many of them, are directly affected by temperature, day length, and especially spacing. If you want smaller size flowers with thinner stems, spacing them 6” x 6” or closer will accomplish this. For larger blooms and bigger stems, planting the sunflowers 9” x 9” or more will help give them the space and sun to produce more substantial flowers. You may be surprised that there is a market and uses for both sizes.

The Many colors of Sunflowers

When I read that it could take up to 6-10 years to hybridize a new variety of sunflower I was amazed. I don’t believe any of us will ever grow weary in anticipation of new colors or new varieties in any flower, but sunflower colors will always fascinate me. One of the reasons I get so excited about additional colors is the extension of the growing season providing us with seasonal palettes of beauty. For example, some of the yellow varieties with green centers are very popular in the early spring while the darker chocolates and plums are stunning in the fall. The traditional varieties with the yellow/orange petals and brown/dark centers are in demand year round.

One of my favorites is the first image, ProCut® Plum. Over the years of selling locally grown sunflowers, or for that matter any sunflower, the traditional coloring of the yellow/orange sunflower is always popular throughout the summer and the fall. This traditional flower however, isn’t always popular for weddings and events and tends to be more theme specific. . ProCut® Plum lends itself to bridging so many of the stunning color palettes of the fall wedding and event season and easy to incorporate with the more muted tones of cocoas, blush, and golds. This sunflower definitely makes its presence known.

ProCut® Red is nothing short of rich lushness. Over the years I’ve been asked for red varieties, and I have to admit that I would have never thought of this as “red,” but as this deep rust-colored flower opens, it unfurls to hints of red wine and crimson extending from a chocolate center. Not a traditional red, but a beautiful rustish red, perfect for the late summer into the fall season.

The third image is ProCut® White Nite, one of the newer varieties of “White” sunflowers. Haven’t we all longed for a white sunflower? Our wait is over. This lovely cream fades to ivory and continues to grow lighter and more beautiful. Be sure to check out the ProCut® White Lite as another option. The difference of two being their lovely centers. White Nite with its traditional brown center compared to the yellow honey colored center of White Lite . These varieties of ProCut® sunflowers have increased the marketability and range of colors within the world of sunflowers, and I am eagerly anticipating future varieties!

Branching Sunflowers

Branching sunflowers are something that I’ve recently started exploring. Many years ago, I would have local flower farmers bring me selections of branching sunflowers much to both of our disappointment. Their stems were too short and the shelf life was less than favorable. Recently, I visited a flower farm in North Georgia, Sapelo Farms. Gabe and B.A., a wonderful mother/daughter team have experienced a great level of success growing these varieties above and refreshed my interest to look at them again. We took these images while we were visiting, and I was very impressed. Gabe said the stem length and flower size work great for their market bouquets. The shelf life was greater than 7+ days, while each plant continues to produce several stems increasing the production in each row. All three provided clean pretty flowers on nice stems, of course shorter than single stem varieties, but still beautiful flowers for smaller spaces.

Fan Favorites

Recently we conducted a very informal survey through Instagram and many of the varieties above were included, however these three I felt needed to be mentioned.

The first image is of what many call the Teddybear Sunflower. With it’s apparent lack of a center and abundant petal count, there are now several hybridized varieties that fall into this category. I’ve seen Teddybear Sunflowers large and small, both have always been popular among the novelty sunflower connoisseurs.

The next two varieties have definitely paved the way to a pale lemon shade of yellow, Sunflower Jade and Sunflower Limoncello. Limoncello was a popular variety that we were able to source from California from time to time. It’s lighter yellow would sometimes clash with other yellow shades, but the novelty, size, and clarity of color, made it a true favorite for florists.

ProCut® Plum grown, designed, and photographed by Jennie Love, Love ‘N Fresh Flowers.

ProCut® Plum grown, designed, and photographed by Jennie Love, Love ‘N Fresh Flowers.

If you’re new to sunflower growing and processing, I might add that these pillars of the summer cutting garden need a good clean cut and LOTS of water. I was regularly accused of putting too much water in a sunflower bucket, only to return to it the next day half empty. These thirsty giants will perform well for you and your customers all summer long, so prepare to plant almost weekly successions.

Sunflowers are the main attraction of summer. If you’re part of a busy weekend farmers market and you sell sunflowers, I’m sure you’ve seen it time and time again… Someone across the crowded distance sees those big happy faces of yellow and brown smiling brilliantly and they make a bee line straight to your table or booth! These beauties ooze sunshine and spark a sense of joy and delight just waiting to be scooped up and taken home.

It’s so tempting to stick with the tried and true, but with all of the new varieties available now, I encourage you to explore these incredible selections. So whether you are the florist or the farmer, I believe you will be delighted with the new color innovations in the world of sunflowers.

This is but a taste of the world of sunflowers. With over 70+ cultivars of sunflowers, we’ve only scratched the surface of an ever-growing family of flowers that bring so much joy and happiness from a single bouquet to changing the face of a large event. There is sunflower for every occasion! If you haven’t grown sunflowers before now, it’s probably not too late to add this incredible addition to your garden or cut flower farm. Find your favorite variety, explore the offerings, and most importantly give your feedback to a local wholesaler or local flower source.

Celebrating American Flower Farmers of The Flower Podcast

The Flower Podcast has been greatly honored to have featured a wonderful guest list of American flower farmers sharing their own floral journey with us. Let’s join in the celebration of our American Flower Growers/ Farmers, and showcase their endless labor of love. Family farms, sustainable organic farms, specialty flower farms, educational farms: the American Flower Farmer is vital to the floral industry. Thank you for your tireless efforts to spread the beauty of flowers across the country.

American Flowers Week is quickly approaching! You might ask what is American Flowers Week? Debra Prinzing of the Slow Flower Movement was inspired by British Flower Week and in 2015 launched American Flowers Week to celebrate and highlight American Flower Growers across the country. This year, American Flowers Week is June 28th through July 4th.

Also highlighting our growers is The Certified American Grown Council celebrating American Grown Flowers Month in July. “Certified American Grown is led by a council of American flower farmers and industry advisors. The members of the council are flower and greens farmers from throughout the United States who are committed to a unified promotional and advocacy effort that establishes an identifiable and iconic brand that communicates to the public the domestic origins as well as the high quality, freshness and consistency of American Grown Flowers.” (taken from Americangrownflowers.org)

3 Porch Farm

Steve and Mandy O’Shea

Steve and Mandy O’ Shea own and operate 3 Porch Farm, A Certified Naturally Grown flower and fruit farm. Solar powered and biofueled farm specializing in beautiful, local, seasonal flowers for farmers markets, wholesale to designers, weddings and events.Their approach to growing flowers organically and sustainably has truly set them apart. Steve and Mandy give us peak into their flower farm from under the trees at 3 Porch Farm.

3 Porch Farm is a local grower outside Atlanta owned by Mandy and Steve O'Shea. Their approach to growing flowers organically and sustainably has truly set them apart. Scott Shepherd sits down with them under the trees in their garden to talk about flowers, growing, and business.

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Having grown up on a cattle and horse ranch outside of San Angelo, Texas, the love for the outdoors is deep for Georgia as she is now a 5th generation farmer in Texas. One grandfather, Bill Helwig, was a cotton farmer and gin manager for 30 years, and raised a small herd of Hereford Cattle. Her other Grandfather, Eddie Huckabee, was a wheat farmer with a small herd of Black Angus Cattle. Her dad, Todd Huckabee, had a cattle ranch and grew winter wheat for grazing, as well as rodeoed on the side, participating in team roping events, calf roping, and steer wrestling. Almost all generations had large gardens at one time or another and Georgia learned about landscaping from her parents who had beautiful properties landscaped by themselves.

Georgia was also very active in 4-H and FFA, participating on the Livestock Judging Team and showing market lambs and breeding ewes at various Texas Livestock Shows. After her high school graduation, Georgia studied nursing, graduating in 2010 and began working at a hospital as a Registered Nurse while her husband, Jordan, served in the Army in Killeen, TX. Around that same time, Georgia began learning about gardening and landscaping, which started her interest and passion for growing plants.

Our guest this week is Geogia Monroe, owner of Basecamp Farms located in College Station, Texas. It's always exciting to chat with a flower farmer in different parts of the country. Each area has different challenges and opportunities. Georgia shares her love of flowers and her flower journey.

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Floret Flower's, Erin Benzakein is our guest this week on The Flower Podcast. Erin and her team have influenced both flower farming and floral design by bringing her passion and love of nature and flowers to the floral community.

Erin is Floret’s founder, and is honored to be considered one of the nation’s leading “farmer-florists”—a term used to describe those who specialize in both growing and designing with seasonal flowers. Erin’s work has been featured widely in numerous books, magazines, and websites. Her first book, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: How to Grow, Harvest & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms, was published by Chronicle Books in 2017 and won the American Horticulture Society’s 2018 Book Award.

A researcher at heart, Erin conducts extensive field trials on a wide selection of flowers and foliage, including many varieties that are highly fragrant, delicate, and not commonly available in the flower industry. She regularly shares her trial results plus  growing tips and photos of her lush fields via Floret’s popular blog and social media channels. Erin also teaches a 6-week course on small scale flower production to other farmers, designers, and enthusiasts from around the globe through the Floret Online Workshop. Images by Chris Benzakein

What began with a few beautiful rose images shared on Instagram blossomed into a beautiful story!  Gracie Poulson of Grace Rose Farm shares her floral journey this week on The Flower Podcast. From early childhood to dragging her rose pots into her New York apartment for the winter, Gracie has always had a soft spot for roses. Along with her husband Ryan, the two have grown her love of roses into a remarkable business specializing in organically grown old fashioned garden roses. Gracie shares her rose journey, business and rose advice, and pivoting during the effects of COVID-19.

What began with a few beautiful rose images shared on Instagram blossomed into a beautiful story!  Gracie Poulson of Grace Rose Farm shares her floral journey this week on The Flower Podcast. From early childhood to dragging her rose pots into her New York apartment for the winter, Gracie has always had a soft spot for roses.

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Floral Designer and Flower Farmer Julio Freitas, owner of The Flower Hat, shares his insights on flower farming, floral mechanics, the addition of new workshops, and the story behind his signature style. Julio discusses one of his main flower crops, dahlia's! Be sure to subscribe on iTunes or Spotify.

Julio Freitas, owner of The Flower Hat shares his incredible journey from Brazil to starting his own floral studio. The beautiful mountains in Bozeman, Montana are home to Julio's romantic floral designs that are inspired by the movement of his selection of flowers. Julio chats about flower farming, floral mechanics, the addition of new workshops, favorite flowers like dahlias, and the story behind his signature style.

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Diane Szukovathy with Jello Mold Farm, along with her husband, Dennis Westphall, have been farming for 11 years in the heart of the Skagit Valley in Washington State growing over 80 varieties of florals and foliage. Diane shares their flower story of creating a sustainable farm, respecting the lands and its wildlife inhabitants, and the importance of educating our flower clients and building community. As a founding member of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, Diane gives us brief overview of this co-operative group of flower growers working together to provide beautiful locally sourced flowers to the Pacific Northwest.

Diane Szukovathy with Jello Mold Farm is this week's guest on The Flower Podcast. Along with her husband, Dennis Westphall, they have been farming for 11 years in the heart of the Skagit Valley in Washington State growing over 80 varieties of florals and foliage.

The Alaska Peony Cooperative was formally established in the spring of 2015 as a way to bring together farmers and represent them as a unified voice in the specialty cut flower market. Our principles of responsibility, stewardship and cooperation allow us to achieve more collectively than as individual farms. We take great pride in helping our member-farmers succeed at growing the very best for our customers. We serve those needing only 20 stems to brighten their day, as well as florists, event planners and wholesales serving a larger market. It is our pleasure to present premium Alaska grown Peonies, on behalf of our farmers, to peony lovers across North America.

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With Peony season in full swing here in the US and around the world I'm excited to dive into the world of Alaska Peonies! this week! My guest this week farms peonies in Alaska and manages sales for the Alaska Peony Cooperative. I can't wait to dive into my chat with Martha Lojewski.

 
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Carly Jenkins with her husband Jamie operate Killing Frost Farm in the Potomac Valley of Western Montana. Besides growing flowers and opening Westside Flower Market, she is passionate about responsible foraging. Realizing the impact on the environment and our native species, she is an advocate for educating yourself before cutting.

Carly Jenkins with her husband Jamie operate Killing Frost Farm in the Potomac Valley of Western Montana. Besides growing flowers and opening Westside Flower Market, she is passionate about responsible foraging. Realizing the impact on the environment and our native species, she is an advocate for educating yourself before cutting. Carly also values the relationships with their customers and has earned the respect of both sustainable flower growers and florists.

Andrea Gagnon owns LynnVale Studios with her husband Lou. Andrea combines her professional design education and experience with her expertise in floriculture to grow premium flowers and design unique arrangements that range from formal to fantastic. We talk about the history of the family farm, learning how to grow and over come challenges, being American Grown Certified, learning your market, and so much more

Andrea Gagnon owns LynnVale Studios with her husband Lou. Andrea combines her professional design education and experience with her expertise in floriculture to grow premium flowers and design unique arrangements that range from formal to fantastic. We talk about the history of the family farm, learning how to grow and over come challenges, being American Grown Certified, learning your market, and so much more.

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Image by Victoria Pearson

Image by Victoria Pearson

This week's guest is Danielle Dall'Armi and Bill Hahn of Rose Story Farm. Garden Roses are one of the highlights of any wedding and hearing the stories that brought Dani and Bill to this property, their journey and struggles growing them allows us to appreciate what goes into every Garden Rose you use. Dani shares her favorite varieties, growing tips, and the changing landscape of the farm.

This week's guest is Danielle Dall'Armi and Bill Hahn of Rose Story Farm. Garden Roses are one of the highlights of any wedding and hearing the stories that brought Dani and Bill to this property, their journey and struggles growing them allows us to appreciate what goes into every Garden Rose you use.

Sarah Pabody founded Triple Wren Farms in 2012. She owns and operates the first generation family farm together with her husband Steve, where they share beauty by growing and selling amazing cut flowers and dahlia tubers, building gorgeous weddings, and mentoring new flower farmers. Sarah works closely with our field crew manager to handle harvesting, grocery bouquet production, field maintenance, and dahlia tuber shipping, and is the lead designer for our wedding crew. She can be caught inspecting the bark on the trees, and is thankful for a visionary partner.

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Our guest this week is Sarah and Steve Pabody of Triple Wren Farms. It's great to be able to take some time and interview both Sarah and Steve. With a busy family and flower farm, we're grateful that both of them were able to join this weeks podcast.

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Steve Mydelski owns Natchez Glen in Franklin, TN. Steve shares his background from the nursery industry to flower farmer. Steve specializes in growing Garden Roses and Dahlias in the south. Scott toured Steve’s gardens and chatted about the growing and marketing of specialty cut flowers and using his gardens as backdrops for weddings and photography backdrops. You can also find Steve with his own Nachez Glen Podcast Stories.

Steve Mydelski owns Natchez Glen in Franklin, TN. Steve shares his background from the nursery industry to flower farmer. Steve specializes in growing Garden Roses and Dahlias in the south. Steve shares his experiences growing and marketing speciality cut flowers from his part of the country.

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Although not an American Flower Growers, Nicole shares the same philosophy of growing organic flowers and sharing with local markets. Nicole Schenkel-Zureikat is the owner of Rox & Rose, an organic flower grower in Wolfstein, Germany. Nicole's floral journey began in 2013 when she began growing organic cut flowers on 3 acres in southwestern Germany. Joined by her husband, Samer, their cut flower farm is thriving and freshly cut organic flowers are cultivating their way throughout the markets of Germany.

Traveling abroad this week, Scott chats with Nicole Schenkel-Zureikat, owner of Rox and Rose, an organic flower grower in Wolfstein, Germany. Nicole's floral journey began in 2013 when she began growing organic cut flowers on 3 acres in southwestern Germany.

 

I’m constantly amazed at how hard our domestic flower farmers work to supply us with both unusual and super delicate flowers. I don’t know what kind of flower community we would have without each and every one of them. It’s exciting to be able to celebrate our local flower farmers every week, but especially on American Flower Week. I can’t say how much I’m looking forward to broadening our collection of guests that share their passion, blood, sweat, and tears with us. I am forever grateful for all of them!

Thank you to all of our guests and each flower grower/farmer. We look forward to sharing more with you in our next season. Please continue to support your local farmers and wholesalers and together let’s spread our shared love of flowers with the world. Now more than ever, our industry needs to shine.

 

Laura Dowling: Floral Diplomacy

Laura Dowling shares her journey with flowers which lead her to become the Chief Floral Designer at the White House from 2009-2015. Laura and Scott chat about the many events and parties she created while the Obama's were in the White House.

Laura Dowling served as Chief Floral Designer at the White House for 6 years from 2009 until 2015. In this position, she planned and implemented decorations for major events at the White House, including the White House Christmas, state dinners, the presidential family quarters, the public tour route displays, and Camp David, an imposing portfolio of literally thousands of large and small events, floral arrangements, table settings and innovative volunteer projects.

Flowers: A Tool for Innovation and Change

Laura Dowling’s Ted Talk. Ted x Mid Atlantic

Inspired by President Obama’s message of hope and change, Laura created floral designs to reflect these sentiments and chats about using flowers as a strategic approach. Focus may be environmental, cultural traditions, symbolism, and much more.

Photo by Stichting Kunstboek

Photo by Stichting Kunstboek

Promise You a Rose Garden: Ex-White House Florist Tells All

New York Times

The former White House florist Laura Dowling, in New York City’s flower district.Credit Tawni Bannister for The New York TimesBy Katherine Rosman

The former White House florist Laura Dowling, in New York City’s flower district.

Credit Tawni Bannister for The New York Times

By Katherine Rosman

Laura Dowling’s garden style bouquets are exquisite gatherings of lush and vibrant seasonal blooms, poetic arrangements that evoke sentimental memories and inspire ethereal dreams. Highly original in concept and design, Laura’s bouquets weave layers of blooms, fruits and entwining vines with fabricated materials such as paper, ribbons and wool, blurring the lines of traditional floristry to fuse flowers with nature and handcrafts in new and unexpected presentations. At once fanciful and whimsical, refined and elegant, her colorful bouquets exude a friendly and approachable aesthetic that have inspired a First Lady, high-level dignitaries and legions of fans from around the world with their great charm and liveliness. She believes that flowers – the ephemeral but enduring mementos of special occasions and everyday life – convey a vast range of emotions and meanings that words alone cannot express, unlocking a powerful tool for uplifting spirits, telling stories and enriching our lives. In her new book “Bouquets,” due out later this year, Laura shares her secrets and insights for creating 75 innovative designs that focus on l’art du bouquet – the most personal and evocative form of floral artistry – including detailed step-by-step tips and techniques for crafting her unique, signature-style bouquets for all settings, seasons and occasions.

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“ I think we need more opportunities for thoughtful, collaborative problem-solving and creative expression vs. devolving into cliques and group think – a challenge in the social media era. The bottom line is that the appeal of flowers is timeless and enduring – and will continue to play an important role in our increasingly hectic and busy lives – creating new opportunities for everyone involved in the floral world.” Laura Dowling

New 2019 Holiday Wreath Stamp Collection will soon be available. Laura shared this wonderful news about her latest project years in the making. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director Laura Dowling designed the festive wreaths for the holiday stamps. Photographed by Kevin Allen.