Today we’re visiting with Lucy Hunter (aka The Flower Hunter) in North Wales to discuss:

• her early career in a "proper job" and why she left it
• the dream brief she landed as a garden designer
• why she temporarily lost her creativity and how she regained it
• how she found her way to floristry
• her passion for floral and still life photography
• the important connections she's made on Instagram
• thoughts on parenting a creative child
• the healing attributes of art
• what Covid has taught us about the importance of art and slowing our pace

• • Max Gill | Max Gill Design
  • Gabriela Salazar | La Musa de las Flores
  • Carol's Garden
  • Gavin & Stacy
  • Monty Don

 Website | Instagram

BLOOM TRUST CO.

A highly curated collection of floral resources you can trust. Log In. Find what you need. Go out and flower with purpose. Click here for to learn more.

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Today we’re excited to finally unveil Bloom Trust Co., our newest venture launching mid-November and created with your needs and our mission in mind. We've switched it up a bit on the BB Podcast today. You might say we're keeping it all in the family as Maggie Bailey interviews Amy McGee about all the details and questions we think you might have regarding Bloom Trust Co.:

• How the Bloom Trust Co. website functions
• Why we decided to start a new business in the midst of a pandemic
• Who we believe will benefit from the resources on the new website
• How we vet the recommended resources
• How the new website and membership will support our mission
• How you can join us at Bloom Trust Co.

While Bloom Trust Co. is a virtual space, we want it to feel more like your quaint locally-owned corner bookstore or gallery where conversation flows around shared interests, you can find the resources you need to hone your skill set, and your friends are always happy to see you. We know it won't be easy to create the in-person experience on a website platform, but hey, we've figured out how to stay in touch during a pandemic so we're convinced anything is possible given the right motivation and shared values.

The Bloom Trust Co. website is a membership site and we've worked hard to keep the price in line with one fast food meal per month - we think we're at least as helpful as a chicken tender & fries combo meal! The website provides a curated collection of resources to the floral community saving you time and providing recommendations you can trust. We believe Bloom Trust Co. can be a useful resource for anyone in the floral industry, but we've designed and curated the site to be especially useful to new and aspiring designers as well as business owners, freelancers, floral students, and those who are in the early years of owning a floral business.  And most importantly, we're committed to making resources available to under served communities who have found access to the floral profession difficult in the past.

Our primary mission is to provide a highly curated collection of resources our members can trust while sharing outstanding educational opportunities, products, and services to help them learn and grow.

As a service-minded business, our commitment to Flowering with Purpose drives everything we do at Bloom Trust Co. Ten percent of our net profits are set aside to support our local community and other causes we believe in. Additional details regarding our service component will be available on the Mission page of the Bloom Trust Co. website or feel free to ask us directly! We believe in meeting needs, supporting meaningful causes, and creating opportunities with the resources we've been given.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOOM TRUST CO. HERE:

Website | Instagram

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Today we’re visiting with Lauren Palmer & Leah Palmer, owners of The Wild Mother located in the Arts District, Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Kickapoo, Osage, Wichita, & Comanche land. What a pleasure to discuss the following topics with these women:

• why they refer to The Wild Mother as a Creative Studio rather than a Floral Studio
• the story behind the name of their business
• how their branding process honors their personalities and the memories of their ancestors
• the unique way they consult with wedding clients using Floral Stories
• the role of storytelling in their business
• the advantages of using a CRM (Client Relationship Management) tool
• how they appeal to their ideal clients
• the investment their parents and grandparents made in their lives through art
• how they plan to use art to honor their ancestors and bless their descendants

• Hannah Ashford | helping creative small businesses and entrepreneurs find refinement in their business vision and clarity in their brand story
• Lauren Freeman | Golden & True
• Britta Newton-Tarron | BNT & Co
• Arts District | Oklahoma City
• Chelsey Ann | Salt & Water Co
• Dubsado
• Honeybook
• PLENTY Mercantile
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WILD MOTHER HERE:

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | TikTok: @twmcreativestudio

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Today we’re visiting with Lauren Anderson & Rachel Bridgwood, co-founders of Sweet Root Village in Alexandria, Virginia to discuss:

• how they built a culture of community within their business
• their tips for building strong relationships with event and wedding planners
• how they thinking outside the box on staffing and job descriptions
• the process of regrouping and persevering during the COVID pandemic
• their online learning hub: Village Schoolhouse

• Team Flower
• Amy Nicole Floral
• Sue Prutting | White Magnolia
• Sophie Felts

 Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | Village Schoolhouse

Botanical Brouhaha -- Online Shop

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Today we’re visiting with Megan McHugh & Denise Richter, co-founders of Pistil & Stamen in New Orleans, Louisiana to discuss:

• their transition from school garden teachers to full-time flower business owners
• how their complex business model helped keep their business afloat during the pandemic
• how they've built a strong partnership rooted in recognizing one another's strengths
• their journey over the years from developing urban gardens on city lots to a new flower farm opportunity
• confidence and fear — and how they play into decision making both in life and at Pistil & Stamen

• Gabriela Salazar | La Musa de las Flores
• The Blue Carrot
• Steve and Gretel | Sunny Meadows Flower Farm
• Connecteam | All-in-One Employee communication app
• Slack | Team management tool
• Nicolette Camille
• Jennie Love | Love 'n Fresh Flowers

 Website | Instagram | Facebook

Botanical Brouhaha

On-line Shop

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

Today we’re visiting with Steven Dyme, co-founder of Flowers for Dreams (with locations in Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee) to discuss:

• the Flower for Dreams commitment to community and charity with every sale
• integrating philanthropy into a business model
• how his business has been able to survive during the pandemic
• the responsibilities and challenges that come with employing 50+ team members
• advice on how other business owners can make giving a part of their business model
• his unconventional entry into the floral industry
• teaming up with non-profits to impact communities through flower sales
• the commencement flower niche and the opportunities it offers
• finding a niche and scaling a business
• the secret behind the success of his long-time business partnership

• The University of Wisconsin - Madison
• ACLU
• Kennicott Brothers Wholesale
• Farmer's Fridge
• Blog Post: Weddings Are Different, We Must Be Different (Why We’re Saying “No” to Weddings in a Pandemic)

 Website | Instagram | Facebook | Flower Truck

Botanical Brouhaha

On-line Shop

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

TODAY’S GUEST: Jessie Chui | Crafted to Bloom

TOPIC: Paper Flower Art

Jessie Chui, owner of Crafted to Bloom and author of a beautiful new book called Paper Flower Art, joins us on the Botanical Brouhaha podcast to share her passion for paper flower art from the creation of single stems to designing artistic arrangements, or compositions as she prefers to call them. Not only does she share details about creating paper flowers, but she also shares a vision for collaboration between fresh flower florists and paper art florists to meet the unique needs of clients.

Where to Find a Paper Florist to Work With

Where do you find a paper florist? Most of us have websites and social media presence and simply searching for “#paperflowerartist” or “#paperflorist” will give you some leads. However, the easiest way is to head over to The Paper Florists Collective and search our Member Directory, which has paper florists from all over the world.

Another way is to follow our podcast, Paper Talk. We spotlight different paper flower artists, like Margie Keates and Ann Wood, and we also speak to florists, photographers and other industry experts about their art and experiences. We recently had Holly Heider Chapple on our podcast, and in the past, we had Alicia Schwede of Flirty Fleurs and Bella Fiori, Caroline Tran of Caroline Tran Photography, and Kelly Lemon of Kelly Lemon Photography.

In the end, we all want to serve our clients the best that we can. Giving our clients an option of using paper flowers alongside with fresh florals simply makes it easier for you to keep your clients happy and turn their dreams into reality.

Follow Jessie's Work: 

Website | Instagram | Book | The Paper Florists Collective | Paper Talk Podcast

To Find a Paper Florist Near You: Click Here

Paper Flower Art by Jessie Chui, GMC Publications, RRP $34.95, available online and in all good bookshops.

Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Today we’re visiting with Lily Roden, owner of Lily Roden Floral Design in Southern California to discuss:

• why she turned to flowers in a time of struggle
• the reason she didn't initially embrace her creative side
• the story of her family's move to the US from El Salvador
• the impact working with flowers had on her mental health
• learning through freelancing
• her advice to other designers looking for freelance opportunities
• the process of re-branding her business
• flowering during the pandemic
• the motivation behind the philanthropy she embraces as a business owner
• her desire to connect with other Latina creatives and see their work showcased in their respective industries
• the challenges she experienced as a creative immigrant

• University of California Berkeley
• Janelle Thomson | Lavenders Flowers
• LVL Weddings & Events
• Bows + Arrows
• The Nouveau Romantics
• Lewis Miller Design

 Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook

Botanical Brouhaha

On-line Shop

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt and/or market bag! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee

TODAY’S GUEST: Bex Partridge | Botanical Tales

TOPIC: Growing, Harvesting, and Creating with Everlasting Flowers

Today I'm visiting with Bex Partridge, owner of Botanical Tales in Farnham, UK. Bex is a floral artist and published author specializing in everlasting flowers. I'm thrilled that she agreed to walk us through her process of growing, cutting, and drying flowers. And she's sharing tips on designing with everlasting flowers. Be sure to check out the end of the show notes to learn how you can enter to win a copy of her new book Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers. I'm hoping our conversation will open new avenues of creativity and maybe even a new income stream for some of you!

Methods for Drying Flowers:

• Air Drying
• Pressing
• Silica Gel

Sampling of Flowers Recommended by Bex for Drying:

• Helichrysum
• Statice
• Peony
• Tulip
• Rudbeckia
• Echinacea
• Cosmos
• Dahlia (some varieties)

Caring for Everlasting Flowers:

• Keep out of intense heat and direct sunlight
• Store by laying the blooms out in a box using tissue paper and include a silica gel packet to draw out moisture during storage
• Store in a dry temperate place
• Avoid storing for extended lengths of time before designing with the blooms
• Avg. Drying Time: 2-3 weeks (peonies take longer)
• Read more here

Advantages of Using Everlasting Flowers:

• Extends the season for designers (by allowing them to design with everlasting flowers during winter months)
• Sustainable sourcing
• Longevity in designs
• Can be combined with fresh flowers
• Offers a way to create long lasting displays in retail spaces to showcase products and brands
• Flower farmers can dry and then sell blooms they weren't able to sell fresh

Bex's Suggestions for Adding Movement to a Design: 

• Love Lies Bleeding
• Canary Grass
• Fountain Grass
• Quaking Grass
• Alchemilla mollis
• Gypsophila

Enter to win a copy of Everlastings: How to Grow, Harvest and Create with Dried Flowers:

1. Leave a comment on the blogpost for this episode. 
2. That's it! Easy Peasy!
3. Deadline for entry: 11:59 pm Central Time on Sunday, August 16, 2020.
4. Winners will be chosen by random drawing and notified on August 17, 2020 via email.
5. Contest open to residents of the US and Europe.

See more work by Bex here: 

Website | Instagram | IGTV | Pinterest | Twitter

Host: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Joel McGee

Music Written & Performed by: Landon McGee

Mentioned in this episode: Natalie Gill | Native Poppy (Hear Natalie Gill on the BB Podcast. Click here.)

Today we’re visiting with Scott Shepherd (aka 'Cutflower Scott'), host of The Flower Podcast to discuss:

• the root of his love of flowers
• his experience working in a flower wholesale house for over 25 years
• what prompted him to start a podcast
• his transition from the wholesale business to full-time podcast host
• the mission behind The Flower Podcast
• how the pandemic has impacted his business and family
• the designers who have inspired him along the way
• the challenges he's faced as a podcast host
• the growing facets of The Flower Podcast
• his passion for encouraging and supporting flower growers
• his favorite flower and his unapologetic love for it

• Green Petal Farms (see Scott's hellebore crop above!)
• Ariella Chezar
• Holly Chapple
• Hitomi Gilliam AIFD
• Joy Proctor
• Ian Prosser
• Pat Dahlson | Mayesh Wholesale
• Joseph Massie
• Gabriela Salazar | La Musa de las Flores 
• Flowerstock
• Flower Magazine
• Zoom
• Flirty Fleurs
• Alaska Peony Cooperative
• Jennie Love | Love 'n Fresh Flowers

 Website | Instagram | Facebook | iTunes

Botanical Brouhaha

On-line Store

Click here to get your No Rain No Flowers tshirt and/or market bag! 

Co-Hosts: Amy McGee (Botanical Brouhaha) + Maggie Bailey (Bramble & Bee)

BB Podcast Sound Engineer: Landon McGee