In this jam-packed episode of The Messed Up Gardener, host Esther Williams takes you through the art and business of dried floral arrangements! 🌸✨

After battling the flu and making exciting progress on her mushroom grow rooms, Esther is back and buzzing with updates—including her first batch of red and white clover honey heading for bottling! 🍯

Inspired by past episodes on Cultivating Cash from Your Garden and Valentine’s Bouquets, this episode takes a deep dive into dried flowers—how to grow, dry, and even monetize your arrangements.

What’s Inside This Episode?

🌿 Segment 1: Growing Your Own Flowers & Foliage for Drying

• The best flowers to grow for dried arrangements, including Strawflowers, Lavender, Hydrangeas & Roses.
• Why foliage & grasses like Eucalyptus, Pampas Grass, and ToeToe are crucial for structure.
• The unexpected power of seed pods & unusual additions like Poppy Seed Pods, Nigella, and dried citrus to add texture.
• Pro gardening tips for soil prep, plant care, and harvesting at the perfect time.

🔥 Segment 2: Drying Techniques & Creative Uses

• How to air dry, press, and use silica gel to preserve flowers like a pro.
• Creative ways to use dried flowers in wreaths, home décor, and even seasonal garlands.
• A hilarious story of a teenage flower-pressing mishap gone wrong!😂

💰 Segment 3: Turning Dried Flowers into a Profitable Business

• Where to sell dried flower arrangements—Etsy, farmers' markets, and wedding planners.
• Pricing strategies & profit margins—why handmade bouquets can sell for $20-$100+.
• Expanding your product range—DIY kits, resin crafts, and even subscription boxes.
• Staying inspired—following trends, refining your craft, and keeping customers engaged.

Ready to take your garden to the next level, naturally? Grab your cup of tea (or compost bin!), get comfortable, and let’s dig in! 🌻

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe!

🌿 Share the Love!
If you know a gardening friend who would love this episode, send it their way! Let’s grow this community of passionate, down-to-earth gardeners together.

🎙 Until Next Time...
As always, gardening can happen in any place, in any space and on any budget! Have an incredibly abundant week—I’ll buzz you later! 🐝✨

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·      A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters

https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters

Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   

Freebies: Grab the 

-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 

-         https://stan.store/EstherA 

-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA

-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheethttps://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now

Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.