Laura Dowling served as the White House Chief Floral Designer from 2009-2015 during the Obama administration. In this episode she shares her favorite White House projects and tips for holiday decor.  I loved hearing about her experience interviewing for the job at the White House. Inspiring and honest, I loved every minute of this conversation!  Laura's latest book, Designing Christmas, will be out this fall and I can't wait to order it.

Martha Brettschneider is an experienced gardener, nature photographer, a positive intelligence mental fitness coach and a mindfulness teacher. In this conversation she talks about the role gardening has played in her life and how this relationship has evolved over the years. Martha is the author of Blooming into Mindfulness - How the Universe Used a Garden, Cancer and Carpools to Teach Me that Calm is the New Happy. I loved every moment of this conversation and can't wait to be present again in my garden as soon as I can get out there.

Bio

Martha Brettschneider is a certified PQ® Mental Fitness Coach, mindfulness teacher, and author dedicated to helping individuals transform stress into strength and embrace their evolving potential. A former international economist, she guides clients to cultivate resilience, clarity, and purpose through the power of presence and daily mental fitness. Her business, Damselwings, LLC, also includes a visual mindfulness arm—creating nature-inspired wall art that brings grounding energy into homes, offices, and wellness spaces. Whether through coaching, teaching, or photography, Martha empowers others to reconnect with their inner wisdom and lead from a place of trust, calm, and authentic strength. Her book Blooming Into Mindfulness: How the Universe Used a Garden, Cancer, and Carpools to Teach Me That Calm Is the New Happy chronicles her journey, including the central role that her garden played. 

Sign up for Martha’s mailing list and receive a free meditation download here: https://damselwings.com/meditation-optin/

Websites : https://damselwings.com/  and https://www.damselwingsphotography.com/

Upcoming Programs

30-Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge Starting May 5 LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Sage Photography Retreat May 17-18 in Blueridge Mountains, Woodville, VA LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Deeper work of tending to our inner garden and strengthening our root systems through Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness coaching SCHEDULE A DISCOVERY CALL WITH MARTHA HERE

Email: [email protected]

Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Blooming-into-Mindfulness-Universe-Carpools/dp/0996935223

Follow Martha on Instagram @marthabrett and @the_sage_photography_project

I learned so much about owning a successful floral design business from Oscar Andrade of Petals to the Metal. After 8 years owning this business and growing up working in his aunt's flower shop in Miami, Oscar has floristry in his blood.  During our conversation Oscar gives some great advice to new and experienced floral designers. He also describes working with wire service providers and explains how he sources most of his flowers. Be sure to follow Oscar on social media and reach out if you need a mentor or want to partner up with him!

Instagram- @petalstothemetalfloristdc

Website: www.districtpetals.com

In this episode I interviewed Sangeeta Sarkar of Renzinnia Farms. We talked about succession planting, money saving tips, sunflower varieties and the benefits of working in the soil.  Sangeeta has wanted to own a farm since her childhood and in 2020 purchased a beautiful 22-acre property about 30 minutes from her home. Enjoy this conversation and all the lessons Sangeeta has for you.

Follow them on Instagram:
@renzinnia_farms

Episode 2 of Season 2 is very exciting!  I talk with Sarah Khan, a visual architect and floral artist in the DC area who does very creative and extravagant work. She has made a boat out of florals, 30+ peacocks, a Barbie House and even designed with some of her team on Season 2 of the HBO show Full Bloom.

Sarah, owner of Sarah Khan Events & Design, is the queen of floral installations. She currently has an exhibit at the Museum of Illusion in DC.  In this conversation Sarah shares the influence of her parents and their love of plants and gardening. She also tells us how she elevates her designs to make them evoke emotion and memories.

Sarah's Full Bio:

Sarah’s passion for luxury and beauty began at a young age, shaped by the artistry passed down from her mother and grandmother. Drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of Pakistani and Indian crafts, Sarah has successfully blended timeless techniques with modern design to create unique, culturally infused event experiences for South Asians in the US. As Creative Director, she approaches every project as an opportunity to craft transformative visual stories, with a focus on timeless elegance.

Her work has earned recognition in Harper's Bazaar Bride, Washingtonian Weddings, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Modern Luxury Weddings DC, and top South Asian bridal blogs. Notable projects include floral and set designs for a welcoming ceremony for former President Obama, a floral dress for Cirque Du Soleil, National Geographic’s coverage of an ethnic wedding, and a finale party for The Real Housewives of Potomac. Above all, Sarah’s greatest satisfaction comes from collaborating closely with clients to exceed their expectations and deliver a tangible, unforgettable vision. 

Follow her on IG: @sarahkhaneventstyling

Laurie Young is an inspirational advocate for neurodiversity in Loudoun County, VA. She is the executive director of Legacy Farms, a non-profit in Leesburg that employs neurodiverse individuals ages 16 and up in an apprenticeship-mentor business model.

Legacy Farms offers incredible weekly flower subscriptions to several places in Northern Virginia. Check out their CSA packages and locations!

Follow them on Instagram!  And remember like we said on the show today, "Awesome people make awesome businesses!"  Wherever you are tuning in from, buy local flowers and support your local small businesses.


Laurie's Full Bio
Laurie Young is Executive Director of Legacy Farms, a nonprofit that empowers neurodivergent individuals ages 16+ through vocational training, personal development programming, and entrepreneurial opportunities. She is Founder of Legacy Blooms, a specialty-cut flower business within the nonprofit that is a working model for a successful neurodiverse business. Proceeds from the business help fund the nonprofit's vocational training programs. Legacy is founded on a mindful approach to cultivating both flowers and people, prioritizing individual growth, meaningful work, and strong community connections.

https://www.legacyfarmsvirginia.org/

https://www.facebook.com/LegacyFarmsVirginia

https://www.instagram.com/legacyfarmsvirginia

Partners mentioned:

Farm & Program Partners

Temple Hall Regional Park

Fabbioli Cellars

New Ag School

Fleur de Leah Flowers

A Place To Be

Sharon Hallman Photography

Loudoun Hunger Relief

Floral Partners

Lightfoot Restaurant

Gratefully Rooted

100 Bowls of Soup

Weird Brothers Coffee

Simply Be Coffee

Roots 657

Lark Brewing Company

Listen to this episode to learn all kinds of tips and tricks from Ellen Frost, floral designer, master gardener and owner of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, MD.  Local Color Flowers has been around for 18 years. They source 100%  of the flowers they use for weddings, events and single orders locally. They work with about 40 farms in the surrounding area. Isn't that incredible?  Ellen is here to talk about how they make this work!  Be sure to follow Ellen and join her FlowerMore community for monthly design challenges and live design sessions. A subscription to "FlowerMore" would also make the perfect "gift" for a flower lover in your life. (Now I know what I want for Christmas. :)


Ellen's Bio
Ellen Frost loves working as a florist and running her business, Local Color Flowers, founded in 2008. She's built a community of flower friends at
her shop over the years through events like her open studio, book club, weekly drop-ins, design challenges and more. Now she's expanding that community online at FlowerMore where flower nerds dig deep into the fascinating world of flowers. She also offer classes online, a free weekly newsletter and videos on her YouTube channel.

Ellen has been a member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers since she started her business.  Ellen was the first florist to win their
prestigious Allan M Armitage Leadership award in 2016 for her commitment to local flower sourcing.  Ellen is an MBA graduate with years of business experience before she became an entrepreneur. She's also not afraid to get her hands dirty with farming on her resume.  Ellen is obsessed with flowers and loves leading the conversation.

Sign up for her  FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER filled with fun flower content! 

Today I had a great conversation with Rachel Robillard of June Moon Florals. She enjoys designing in a contemporary style and her designs are breathtaking!  Listen to hear what Rachel's favorite flower is and to hear her tips for increasing vase life. In this conversation Rachel offers some advice for floral design freelancers and tells us about her business goals for 2024.


BIO

With a lifelong passion for nature and a keen eye for design, Rachel has been creating stunning arrangements for luxury weddings, events, and resorts. Her love for all things earthy shines through in every piece she designs. With every arrangement, Rachel brings her love for the natural world to life, incorporating each element in the most elegant way.

SOCIALS

@junemoonflorals (Instagram)

June Moon Floral Design Studio (pinterest)

June Moon Floral Design (Facebook)

junemoonflorals.com (Soon!)

In this episode I talk with Alisa Ellie, the founder and lead floral designer behind Malva & Moss, a floral design studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I loved our conversation so much. Alisa said, "Florals don't just decorate, they narrate a story about a space, a brand, or a person."  I completely agree!  I admire Alisa's rebellious design style where she uses the whole stem, includes sculptural pieces and makes genuine pieces of art.  I hope you enjoy our conversation.  Let it inspire you to create floral designs that are unique to your personality, your story and your space.

More about Alisa
With a distinctive style that fuses contemporary, clean sculptural designs with an artful, sustainable approach, Alisa specializes in crafting bespoke floral arrangements for weddings, corporate events, and businesses. Her work is deeply rooted in an eco-friendly approach, using locally sourced, seasonal blooms and sustainable mechanics to minimize waste. A former Silicon Valley professional, Alisa brings a fresh, innovative perspective to floristry, focusing on personalized designs that tell a story. She is passionate about sharing her journey and insights on running a creative business. 
Follow her on IG @malvaandmoss

In this podcast I interviewed Wanpen and Miguel Ordonez. They have been married for 39 wonderful years. They demonstrate how it takes teamwork to make a garden thrive. Both Wanpen and Miguel grew up gardening - Wanpen in a small village in Northern Thailand and Miguel in New York.

Listen to hear what is growing in their garden, how they build their garden fence and irrigate using rainwater only. Enjoy this great conversation. This will inspire you to bring nutrients into your soil, build hot boxes to grow lettuce through the winter and cook using the fresh herbs and veggies from your garden!