Subtitle: The Vibe is Nostalgia

Summary: Do you like to get behind trends? Katie talks about her recent trip to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and how the resort there has a very specific vibe. She also observes the resurging popularity of vintage cakes, charm necklaces, and decorative rocks. Amanda notes that certain trends can be thriving in some areas while flopping in others. She also shares how she gave her loyalty program, Magic Beans, a revamp, turning it into a win-win for both her customers and her business.

Highlights:

Links:

Buzz! Newsletter (Katie is the guest Buzz writer)

The Coeur d’Alene Resort

Coeur d’Alene Red Geraniums

Gooey, the Famous Confection at The Coeur d’Alene Resort

The Hours Have Lost Their Clock: The Politics of Nostalgia - by Grafton Tanner

Seguin Gardens & Gifts

David Sedaris’ Culottes (on Jimmy Fallon)

Disco Sugar Vintage Cakes on Instagram

Haricot vert - wearable poetry on Instagram

Jump on over to The Garden of Words website to see photos of vintage cake and charm necklace trends!

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: To Buy or Not to Buy

Summary: Katie and Amanda reflect on their experiences as listeners of their own podcast, realizing they are learning about themselves. They discuss the ongoing thorn in Amanda’s side: what to do when customers linger without buying. Amanda’s perspective sparks a debate with Katie and they unpack what it means to value their time and their customers.

Highlights:

Links:

There are no links for this episode.

Photos:

There are no photos for this episode.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Name it to Tame it

Summary: Amanda shares a great tip on how to self-regulate and stop intrusive thoughts that you won’t want to miss. They discuss how Aster Gardens launched a free seed library outside the store featuring Hyacinth Bean Vine (what a cool idea!). Amanda gave Kennedy the entire project to handle, soup to nuts, and she did a great job! Katie talks about how the best teams she works with are the ones where everyone knows their lane and how to drive in it. She also mentions a mistake she made early in her career and how she handled it.

Highlights:

Links:

Name it to Tame it

Amanda’s Free Seed Library

Bringing Down the House (2003)

Photos:

There are no photos for this episode

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Hell in a Handbasket

Summary:

Katie shares a wild story—did she help someone in need, or was she almost carjacked? It’s hard to say! They discuss the recent hurricanes impacting North Carolina, where Katie resides, and talk about the terrible challenges the community faces. Amanda reveals her exciting plans to close Aster Gardens on Wednesdays to free her schedule for garden consultations. She’s worried about perception but Katie assures her it’s all in how she presents it. Amanda has also decided to streamline her farmers market schedule to late June through September. And in a sweet twist, it is revealed that there is a donut divide between Katie and Amanda. Who knew?!

Highlights:

Links:

There are no links for this episode

Photos:

There are no photos for this episode

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Multitasking is a Joke

Summary:

Amanda shares that she created a hilarious secret hiding nook behind the register, perfect for popping out to give customers a little scare! Meanwhile, Katie dishes that Harry Styles recently bought flowers at a local farmers market and was unrecognized by the vendor.—who knew he could go incognito? They talk about the reality of multitasking (spoiler: it’s a joke). Amanda is gearing up for the Market on Canal festival, and they discuss the pros and cons of local events—Katie even recounts a time her friend's shop was completely obscured by food carts! Amanda shares her employee woes and how her sister got involved. Oh, and did you know that Aster Gardens is haunted?

Highlights:

Links:

(Erin) The Impatient Gardner

Harry Styles at Farmers Market in London

Flooding in Carolina Beach

Freakonomics Podcast - Multitasking Doesn’t Work. So Why Do We Keep Trying?

Aster Gardens’ Bathroom Moss Wall

Amanda’s Shop Ghost

Photos:

There are no photos for this episode.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Get Off My Lawn

Summary: Get ready for a lively episode as Amanda spills the tea on her latest email marketing adventure—spoiler alert: no one opened it! Katie, the email marketing queen, suggests that it might just be a timing issue and shares her secret hack to reblast it with a catchy new title (did you know you could do that?). Amanda's on a mission to turn readers into buyers, and Katie has a fab idea: a curated drop at the start of each month to offer a little bit of Aster Gardens online! They dive into a spirited discussion about the art of managing people and the nuances of effective delegation.

Highlights:

Links:

Lamont Keepataw Day

Now Discover Your Strengths

Photos:
There are no photos for this episode.

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: Everyone Needs a Couch

Summary: In this episode, Katie visits her friend and fellow horticulturist, Brie Arthur, in Raleigh, NC, where they stop by an art store—much to Brie’s confusion, as she knows plants but not art! Meanwhile, Amanda is busy rearranging Aster Gardens to move the Cash Wrap station closer to the door, allowing customers to see them crafting up front, (FUN)! She also links her online shop to her Instagram, hoping it will boost sales. Together, Katie and Amanda realize they need to create a business checklist for essential tasks every small business should tackle. Amanda reflects on how her newsletter and social media have evolved into her "product." Plus, a friendly reminder: there’s no fact-checking in this podcast, so consider yourself warned!

Highlights:

Links:

JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Tiny Dioramas

Photos:

Jump on over to The Garden of Words website to see Katie's paintings of the dinosaur and Brie's garden as well as her new giant easel as well as pictures of Amanda's new cash wrap table and tiny dioramas!

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: You Must be Really Fun at Parties

Summary: Katie shares her Room Portrait Club painting, and Amanda declares that Katie’s art is getting even better! They discuss the Locavore Guide, which is NYC-based, and how all small businesses should promote others in their surrounding areas. Amanda shares an experience where she asks, “Am I the asshole?” (She’s not.) They also talk about the Keith Lee effect, Katie’s upcoming speaking engagement in Grand Rapids, MI, and how to try not to take things personally. Oh, and have you heard of Wet Bulb temperature? Amanda explains!

Highlights:

Links:

Room Portrait Club

The Locavore Guide

Amanda’s Online Store

The Locavore Guide Instagram Post - Update Your Hours!

Chappell Roan

Photos:

Jump on over to The Garden of Words website to see Katie's room portraits, Beautyberry painting, new gouache palette, and those Harry Styles photos Katie mentioned!

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: What you allow will continue

Summary: In this episode, Katie and Amanda open up about their battle scars from some truly awful jobs—think PTSD, but with a side of trauma. Katie is bummed about not being more involved in the public garden industry and wishes public gardens, breeders, growers, and retailers would communicate more. Amanda is rolling out her grab-and-go craft kits, because who doesn’t want an awesome, surprise DIY project? She also rants about small businesses stubbornly sticking with ancient technology—apparently, there’s still a fan club for ancient cash registers. Both Katie and Amanda admit that their brains are so packed with info, they try to be kind to themselves if they end up word searching. Laundry sauce=laundry detergent. Get it?

Highlights:

Links:

Amanda’s DIY Moss Kits

Funny Animal Names

Raptor Gardens - on Amanda’s sidewalk

Photos:

To see photos of Amanda's googly eyes, the decomposing tree stump and Raptor Gardens, jump on over to The Garden of Words website!

The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website:  https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website:  https://thegardenofwords.com/

Subtitle: You don’t have to be everything to everyone



Summary: Katie and Amanda are both enjoying “false fall” which is happening in both their states. Amanda discusses being unexpectedly recruited as a florist (no thanks), which she quickly turns down as her true specialty is promoting sustainability and educating people on living in harmony with nature. She also gives an update on the farmer’s market and talks about her vision to introduce local produce into area restaurants. Katie delves into the importance of setting boundaries, while Amanda contends with a less-than-effective newsletter ghostwriter. And don’t miss Amanda’s reveal of her unique party trick!



Highlights:

Links:

Glass Float Project - Block Island

Photos:

There are no photos in this episode.



The Stuff at the End

Amanda’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shop.aster.gardens

Katie’s Work Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency

Katie’s Personal Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords

Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/

Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/