This week on The Flower Podcast our guest is Niki Irving, the owner and florist behind Flourish Flower Farm in Asheville, NC, where she grows a wide variety of flowers and foliage using sustainable methods. She creates beautiful, seasonal arrangements for weddings and events, leads classes and workshops on the farm, and offers fresh bouquets at her farmstand. Niki is also the author of the popular book Growing Flowers: Everything You Need to Know About Planting, Tending, Harvesting, and Arranging Beautiful Blooms, first published in 2021 with a new edition set to release in 2025.

In this episode, Niki shares her journey in building a successful flower business. She discusses the importance of attracting the right customers, streamlining services, and diversifying income through various initiatives. Niki also highlights the value of customer education, the benefits of reviewing profit margins, and the role of ASCFG in supporting flower farmers. Learn how Niki manages to balance work and life while creating a business that aligns with her passions and priorities.

Rooted Farmers is free for flower buyers, from consumers to all kinds of florists. Additionally, flower farmers can save $75 on either of the plans they offer by using the code TFP25 for that discount. Follow this link to Rooted Farmers.

Learn more about today’s episode and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com.

Subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more!

You can also watch our conversations on YouTube, in addition to tip-filled videos and educational Lives. Be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss a minute.

Numbers are our friends! Digging deep into the data generated through the growing and selling of our flowers is an important part of creating a more sustainable business. This week, we’re chatting with Adrianne Gammie, owner of Marilla Field and Flora, along with Amelia Ihlo, founder of Rooted Farmers.

We’ll take the time to meet Adrianne and discuss with Amelia how to analyze data from 2024 to evaluate the flower crops grown by both of these growers, as well as analyze the data collected by Rooted Farmers from all its members.

Looking back and identifying which flowers and colors were popular helps us make informed decisions as we move into 2025. There are a lot of flowers and seeds in the ground and in transit to growers all over, so gaining insights from last year's data is particularly helpful as we continue our planning for this year. 

Rooted Farmers is free for flower buyers, from consumers to all kinds of florists. Additionally, flower farmers can save $75 on either of the plans they offer by using the code TFP25 for that discount. Follow this link to Rooted Farmers.

Learn more about today’s episode and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com. 

Subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more! 

You can also watch our conversations on YouTube, in addition to tip-filled videos and educational Lives. Be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss a minute.

Today’s guest is Meg Hutchinson, owner of The Florista, a floral and event business based in Nashville, TN. Meg is known for specializing and creating custom floral designs, bringing her client’s vision to life. Her focus is delivering the “Wow Factor” through bespoke floral experiences that exceed expectations.

In this episode we had a great time discussing several aspects of Meg’s business.

• Never underestimate the importance in investing in yourself and mastering basic mechanics.
• Don’t be afraid to take on projects that push you out of your comfort zone. It might be time to rebrand your business.
• Knowing the story you want to bring your clients will help you define your look and direction with your brand.
• We chat about how she budgets and shops for her events.
• And a whole lot more……

Learn more about Meg Hutchinson and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com.

Subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and many more!

You can also watch our conversations on Youtube, in addition to tip filled videos, and educational Lives. Be sure to Subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss a minute.

We’re grateful to have the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers as a sponsor for this episode. Feel free to learn more about them and all benefits of being a member as ASCFG.org.

If you’re trying to source local flower farmers in your area visit LocalFlowers.org.

Hello everyone! This is a special episode of The Flower Podcast. This year we’re continuing a tradition that started last year with sharing something from our family’s archives. My Dad for many years has collected a wide range of old time radio shows. His collection is made up of over 30,000 different shows and of course there are several Christmas specials.

So we’re excited to reshare this condensed version of Charles Dickens Classic, “A Christmas Carol” again this year. The book was originally published back in 1843 and has been a holiday classic for many years. This radio show originally aired on Christmas Day back in 1949 starring Lionel Barrymore. We’ve included some of the original commercials thrown in for fun.

This week isn’t about flowers, but the holiday’s, family, and friends. We’ll be taking a break for a several weeks as we prepare for 2025. Until then I hope you enjoy this special episode.

Everyone at The Flower Podcast wishes you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Learn more about our podcast and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials,  Live’s, and video extras.

We want to thank this years sponsors of The Flower Podcast!

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop 

I’m excited to share this week’s episode with you! Earlier this year Jenny Love, flower farmer expert and host of the No Till Flowers podcast, asked me to be a guest on her podcast to chat about working with wholesalers as a local flower farmer.

Jenny asked great questions and we had a great conversation that I hope you find helpful. Hopefully through conversation like this we can continue to grow the local flower share of our industry and bring more of the flower production to our own communities wherever you are around the world.

Learn more about all of this years episodes with our guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

This week, we’re catching up with Bailey Hale to dive into all the exciting developments happening at Farmer Bailey. So much has unfolded over the past two years that we had to bring Bailey back on the podcast to get the inside scoop. We’ll hear about his recent tour to the Netherlands, the latest trends in cut flower plants, and their brand-new program, Garden Club Plants, launching this week. As a floral designer, flower farmer, and plant distributor, Bailey’s expertise is unmatched. It’s always a pleasure chatting with him, especially since he travels worldwide, scouting new cut flowers for local farmers to grow and share. Be sure to check out our first episode with Bailey Hale for more!

Explore the new website gardenclubplants.com !

Learn more about Bailey, Farmer Bailey, and today’s show notes with all of our past guests just visit TheFlowerPodcast.com 

You can also listen to our first episode with Bailey here.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more! 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

This week, I’m joined by Ashley Fox, the creative force behind Ashley Fox Designs, a full-service floral studio in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Specializing in stunning floral arrangements for weddings, events, and editorial projects, Ashley is celebrated for her unique use of color and exceptional flower choices, drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature. With 25 years of experience and a background in horticulture and the arts, she carefully selects the finest local blooms alongside exclusive flower varieties from around the world.

Ashley emphasizes the importance of collaboration to ensure a seamless event, blending meticulous attention to detail with thoughtful logistics. Her remarkable work has been showcased in esteemed publications such as VOGUE.com and Martha Stewart Weddings. To foster strong client relationships, she effectively uses Pinterest to understand their preferences and align them with her artistic vision. By employing Canva for design boards and prioritizing her sourcing locally and utilizing Rooted Farmers, Ashley translates her ideas into breathtaking floral creations. Above all, her passion for her craft drives her commitment to delivering unique and memorable experiences for each of her clients.

Learn more about Ashley and today’s show notes with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Our guest this week is Eleanor Lonardo and her business is called The Borrowed Garden located in Crockett, California. Eleanor’s is a small scale flower farmer that sells to florists in the East Bay/San Francisco area.

It’s great to hear about her experiences as she began growing, the benefits of taking floral design workshops as a grower, the importance of photography, and so much more. There are several specialty crops that we explore, and it’s great to hear the pros and cons of these truly specialty cut flowers.

Learn more about Eleanor and today’s show notes with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Sarah Winward is a floral artist and event designer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, specializing in destination weddings. Her work, known for its seasonal, nature-inspired designs, has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Martha Stewart, and she has been named a top florist by Vogue. Sarah’s floral arrangements evoke the beauty of nature, often sourced locally or foraged near event locations to seamlessly integrate with the surroundings.

Passionate about flowers, Sarah collaborates closely with clients to create unique, memorable designs that reflect the season and environment. She believes in prioritizing key floral elements within a budget, planning for delicate blooms, and using mock-ups to ensure a flawless result. Above all, Sarah encourages embracing creativity, trusting your instincts, and allowing your designs to evolve as you grow.

Learn more about Sarah and today’s show notes with all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras.

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Lisa Mason Ziegler, cut-flower farmer, author, educator and founder of The Gardener’s Workshop is returning to The Flower Podcast. Since 1998, she has cultivated her three-acre urban farm in Southeastern Virginia, producing thousands of flower stems weekly for florists, supermarkets, farmer’s markets, and her members-only on-farm market. Lisa has authored several books, including Cool Flowers, and she is the creator of Flower Farming School Online, which has expanded to include courses for both flower farmers and florists, in addition to starting two podcasts, Field and Garden and Seed Talk.

I’m really excited to have Lisa back for a personal year-in-review for flower growers. It’s been several years since our last episode, and I always learn something new from my conversations with her. In this episode, Lisa shares some of the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way, many that are at the heart of what she teaches in her courses. We talk about the importance of setting clear goals and truly understanding your market. I appreciate how she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to tackle challenges with confidence while keeping customer convenience front and center. Her practical advice on building a solid foundation for success in flower farming is incredibly helpful, and she also offers a realistic perspective on business and the importance of continually moving forward. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow in the industry! 

Be sure to listen Lisa’s other episode on The Flower Podcast and also search The Gardener’s Workshop on our YouTube Channel to watch my chats and an instagram Live with Lisa. 

Learn more about Lisa and listen to her first episode with today’s show notes and all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com 

Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more! 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, Live’s, and video extras. 

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardener's Workshop

ASCFG 

Farmer Bailey

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor