The Flower Podcast

Greenhouses, High tunnels, and more with Steve and Gretel Adams: Sunny Meadows Flower Farm Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Our guest this week are first generation flower farmers dedicated to producing sustainabl and domestically grown fresh cut flowers. Gretel and Steve Adams share their passion for farming and helping others fulfill their dreams of building a successful flower farm. We are chatting tunnels, specialty crops, staffing, multiple outlets, consumer awareness and much more. Gretel and Steve own Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio. Their flower journey started in 2006 with a combination of veggies and flowers and has now grown into 100% flower focused production in a combination of field, greenhouse, and high tunnel production.

Learn more about Gretel and Steve and all of our past guests at TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Alicia Rico with Bows and Arrows: Staffing, Substiutions, and Sourcing Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

My guest this week has created stunning events in the US and around the world. Alicia Rico of Bows and Arrows Flowers is dedicated to the creation and communication of beauty via the art of floral and event design. They've been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Harpers Bazaar and Magnolia Journal, and many more publications.

Their floral designs are inspired by art, landscape and culture with attention given to every detail. We chat about several topics from time management, budgets, staffing, sourcing flowers, working with wedding planners, and a lot more.

Learn more about Alicia and all of our past guests at TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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

See our latest Blog on TheFlowerPodcast.com.

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Learning About Flower Breeding with Dr. Rick Grazzini Oct 25, 2021

Show notes

This week, it's time for a little Biology lesson. Do you ever wonder how a new plant variety comes to be? Well, it's a pretty good possibility that some of these plants come from the lab and greenhouses at Garden Genetics. That's right. Today we are discussing the genetics of plants and beautiful flowers.

My guest received his Bachelor's in Biology, a Master's in Horticulture (plant Breeding) from Purdue University, and his Ph.D in Genetics from Penn State. He is a geneticist, plant breeder, inventor of 51 new plant varieties to date, founder of Garden Genetics and today he is my guest. I am chatting with Dr. Rick Grazzinni and it's all happening this week on The Flower Podcast.

Learn more about Rick and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Growing Bulbs with Val Schirmer Oct 18, 2021

Show notes

My guest this week brings the experience of specialty cut flower growing & fine floral design together with a motto to grow the kind of flowers that could literally stop people in their tracks.

After a few Kentucky bourbon toasts on a porch one summer evening between friends was the beginning of this idea to grow the best. That was the beginning of Three Toads Farm which produced some of biggest and boldest Oriental lilies along with other heirloom flowers. This farm has been called one of the top 10 farmer florists in the country by Martha Stewart Weddings.

I'm excited to be chatting with Val Schirmer owner of Three Toads Farm, upcoming President of Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, and creator of her first online course for The Gardener's Workshop all about bulb forcing. Today we're talking about growing lily's, forcing season bulbs, benefits in joining the ASCFG, and so much more.

Learn more about Val and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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Setting Boundaries and More with Jenn Sanchez Oct 11, 2021

Show notes

Our guest this week is Jenn Sanchez located in Oxnard, California producing work from her home studio as well as taking jobs on the road to destination events, photoshoots, and workshops across the country and around the world. Drawn to curious flowers and foliages, she sources from an array of unexpected places to achieve her imagined designs. Farmers market fruits as edible accompaniments to centerpieces, overgrown forgotten grasses in back alleyways, and trimmings from her home garden that add just the thing to make the bridal bouquet sing.

If you're a wedding florist or farmer florist, today's episode has great perspective and insight from Jenn's 8 years of experience bootstrapping her floral business and growing it to what it is today.

We chat about setting boundaries with customers and for family, IG for marketing, and so much more.

Learn more about Jenn and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

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Floral Educator and Legend, Phil Rulloda Oct 04, 2021

Show notes

My guest this week is Phil Rulloda, widely acclaimed leading floral designer, educator, and commentators with AIFD, AAF, and PFCI certifications. He has been a featured speaker and designer for the floral industry all over the world. His record of first place wins in national and international floral design competitions is unmatched by his peers. At the age of 79 he still shares everything he knows with his students at his school the Southern California School of Floral Design.

Phil was invited to the White House to assist in Christmas decorating and has visited many foreign countries at the invitations of heads of State.

He's also judged the Tournament of Roses Parade, contributed to the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in LA, and many other countless awards and opportunities.

We're honored to have him on The Flower Podcast this week to share from his vast life experiences and talent. We cover many topics from where to begin as a floral designer to the importance on mindset as you approach life's challenges.

Learn more about Phil and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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Naturally Dried Flowers and More with Charles LIttle and Company Sep 27, 2021

Show notes

Our guest this week is Bethany and Charles Little of Charles Little and Company. Charles began farming his 35 acres in 1986 and Bethany became the Co-owner in 1998. Their farm is located in Eugene, Oregon.

It was great to chat about how the business started by growing and supply naturally dried flowers to florists all over the US.

This week we chat about:

- the basics of how to dry flowers

- cut stages for drying flowers

- why grow perennials and woody's

- what to look for when you choose your flowers to grow

- and so much more

Learn more about Charles and Bethany Little and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG, Inc.

Exploring Botanical Art with Kristen Alpaugh Sep 20, 2021

Show notes

In 2017, Kristen Alpaugh stepped away from the corporate world to pursue her passion as an artist. Inspired by the impermanent beauty of flowers, Kristen's colorful and boundary-bending work is redefining the space where floristry and botanical art meet. You've probably seen Kristen's work on Season 1 of HBO's Full Bloom, on multiple celebrity instagrams and in some of your favorite music videos with artists like SZA, Katy Perry and Doja Cat donning her wearable floral designs. Kristen is also the founder of Haus of Stems, a botanical art company that sells Irithurium (that's iridescent anthurium) to florists and non-florists nationwide.

It was great to chat about Flwr Pstl and Haus of Stems. Both of Kristen's businesses offer creative inspiration to floral designers and botanical artists. She generously shares about her story growing up and her love for art.

Kristen chats about the importance of never giving up and the need to never stop experimenting. Also, don't ever sell yourself short, you find the magic when you push through the challenges that life gives you.

We mentioned in our episode a past interview with Ashely Woodsen Bailey and wanted to share a link.

Learn more about Kristen and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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

Follow the link to the latest blog post by The Flower Podcast!

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG, Inc.

Dave Dowling: Helping Flower Farmers! Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

Today's guest this week is no stranger to the cut flower industry! Dave Dowling began flower farming in Maryland 20 years with field, high tunnel, and greenhouse production, producing flowers year round. Dave closed his flower business and began working for Ednie Flower Bulb in 2014, which then became a division of Gloeckner in 2016, and now works for Ball ColorLink as an advisor to cut flower growers across North America for small to medium sized farms. In addition he's been a very active member of the ASCFG for many years and today we're really glad to be back with Dave Dowling on The flower Podcast.

In this episode we talk about:

- There's room for more flower farmers!

- You don't have to be the cheapest!

- Plant more than you need!

- Extending your season!

…..and so much more!

Learn more about Dave and all of our past guests on TheFlowerPodcast.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for access to all of our Zoom chats, tutorials, IG Lives, and video extras.

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast: