The Flower Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Micro Flower Farming with Galena Berkompas Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

This week's episode is with Galena Berkompas and the name of her business says it all, Micro Flower Farm. Just a few years ago she began with the goal of trying to fill her property in Vancouver Washington, with all the flowers she could which then morphed into a business selling her flowers and helping others do the same and this week she's sharing her journey on The Flower Podcast.

It was great to chat about:

Prioritizing what you grow and focusing on high value flowers.

The importance of good quality compost.

Benefits of no till growing in a small space.

Finding multiple streams of income.

Learn more about Galena 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, Stitcher, 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 Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Dahlia Growing in the South: Erica Penn Fleur Paws Flower Farm Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

This week my guest is Erica Penn located in Portland TN. She's been growing flowers for several years, but recently relocated from the Philadelphia area to my back yard and it's been a pleasure to get to know her and her beautiful flowers, especially dahlias. Her business is called Fleur Paws Flower Farm where she cultivated flowers with the help of her Golden Retrievers. Seeing her flowers first hand on a regular basis, I'm thrilled Erica's my guest this week.

In this episode, Erica shares about moving her flower farm to the South, the importance of soil testing, and growing dahlias in heat and sun pressure.

Learn more about Erica 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, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Growing Australian Wildflowers with Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflowers Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

Our guest this week is Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflower located in the NSW Central Coast of Australia. Craig began farming with his father in 1984 growing both cut flowers and foliages for florists. Their wholesale business distributes floral products through the Sydney Flower Market.

East Coast Wildflowers is one of Australia's leading wholesalers specializing in Australian wildflowers and South African Proteaceae. They source cultivated flowers and foliage from many states in Australia.

In this episode we chat about:

How they started East Coast Wildflowers

The importance of growing wildflowers

Care of Banksia, Protea, and Grevillea

Growing Ptilotus and Actinotus

Learn more about Craig 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, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Chrysal

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Reaching Your Flower's Potential with Dennis Wheeler of Chrysal Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into the world of flower care, exploring products to ensure the well-being of blooms before they reach our valued clients. My guest has an impressive career spanning nearly forty years in the horticultural industry. Dennis Wheeler currently serves as Sales Manager with Chrysal a global leader in post-harvest care for the past 29 years. Dennis embarked on his professional journey at a renowned greenhouse grower, where he dedicated himself to refining his expertise in the field.

Working in production, Dennis acquired invaluable hands-on experience and developed a profound understanding of the intricate processes involved in the cultivation and nurturing of plants. Dennis then transitioned into the world of sales where he spent three years with a prominent fresh cuts importer from Colombia, which provided him with the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the flower industry and cultivate key relationships. Dennis has become a trusted expert, consulting growers, wholesalers, and retailers on post-harvest care and handling.

So, let's get started, we're talking all things Chrysal, and learning how to unlock the full potential of our flowers! Learn more about Dennis and Chrysal, plus all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey

Chrysal

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Growing Phalaenopsis: Toine Overgaag with Westerlay Orchids Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

My guest this week is a 2nd generation grower carrying on the family tradition of embracing innovation and sustainable growing practices to ensure the highest quality Phalaenopsis orchids are produced. Now growing and selling over 4 million orchids a year, Toine Overgaag of Westerlay Orchids is sharing his family's flower journey from roses to orchids, tips on growing Phals, and what's next as their business continues to grow and innovate.

Learn more about Toine and Westerlay Orchids, plus all of our past guests by visiting TheFlowerPodcast.com

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

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

What's Up and Coming with Cut Flowers: Dr. Alicain Carlson with Syngenta Flowers Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

This week's guest is Dr. Alicain Carlson she is the head to technical services for Syngenta Flowers. Her story begins with flower farmings and floral design work at Lynnvale Studios while in college. She received her masters and PHD at North Caroline State University in the cut flower research program with Dr John Dole where she also co wrote the book Postharvest handling of Cut flowers and greens. Today we're talking about the process of creating new cut flowers, growing mums, and what new flowers are coming for 2024 and it's all happening this week on The Flower Podcast.

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

You can subscribe to The Flower Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. We are available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Building Your Dynamic Floral Team with Mandy Benoit of Trillium Floral Design May 02, 2023

Show notes

My guest is Mandy Benoit,owner of Trillium Floral Designs. A full service flower shop located in Ottawa, Canada, Mandy has over 20 years of experience and in 2020 took over the family business shortly after the pandemic started. Using her background in multimedia design and writing for a Canadian florist magazine, Mandy pulls from all of these and adds a personal touch to the established business. She continues to find ways to grow Trillium and help other small businesses in her community. This week, Mandy shares her floral journey and we dive into an area not usually discussed on The Flower Podcast, Employees. Mandy shares her hiring process and creating a dynamic floral team pulling from each others strengths and areas to improve.

Learn more about Mandy 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, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Specializing in Branches with Karl Vahrmeyer Jr with Green Park Nurseries Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

Karl Vahrmeyer Jr. is our guest this week. He is part of the second generation that's continuing the family legecy at Green Park Nurseries on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada where they grow and sell branches. Karl Sr. started the nursery in 1980 where he grew trees and plants for garden centers and nurseries. In the early 2000s, they started growing only cut branches for the floral industry. So, this week we're talking about everything from pussy willow to 9 bark on The Flower Podcast.

Learn more about Karl 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, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

Floral Decor and SNL with Kim Kachougian, owner of Mac and the Mushroom Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

I'm always surprised by how flowers can find people and change their lives for good. This week, Kim Kachougian is my guest. She is the owner and lead creator of a flower design company in New York City called Mac and the Mushroom. Flowers found her through the set design on the one and only Saturday Night Live, where she has been for over 10 years. Kim has won 4 Emmy Awards for her attention to detail and ability to work under pressure, and I'm excited to share her story on this week's episode of The Flower Podcast.

Learn more about Kim 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, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Gaana, and many more!

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

ASCFG

Farmer Bailey Plugs

Chrysal

Rooted Farmers

Real Flower Business

Accent Decor

The Gardeners Workshop

Alaska Peony Cooperative

2022 Felicia Alvarez: Growing Garden Roses Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

This week we're replaying our episode with our guest Felicia Alvarez of Menagerie Farm and Flower. She shares her love of fragrant garden roses through her sustainable farming practices, her specialty farm nursery, and helping others through online learning and in person workshops through the Menagerie Academy. Today's episode is packed full of growing tips , how-to's and why's from Felicia.

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

Visit Felicia's Page on our website.

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

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

Sponsors of The Flower Podcast

The Gardeners Workshop