Welcome to The Flower Podcast, the podcast for anyone who grows or designs with flowers and even then, we talk about so much more. I'm your host, Scott Shepherd and I love chatting with guests about their stories, and uncover the beauty and challenges of working with flowers. I’m excited to share this special conversation this week. Several months ago, LuAnn Dickson Founder and CEO of EveryStem Software asked to turn the microphone on me for her members. We had a great time chatting about how th...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 12Ep. 263
My guest this week is Heather Cain, owner of Petal Pink Flower Farm. From the urban life in San Francisco to the somewhat accidental purchase of a rundown farm in Eugene, Oregon, Heather shares about the family farm life, her incredible trip to Italy and seeing how they trialing the latest in Italian ranunculus. We are also discussing one of my personal favorite crops, hellebore, and much more. It’s a flower journey that takes us from Petal Pink Flower Farm to the greenhouses of beautiful Italy ...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 12Ep. 262
From planning your planting schedule based on lunar cycles to predicting weather patterns that could impact your crops, The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been a go-to guide offering invaluable insights into moon phase planting, weather prediction, and continues to evolve, meeting the needs of modern farmers and gardeners while staying true to its roots. Today my guest is Carol Connare, the 14th editor in the history of the old farmer’s almanac. Carol oversees this cherished publication to create a pe...
May 14, 2024•48 min•Season 12Ep. 261
This week we're replaying our episode with our guest Sandra Sigman, award winning floral designer, owner of Les Fleurs, and author. She launched her first book, French Blooms, last year, which is a beautiful book displaying the design principles she learned from her favorite Parisian florist. Get ready to be transported to a world of elegance and creativity as we dive into the story behind this French inspired floral journey. Sandra moved to France in her early 20’s working as a professional ice...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 12Ep. 261
Anna Jane Kocon is the owner of Little State Flower Company. A sustainable 5 acre flower farm based in Tiverton, Rhode Island that produces cut flowers almost year round. Anna Jane has been professionally growing and selling cut flowers for 18 years by pushing the boundaries of her seasons through the use of heated greenhouses, companion planting perennials and diversifying her market based on the time of year. All while maximizing her small and rugged farm space to its utmost potential. Little ...
May 02, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 12Ep. 260
My guest is Dundee Butcher, a florist, educator, artist, and advocate for sustainability. After training with the premier London florists of Jane Packer Flowers and McQueens, Dundee established the Russian River Flower School in California. Her journey didn't end with education; in 2016, she took a significant leap by co-founding what would become Phoam Lab. Dundee and her team at Phoam Labs are pioneering the development of next-generation floral foams that are not only biobased and non-toxic b...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 12Ep. 259
I'm thrilled to welcome my former professor, Dr. Allan Armitage, to this week's episode of the Flower Podcast. Dr. Armitage, a revered expert in cut flower production and a key figure in horticulture, has profoundly impacted the field worldwide We are discussing* his latest project, A Field Guide for Specialty Cut Flowers co-authored with Kelly Garcia. This guide represents Dr. Armitage's extensive expertise and provides essential insights for anyone interested in growing cut flowers and gardeni...
Apr 18, 2024•54 min•Season 12Ep. 258
Today we tackle an increasingly critical and sometimes controversial topic within the floral industry: sustainability. Amid growing concerns about environmental impacts, the conversation on how the floral industry can adapt and evolve is more relevant than ever. Leading the charge is Rita Feldmann, founder of The Sustainable Floristry Network. Rita's floral journey began in her childhood at her family's flower stand in Melbourne, Australia, and her passion for flowers, combined with a solid back...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 12Ep. 257
Welcome everyone to a new episode of The Flower Podcast. I love uncovering personal stories from the heart of our industry and today, we're taking a slightly different route to shine light on a very special journey of flower farming and how this journey intertwines with nurturing the soul and creating a space for recovery and rejuvenation in the healing process. Flowers, with their beauty and symbolism, have long been a source of comfort and connection and in this episode, we’re talking about ho...
Apr 02, 2024•49 min•Season 12Ep. 256
It’s all things dahlias this week with Steve and Sarah Pabody of Triple Wren Farms on The Flower Podcast! Steve and Sarah are here to share their journey, from choosing the perfect dahlia blooms to finding joy in the balance between passion and life. From understanding about dahlia seeds to their Dahlia Legacy Program and the Novice Hybridizer Program, its’s a conversation filled with learning, laughter, and of course our shared love of flowers. Link to their past episode. Link to YouTube IG Liv...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 12Ep. 255
This week we’re replaying a favorite episode from 2019 in Season 2 with Françoise Weeks. Françoise Weeks, floral artisan and teacher, is this weeks guest on The Flower Podcast. Françoise is a master of the Woodland Design and Botanical Couture. Her passion for nature, materials, and mechanics will ignite your own curiosity to create with an inspired botanical vision. In this episode, Françoise shares how she started her business and the advice she was given, how curiosity and perseverance have b...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 12Ep. 254
I am pleased to welcome back Jennie Love of Love’n Fresh Flowers to The Flower Podcast. Jennie continues to inspire us with her commitment to flower farming and her obvious love of flowers. Her work is a testament to her dedication to no-till farming, supporting local growers, and her approach, not only nurtures the soil and local ecosystems with nature but also brings the unique beauty of each season through her flowers. Today we had a lot of fun discussing the importance of No-Till practices, ...
Mar 05, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 12Ep. 253
My guest this week is Kim Delgado, the Owner and Creative Director behind Mary Stuart Flowers, a bridal floral design enterprise that prides itself on capturing the unique narrative with her couples through the charm of local, seasonal blooms. In this episode, we’re discussing a lot about sourcing local flowers and how she has this conversation especially when booking weddings. Kim shares her partnership with the Connecticut Flower Collective to ensure her designs reflect the beauty and energy o...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 12Ep. 252
This week we’re exploring another specialty crop that has its unusual roots here in North America where it’s a botanical native. But first, our guests are Steve and Margo Galic from Stanwood, Washington. Their business is Fox Leaf Farm and they specialize in growing and breeding Sarracenia also known as pitcher plants. After seeing these cut stems in person last summer, I knew then I wanted to ask them to guests someday. We’re always looking for new flowers to use in our floral designs and espec...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 12Ep. 251
In this week’s episode we are diving into the world of retail floristry with Abby Chick. Although mainly speaking about the florists side of flowers, I encourage you to listen because so many of the points we cover apply to all businesses. Starting from her early days at a traditional flower shop to becoming the successful owner of Blakemore’s Flowers in 2012, Abby Chick is more than a florist. She is passionate about continued education and was honored to be named a 2023 Mayesh Design Star and ...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Season 12Ep. 250
I am excited for this week's episode of The Flower Podcast, where I chat with the Alla Olkhovska of Linden Grove Gardens from Kharkiv, Ukraine. When Erin Benzakein of Floret shared Alla’s story with me, and I visited her website, I discovered Alla's incredible garden of flowers especially her amazing work with clematis. Alla’s not just a gardener; she's a treasure chest filled with knowledge. Her digital book and seed collection open a window to the vast and varied world of Clematis, (and other ...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 12Ep. 249
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Erin Benzakein of Floret, one of the country’s most influential farmer/florist and trailblazing a remarkable path to growing cut flowers. From prestigious awards, including the Martha Stewart American Made award, to her New York Time’s bestselling books and an Emmy-nominated documentary series called "Growing Floret," Erin's contributions to the world of flowers are nothing short of inspiring. Erin's passion for cultivating beauty has led her to emba...
Jan 30, 2024•54 min•Season 12Ep. 248
Mountain Flower Farm is synonymous with stunning blooming branches and beautiful peonies. Our guest this week is Walt Krukowski and his flower farm is located in Warren Vermont. Walt and his team grow more than flowers, he also grows roots for peonies which is where everything begins. Today we’re talking about what to look for when selecting peony varieties to grow, we touch on growing lilacs and clematis, and of course no conversation could be complete without talking about soil. Learn more abo...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 12Ep. 247
Today, we're starting the year off with a burst of color and creativity, as we're joined by none other than Simon Lycett. Simon's journey with flowers began in his youth which continues to bloom today with beautiful floral creations. A familiar face on TV and radio, Simon has graced the airwaves with his floral expertise and charming persona. He's the author of the captivating book, 'The Flower Market Year', where he shares a year's worth of floral insights and inspirations from the New Covent G...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 12Ep. 246
Hello everyone! This is a special episode of The Flower Podcast. Often during this time of year we replay past episodes of our podcast, but this year I would like to share 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. Since Christmas is one week away, we thought it would be fun to share this condensed version of Charles Dic...
Dec 18, 2023•29 min•Season 11Ep. 245
Today, I’m calling this a holiday edition as we talk about one of my favorites…. Foliage and this time of year I especially love Christmas greens. So I am excited to welcome an expert in the world of floral greenery, F.J. Trzuskowski, Vice President of Sales at Continental Floral Greens. F.J.'s journey in the floral industry, from his early days in Holland to his current role at Continental Floral Greens, positions him perfectly to offer invaluable insights into these seasonal favorites. With a ...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 11Ep. 244
Lennie Larkin, the founder of B-Side Farm, took her passion for flowers from a background in adult education to establishing an educational farm. Lennie's experience extends from managing educational farming programs to contributing as the West Coast Director for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and teaching at Santa Rosa Junior College. This week we’re going to learn about Lennie’s research that’s led to her new book called Flower Farming for Profit: The Complete Guide to Growing...
Dec 04, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 11Ep. 243
Today, I'm particularly excited because we're joined by someone I've had the pleasure of spending some time with during a trip to California – the incredibly talented Cathy Hillen-Rulloda. A true legend in the floral industry, Cathy’s dazzling career spans over 40 years. Not only is she a phenomenal designer whose work captivated audiences at the 1984 Olympics, but she's also a trailblazer in floral artistry, winning top honors in major competitions and inspiring audiences at over 300 industry e...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Season 11Ep. 242
I am thrilled to have a familiar face rejoin us – Steve from Sunflower Steve Seed Co. Many of you might remember Steve's inspiring story from his previous visit on The Flower Podcast. It all began in 2007 with a rogue, multi-colored, double-flowering sunflower in his cut flower field. Since their early days in 2000, Steve is at the forefront of creating unique and captivating sunflowers for cut flowers. The journey from those 12 seeds planted in 2008 has led to an astonishing range of beautiful ...
Nov 20, 2023•42 min•Season 11Ep. 241
After spending this week with the flower growing community of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, also know as ASCFG, I’ve come away more inspired and encouraged to see more growers and especially so many first time attendees to this very full conference. I’m Scott Shepherd and this is The Flower Podcast, where I love to chat with florists, floral designers, and flower farmers all over the world. Today I’d like to stress the importance of connection, connection between grower and de...
Nov 13, 2023•26 min•Season 11Ep. 240
Imagine growing up among tulips and lilies in the Netherlands, and then taking that green thumb all the way to building the first Dutch Glass greenhouse in California. From managing the growth of flowers to CEO and President of Sun Valley Floral Farms, Lane DeVries has forged a path as a grower and is a reflection of his devotion to his craft. Over the years, Lane has served the floral community in a variety of positions such as Board of Directors at SAF, trustee for the American Floral Endowmen...
Nov 06, 2023•52 min•Season 11Ep. 239
For those who might have missed their previous visit to our podcast, let me quickly reintroduce this great duo. They're not just flower farmers; they're visionaries in flower farming, dedicated to being the most sustainable flower shipping option in the U.S. Their mission of "Principles before Profit" has guided their journey from the beginning. Steve and Mandy O ’Shea’ s story of 3 Porch Farm is one of shared passions – for sustainable living, renewable energy, and of course, beautiful, farm-fr...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 11Ep. 238
A fourth-generation florist, J Schwanke is a flower expert, content producer, and professional speaker, and has not only made an mark within the flower community but has become a trusted voice and a source of inspiration for flower enthusiasts worldwide with a career that encompasses various facets of the floral industry. He is the host, creator, and producer of Life in Bloom, CEO of UBLOOM, and his company J Schwanke productions produces videos and books and he is here this week We're thrilled ...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 11Ep. 237
My guest this week is a Horticultural Sales & Marketing strategist with a remarkable 30-year career journey, he has navigated through the world of retail, wholesale, import, and export, licensing, sales, and marketing and more. He has established three horticultural businesses, oversees operations in Australia and California, serves 300+ clients globally, and distributes flowers from over 200 local and oversees growers. I am chatting with Adrian Parsons from Helix Australia, an Australian ow...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 11Ep. 236
I am excited to introduce Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales in the UK. Specializing in creating sustainable, everlasting designs with dried flowers, Bex skillfully takes them through their lifecycle, from seed to breath-taking displays. We’re diving deep into the mesmerizing world of dried flowers, exploring the magic and technique of designing with these timeless beauties. We will also be chatting about Bex’s new partnership with Create Academy and her course that launched earlier this year call...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 11Ep. 235
