SLOW FLOWERS with Debra Prinzing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRCouoc2Xyk We have an info- and inspo-packed show today in which you will meet six floral experts who will present at next week's Slow Flowers Summit. I'm thrilled that all of these gifted and talented flower friends were able to join me in the virtual studio this past week for a quick introduction and lively conversation. The Slow Flowers Summit takes place on June 26-27, 2023, at the Bellevue Botanical Garden in the Seattle area. It's our sixth annual gathering and we wanted to showcase as many speakers as possible, bringing a diverse range of ideas and creativity to our attendees. When Karen Thornton, our event manager, and I discovered that the meeting spaces at BBG could be divided to accommodate simultaneous breakout sessions, it seemed ideal to offer three subject tracks -- we've never done this before, so it's going to be fun to see how to move all the many people and places around in a short period of time. On Tuesday, there will be three options at both 11 am and 1 pm - before and after lunch and organized by floral design, flower farming and sustainability. So today, you'll meet all six of the experts who will present in these tracks. All are past guests of the Slow Flowers Podcast, so you may recognize their names and voices. For scheduling reasons, we recorded on two different days. First, you'll meet Sarah Reyes of Wildflower & Fern, who is one of our sustainability speakers; and you'll also hear from both of our flower farming speakers, Tracy Yang of Jahn Co. Flowers and Dee Hall of Mermaid City Flowers; then, in part two, you'll meet Becky Feasby of Prairie Girl Flowers, the second sustainability speaker; and both of our floral design presenters, Gina Lett-Shrewsberry of Inspirations by Gina and Valerie Crisostomo of Black Girl Florists. View the entire Slow Flowers Summit Schedule and Program here. Thank you so much for joining me today! If you're still thinking about attending the Slow Flowers Summit, there is still time to register, so please reach out with any questions -- we may be able to connect you with an attendee who has an extra ticket to sell. Contact us here: info@slowflowers.com. Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. Thank you to Longfield Gardens, which provides home gardeners with high quality flower bulbs and perennials. Their online store offers plants for every region and every season, from tulips and daffodils to dahlias, caladiums and amaryllis. Check out the full catalog at Longfield Gardens at longfield-gardens.com. Thank you to Rooted Farmers. Rooted Farmers works exclusively with local growers to put the highest-quality specialty cut flowers in floral customers' hands. When you partner with Rooted Farmers, you are investing in your community, and you can expect a commitment to excellence in return. Learn more at RootedFarmers.com. Thank you to Johnny's Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emYtcj-K6_w Today, I'm happy to share my recent conversation with Julio Freitas, owner of The Flower Hat, an event floral design studio and flower farm based in Bozeman, Montana. A longtime Slow Flowers member and past guest of the Slow Flowers Podcast, we've been eager to bring Julio to the Slow Flowers Summit stage - ever since our first year in 2017. Julio's passion for floral design grew into flower farming when he realized he could successfully grow flowers despite Montana's challenging climate. In our conversation, we discuss how as his floral enterprise evolves and changes, he continues to develop educational resources to teach others how to succeed in business and thrive in floral design and farming. Julio grows flowers for his own designs, devotes one-half of the farm's production area to dahlia tubers for The Flower Hat's successful online sales program, and trials bulbs for fall sales. At the Slow Flowers Summit, Julio will headline Day Two, presenting a one-hour mini-version of The Flower Hat's popular workshop series, tailored for florists, growers, and farmer-florists. He will share insights on The Flower Hat's unique business model and design a centerpiece in his unique style. Featured in numerous national and international publications, the common thread of The Flower Hat's weddings and events are LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS, which Julio credits as a major distinctive for his studio's aesthetic and brand. Despite a short season (USDA Zone 4b) and limited acreage, The Flower Hat maximizes production by carefully selecting crops that elevate arrangements -- including hard-to-ship and hard-to-find varieties that bring floral designs to life. Floral Design by Julio Freitas of The Flower Hat Julio can chat about business while also designing a floral arrangement -- what a feat! Enjoy the design demonstration and watch Julio's process as he creates a centerpiece using a low, footed bowl and a ball of chicken wire, along with statice, watsonia, carnations, ranunculus and no foliage. It's a fabulous tutorial. Thank you so much for joining me today! As always, I feel like I could chat with Julio for hours. And I wanted to mention, you heard a few other voices in this episode, including Tonneli Gruetter of Salty Acres Farm, our Slow Flowers Membership manager. She helped facilitate our June Slow Flowers Member Meet-Up and I asked her to field questions and make sure that our attendees comments were shared during the session. Thank you to our Sponsors! This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. And just for you attendees of the upcoming Slow Flowers Summit on June 26-27, the folks at Farmgirl Flowers have given us a lovely travel candle that you'll find in your gift bag. Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot, a popular solution for flower farmers, studio florists and farmer-florists.  Save $1000s when you build your own walk-in cooler with the CoolBot and an air conditioner.  Don't have time to build your own?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtr9yat7pXw I'm thrilled today to bring you an informative conversation about Island Flower Growers, an emerging flower hub based outside of Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island in Canada. Island Flower Growers hosted a "Thrips workshop" at Lorna Jackson's Ninebark Farm for Co-op members with Emily Carmichael from the BC Ministry of Agriculture. If you caught Episode 611 a few weeks ago, you met Julie Remy of Fleuris Studio and Blooms, a farmer-florist on Vancouver Island; we briefly discussed the Island Flower Growers Cooperative as her primary outlet for selling flowers wholesale. I visited the Island in early May when I interviewed Julie, and before I returned home, I stopped by the Metchosin Farmers Institute, a multiuse venue where I met the cooperative member farmers. I was lucky to meet most of the growers on an early Wednesday morning, the regular day when flower farmers bring their harvest to this central hub where flowers are sorted and organized for client deliveries or pickup. That's where I met Lorna Jackson, co-founder and president of Island Flower Growers, and Cara Scott, the market manager, among many other talented and passionate island flower growers. I was thrilled to watch the buzzing of energy and the synergy as flower farmers compared their seasonal crops, discussed plans, and admired the collection of blooms ordered by area florists. Here's a bit more about Island Flower Growers: Island Flower Growers is a producer-owned co-operative of cut-flower growers on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. The co-op helps build the strength and vitality of Vancouver Island's local flower community by:​ Operating a weekly, online wholesale market, which makes high quality, specialty blooms and foliage more accessible to our discerning clients ​Helping local growers build successful and rewarding businesses around their exceptional product ​Advocating for flower farming's significant role in stewarding our region's environmental and community wellbeing It is so inspiring to learn how this regional flower hub is changing the way florists and their consumers engage with sustainably-grown, seasonal flowers! See below for Island Flower Growers resources that Lorna and Cara have shared: Jun 2021_IFGC Rose Guide_v1Download Guide to Island-Grown Roses The "Rose Guide" provides education for members and potential Guest Growers. "We're trying to do everything we can to provide excellent garden roses to our clients for weddings," Lorna explained. July 2021_IFGC Intro to Better Photos_finalDownload Island Flower Growers produced a "Better Photos" guide helps make their shopfront on the Open Food Network more attractive, more informative visually, more standardized, and connects with clients through beautiful images. "We aim to have each photo provide as much information as possible: what a bunch looks like, stage of openness clients can expect, accurate colours and textures," Lorna says. "But we still want growers to be able to be artful with images, to have a personality, as in the photo of yellow baptisia."  Yellow Baptisia from Island Flower Growers Find and follow Island Flower Growers on Instagram Watch: Growing Slow, a feature from CBC Vancouver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkn2gWg7DL4&list=PLd9pLwfvcsdRlbfKwBhoC3fdOJb1C6pMo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHsxsPpF85k Last month, passports in hand, I traveled by car and ferryboat to the Island of Vancouver in British Columbia. The trip was to celebrate my mother's 88th birthday, enjoy high tea at the famed Empress Hotel, tour the spring borders and displays at the famed Butchart Gardens, and enjoy this beautiful destination for a few days. Of course, I had to invite myself to meet some of our Slow Flowers members in Victoria while there. As I mentioned, we took a ferry ride -- 90 minutes to cross from Twassen to Schwartz Bay, and the views were incredible. On the first morning, we set out to visit Fleuris Studio and Blooms, and to meet Julie Remy in person. Julie greeted us, settled my mom and her book on a cozy chair for a while, and we embarked on a lovely tour of the small island farm where Julie and her partner live and work. Early May arrangement by Julie Remy of Fleuris Studio & Blooms Fleuris Studio's tagline is: Elegant & Eco-Friendly FLOWERS. It was fascinating to learn about the journey that led Julie to this special place and to a life focused on growing and sourcing sustainable flowers for her luxurious florals, wedding designs, unique floral subscriptions, and private flower arranging workshops.  Floral Umbrella by Julie Remy As she explains on her website: "I want to connect others to nature through the beauty of flowers. My business perfectly draws on my greatest passions: gardening, photography, interior design, antiques and a love of all colours, textures and lines." Seasonal Summer Bouquet by Julie Remy I loved learning how Julie has travelled the world as a humanitarian photographer, after which she settled on Vancouver Island and built a small floral design studio surrounded by the flowers that she grows and work with. We'll start with an interview, recorded in Julie's studio. If you're interested in watching our 20-minute virtual tour of the gardens and flower production areas at Fleuris, check out the video above at the 35:45 time mark. Botanical couture by Julie Remy Julie's story is a lovely example of how one woman chooses to leave a positive impact on her environment by thinking creatively and sustainably about the ways in which she grows, sources, and arranges flowers. This includes regenerative growing methods, focusing on seasonality, using recyclable packaging, and never using non-biodegradable floral foam in her designs. As she briefly mentioned, Julie sells her flowers through the Island Flower Growers, Slow Flowers members and a producer-owned co-operative of cut-flower growers on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. In a few weeks, you'll learn more about this vibrant and vital regional flower hub when I host a conversation with Lorna Jackson, one of the founders and board president. I can't wait to share that episode with you. Find and follow Fleuris Studio & Blooms:Instagram and Facebook News of the Week In news of the week, I recently recorded two interviews and I want to share them with you. https://youtu.be/Rp8FYXuWKNw First, check out the May issue of Shawn Michael Foley's Fleurvana magazine, which includes a really fun conversation we recently recorded for video viewing. You can find the free link to read this monthly interactive floral design magazine, including my video clip with Shawn, in our show notes -- good through the end of May. Shawn has shared some Slow Flowers promotional codes for anyon...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6mhxbtMgg Today, we take a trip to rural Northern Colorado, where sisters-in-law Gretchen Langston and Gaylene Moldt operate Blooms Colorado on 40 acres north of Ft. Collins. Blooms Colorado delivery van It's fascinating to learn how they have grown this floral enterprise, established in 2017, to serve Ft. Collins, which is their closest metro market; and florists both south and north -- in Denver 2 hours to the south and those in the southern Wyoming cities of Cheyenne and Laramie. Spring tulips at Blooms Colorado Blooms sells its flowers wholesale direct-to-designer through two regional flower collectives, including the Northern Colorado Flower Community (NOCO) and the Colorado Flower Collective in the Denver area. They also serve a grocery account in Ft. Collins. Raised on a small farm in rural Missouri by her teacher-parents, like many country kids, Gretchen swore never to do the same thing. She had her big-city urban experience, and still has her big-time career as Global VP of Risk Management, Environment, Health & Safety for a company that operates most of the large National Park concessions in the U.S., serving parks like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Zion. How does she do it all? Well, one of her not-so-secret weapons is her sister-in-law Gaylene, who Gretchen convinced to move to Colorado to run the flower enterprise. Gaylene is the day-to-day manager of Bloom Colorado, which also the market manager for Northern Colorado Flower Community (NOCO). As for variety, Blooms specializes in perennials, woodies, peonies and dahlias with about 5 acres in production. Supplying designers who produce destination weddings florals is clearly their niche. Gretchen and I recorded a conversation in the virtual studio recently, and let's jump right in and meet her. At the end of the interview you will see two very short drone videos that Gretchen shared -- they will give you a good idea of the prolific flower farm against the background of stunning, high desert landscapes. Find and follow Blooms Colorado:Instagram Thank you to our Sponsors! This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. Thank you to Details Flowers Software, a platform specifically designed to help florists and designers do more and earn more. With an elegant and easy-to-use system--Details is here to improve profitability, productivity, and organization for floral businesses of all shapes and sizes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CielTmxu9gA Last month you met Jessie Witscher of Understory Farm as we discussed how she and her partner Gregory Witscher grow masses of cut flowers to sell through wholesale channels. Debra Prinzing (left) and Abby Matson (right) at Green Mountain Floral Supply (c) Jenna Brisson I met Jessie when we both participated in the Spring Educational and Workshop Series presented by Green Mountain Floral Supply in Burlington, Vermont. I called that March event a Slow Flowers love fest because it brought me together with Tom and Kim Jennings, owners of Green Mountain; Jayson Munn, seminar coordinator; Holly Chapple, who taught floral design and business workshops for three days -- and two local Slow Flowers members, Jessie and today's guest, Abby Matson of Diddle & Zen. Diddle & Zen flowers So today, I'm going to share the conversation I recorded while I was in Burlington, with Abby Matson of Diddle & Zen. I'm so happy to introduce you to her and share her story. Abby and her husband/partner Derek Matson own a beautiful flower farm in Panton, Vermont, not too far from Burlington. Diddle & Zen flower farm, Panton, Vermont Writing on their website, Abby says: "We have a passion for the beauty of Vermont and its community. We are committed to sustainable practices and supporting small, and local businesses. We create naturally inspired floral designs that are influenced by traditional elegance. Our floral design services are available for events other than weddings too." Inside the Diddle & Zen farm store Derek and one of the couple's beloved Weimaraners To be honest, Abby's story is one of serendipity and spontaneity. She and Derek made a radical change in their lives, buying a picturesque farm in Vermont and moving there from Colorado just prior to the arrival of the COVID 19 pandemic. You'll love hearing how they have shaped a flower-filled life for themselves and their beloved Weimaraners, Gunnie and Ghost. Popular farm tours at Diddle & Zen (c) Elisabeth Waller Photography When Abby and I recorded this conversation, she knew she had a lot of things planned around Mother's Day flowers and promised to circle back with the details. Here's how Diddle & Zen is sharing flowers with their community: They are partnering with Matryoshka's Bakery to offer a flower/cookie bundle at both the Diddle & Zen farm store and at Matryoshka's, which known for beautiful macarons with incredible flavor combos. Diddle & Zen will also collaborate with Stephanie Grace Ceramics to offer flower arrangements in her beautiful porcelain vases; and, They have invited Stephanie Brigan Photography to the farm to offer mini photo sessions next Saturday May 13th, which is already sold out. Abby notes: Of course, we'll have the farm store stocked with lots of grab and go bouquets! Find and follow Diddle & Zen on Instagram Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TDDV7okIE Amelia Ihlo of Rooted Farmers (left); Leah Ducey (and family) of Spring Wind Farm and Garden State Flower Cooperative (right) The spring flower season is warming and today I have invited two guests to share about crop pricing strategies and selling through wholesale flower hubs. You'll meet return guest Amelia Ihlo of Rooted Farmers, an online platform for flower farmers and a Slow Flowers Podcast sponsor, and New Jersey-based flower farmer Leah Ducey of Spring Wind Farm + the Garden State Flower Cooperative. We'll learn more about Leah's path to flowers, what she grows and how she has developed a marketplace with other growers at the Garden State Flower Cooperative. And Amelia will share about some of the new tools and programs that Rooted Farmers has developed to help growers with pricing seasonal cut flowers. Spring and Fall Crops at Spring Wind Farm Past Episode featuring Amelia Ihlo and Rooted Farmers: Episode 438: Rooted Farmers: A New Online Marketplace for Selling and Buying Local Flowers Episode 494: How does Rooted Farmers’ marketplace work? An update from founder Amelia Ihlo and insights from farmer-florist Haley Billipp of Eddy Farm and Connecticut Flower Collective Rooted Farmers Resources: Sample: Rooted Range Flower Pricing Tool https://vimeo.com/785440846 Short Video Tutorial More Resources from the Rooted Farmers' Blog: Blog posts: Farm Finances: Dig Into Expenses Data & Analytics: A Crash Course The Results Are In: 2022 Year in Review $75 off Rooted Farmers promotion for Slow Flowers Members About Leah Ducey & Spring Wind Farm: Spring Wind Farm is a family farm run by Brian and Leah Ducey with their children Cole and Niamh. We both come from a long line of farmers several generations back and are eager to reintroduce the farming tradition to our children. The beauty at Spring Wind Farm Leah has always loved being outside and after working on a flower farm in high school had a passion for growing flowers. She studied Horticulture at Cook College, Rutgers and worked on a Lily Breeding Project, in addition to her research she started a 1/4 acre cut flower field at the Student Organic Farm. Leah and Brian moved to Ireland for a while and when they came home Leah took a job teaching high school biology and sustainability. After 10 years of teaching they found a farm where they could both pursue their agricultural interests with their young children. 2018 was Leah’s first season back in the flower growing field and out of the traditional classroom. Leah loves to grow unusual varieties and loves the design aspect as well. The best part is working with kids in the field, Cole and Niamh are amazing helpers! Leah's glorious foxgloves at Spring Wind Farm Brian also studied Horticulture at Cook College, Rutgers and spent several years working in the turf grass industry. Brian transitioned to a role running a local high school Agricultural program and he is responsible to making all of Leah’s wild ideas fly! Brian is the farm’s irrigation specialist, builder, tamer of wild spaces and he can make a mean bouquet. We look forward to future agricultural endeavors on the 20 acres we call home. Find and Follow Spring Wind Farm on Facebook and Instagram

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR1Q2nhREYw It's great to be back with you today -- and to share another inspiring and uplifting conversation about the healing power of plants and the ability of flowers to nurture us, body and soul. Kate Watters (left) and a Wild Heart Farm CSA share, including a poem tucked inside the bouquet My guest today is botanist-turned-farmer-florist Kate Watters of Arizona's Wild Heart Farm. I first met Kate several years ago through the community of florists and flower farmers in Arizona, where I often visited my parents who were living outside of Phoenix. Kate and I connected through her frequent collaborator, Terri Schuett, owner of Happy Vine Flowers, a Prescott Valley area florist who is also part of the Slow Flowers Movement. The women produced a beautiful styled shoot that we published in Florists Review in December 2019, and I've secretly always wanted them to team up for a desert-inspired botanical couture piece for American Flowers Week! READ: The Desert as Floral Canvas The-Desert-as-Floral-CanvasFlorists' Review December 2019 READ: Flower Power: A farmer-florist reflects on the time she sold Valentine’s Day roses on a Las Vegas corner A family affair at Wild Heart Farm, with Kate, her sister Kelly, and her partner Mike Knapp (c) Amy S. Martin Kate has an extensive background in botany, ecological restoration and agriculture, coming to floristry while establishing flower and herb gardens at Orchard Canyon on Oak Creek, a 10-acre destination resort in Sedona. Wild Heart Farm (c) Amy S. Martin She transitioned to flower farming full time when she and her partner Mike Knapp found a unique property in Rimrock. They knew it could become the heart and home for both of their personal and professional endeavors. As Kate says, after 20 years in the field and wilds of botany and conservation, she wanted nothing more than to grow fields of flowers. "Flower Healing," with yoga on the farm at a Wild Heart Farm retreat Now, at Wild Heart Farm, Kate calls her approach to plant-based products and programs 'Flower Healing.' "Plants have so many qualities that bolster emotional and mental wellness," she explains. I invited Kate to share more in today's conversation. The second part of this episode features a 12-minute video tour of Wild Heart Farm, which Kate filmed to give us a closer look at this special destination in the high desert. Learn more about BLOOMING FROM THE ASHES: FOREST FIRE AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, Wild Heart Farm at ArtX on May 26th, 2023 Follow Wild Heart Farm on Facebook and Instagram This week's News And a reminder that tomorrow is our free webinar for Southern States flower growers. You're invited to Join Slow Flowers +Johnny's Selected Seeds at attend, tomorrow, April 27th (2 pm Pacific/5 pm Eastern). I'll be co-hosting the session with Johnny's Seeds' Flower Product Manager Hillary Alger for a discussion on what it means to grow flowers in the challenging climatic conditions of the southern United States. Our  guest panel of experienced Slow Flowers members are cut-flower growers from Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. We'll hear their farming stories firsthand and discuss regional growing challenges, lessons learned, and their favorite varieties. You'll meet and learn from them: Rita Anders, Cuts of Color, Weimar, Texas Eileen Tongson, FarmGal Flowers,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQYrwKoC7OY Last month I participated in the Spring Educational and Workshop Series presented by Green Mountain Floral Supply in Burlington, Vermont. It was a Slow Flowers love fest, bringing me together with Tom and Kim Jennings, owners of Green Mountain; Jayson Munn, seminar coordinator; Holly Chapple, who taught floral design and business workshops for three days; and today's guest, local Vermont flower farmer Jessie Witscher, co-owner with her partner Gregory Witscher of Understory Farm -- all Slow Flowers members. Jessie Witscher, photographed by Jenna Brisson at Green Mountain Floral Supply A bird's eye view of the beautiful Understory Farm Jessie was invited to share about her flower farm, and to discuss growing premium specialty cut flowers to supply Green Mountain. We also heard a presentation by farmer-florist Abby Matson of Diddle & Zen, also located in the Burlington area. I took advantage of a free day to invite both Jessie and Abby to record conversations to share with you. We'll hear from Abby in a few weeks, but today, you're in for a treat to learn from Jessie. A stunning drone image of the flower fields at Understory Farm We'll learn how Jessie and Gregory do the math to calculate profitability for their mostly wholesale-focused operation. Nearly 80 percent of their flowers include wholesale channels to Green Mountain Floral Supply and to two grocery coops in their region. If you've always wondered how to make it work, learning from Jessie's insights is a great place to start. Grocery bouquets from Understory Farm Find and follow Understory Farm on Instagram and Facebook Understory Farm Newsletter signup FarmFirst Peer Support Network Slow Flowers News In other news, if you're a Southeastern flower grower, you're invited to Join Slow Flowers +Johnny's Selected Seeds at attend a free webinar on April 27th (2 pm Pacific/5 pm Eastern). I'll be co-hosting the session with Johnny's Seeds' Flower Product Manager Hillary Alger for a discussion on what it means to grow flowers in the challenging climatic conditions of the southern United States. Our guest panel of experienced Slow Flowers members are cut-flower growers from Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. We'll hear their farming stories firsthand and discuss regional growing challenges, lessons learned, and their favorite varieties. You'll meet and learn from them: Rita Anders, Cuts of Color, Weimar, Texas Eileen Tongson, FarmGal Flowers, Orlando, Florida Taij & Victoria Cotten, Cotten Picked, Pittsboro, North Carolina Julia Keel, Full Keel Farm, Fort White, Florida The webinar is free and you can sign up at the link below. Click Here to Pre-Register for "Flower Growing in Southern States" Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvWLhmacHaE The Color of Roses by Danielle Dall'Armi Hahn If you're a rose lover, you already know about Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria, California, a mecca for garden roses -- all 40,000 plants that produce cut flowers to supply the national floral trade and event design world. Rose Story Farm thrives under the care of Danielle Dall'Armi Hahn, her husband Bill Hahn, her mother Patricia Dall'Armi, her sister Nina Dall'Armi, her business manager Patti Keck and so many other longtime farm staff members. Introduction to The Color of Roses She may not remember this, but I first met Dani in October 2007 when I had recently relocated to Ventura County and my Seattle friends Maryann and Charles Pember, who were vacationing in Santa Barbara, invited me to meet them at Rose Story Farm for one of its famous tours and luncheons in the display gardens. Writing about the visit was one of my very first blog posts! Later, we corresponded when Dani joined Slow Flowers Society during the very first year of our existence. And then, I visited during an industry dinner in 2014 where we finally met in person. Soon thereafter, Dani appeared as a guest -- my 28th guest - of the new Slow Flowers Podcast in February 2014. So much has happened in the ensuing years, which she and I discuss in today's episode, while I also turn the pages of The Color of Roses and we admire the lush and dreamy rose photography of Victoria Pearson -- all 330 pages of it! Let's jump right in and meet Dani Hahn, catch up on all that she's been doing, and learn why she wants to reclassify the term Garden Rose! What a lovely experience to talk roses with one of our living rose legends! photography by Victoria Pearson Thank you, Dani ~ I can't wait to return to Rose Story Farm for another visit! Order your copy of The Color of Roses here. We will also share the public dates for visiting Rose Story Farm, just released. The first date is at the end of April so check it out if you'll be in the Santa Barbara/Carpinteria area. To celebrate their 25th Anniversary RSF will be hosting a limited number of garden tours. Experience the splendor of this 15-acre farm featuring 30,000 rose plants in 200 varieties. Blooms rotate in six-week cycles so at any time during the season (mid-April to end of November), over 3⁄4 of the plants will be in bloom. Click here to book your Farm Visit at Rose Story Farm - April-June 2023 News for this Week Fragrance from Field & Florist; jewelry from FLEUR Inc LLC In News of the Week, our Member Meet-up of the month takes place this Friday, April 14th, 9 am PT/Noon ET. We have invited four guests, all Slow Flowers members who own successful retail flower shops and who have curated an unique product mix of gifts and other items that pair well with fresh, local flowers. You'll hear from this panel who offer high-value collections to their floral customers. Meet: Heidi Joynt of Field + Florist -- luxury fragrances Susan Chambers of bloominCouture -- custom candles Kelly Marie Thompson of Fleur Inc. Chicago - fine jewelry Lauralee Symes of Sellwood Flower Co. - wine and bubbly Click here to Pre-Register for the Meet-Up Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt2AoZR-xKc A few weeks ago, Slow Flowers and our publishing partner BLOOM Imprint released our 2023 Slow Flowers Floral Insights and Industry Forecast. We called our first insight "Non-Floral Florals," acknowledging the broadening plant palette for cut flower growers and florists who are adopting all types of botanical ingredients -- from mushrooms and vegetables, to foraged materials to nontraditional plants such as native species. Michigan's Seeley Farm and Joe Pye Weed, a native perennial We highlighted today's guest in that insight and I'm thrilled that you can meet her today and learn more. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Slow Flowers member Alexandra Cacciari of Seeley Farm has introduced her floral customers at the Michigan Flower Growers Cooperative to native perennials suitable as cut flowers. Amsonia (top right) and other foliages Through a Farmer-Rancher grant from North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC-SARE), the project has trialed more than 20 species of native, herbaceous flowers and foliage plants to determine their value and marketability in the wholesale floral industry. Mixed bouquets featuring native lupine According to Alex, these plants (which include such beauties as gentian, black-eyed Susan, blue flag iris, Joe Pye weed, and swamp milkweed) support wildlife and pollinators, and are more drought and flood tolerant than their non-native counterparts. "As cut flower crops, when planted in their desired conditions, native plants require less added water, fertility, and pesticides than traditional crops, and offer a sustainable option for growers," she explains. Thanks so much for joining us today. I hope you are inspired to explore native perennials in your region! Find and follow Seeley Farm on Instagram Listen to our October 2018 conversation: Episode 371: The Michigan Flower Growers Cooperative  with Amanda Maurmann of Gnome Grown Flower Farm and Alex Cacciari of Seeley Farm More about the Native Cut Flower Project This Week's News In other news, I have a lot of thanks to share. Credits: New York Times (c) Lindsay Morris Last week, Valentine's Day week, was filled with flowers and opportunities to share our Slow Flowers message! We received a lot of media attention, including three major mentions in the New York Times, David Byrne's "Reasons to be Cheerful" newsletter, and the international environmental publication Hakai Magazine. Click to read excerpts of our Slow Flowers Valentine's Day Press We also wrapped up five amazing days at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival floral stage, where Slow Flowers produced daily hands-on floral design workshops with local and domestic botanicals. One-hundred-and-fifty students participated and hundreds more were in the audience to learn from our member design instructors, including Riz Reyes of RHR Horticulture and Heronswood Gardens (past Slow Flowers Summit speaker); Hannah Morgan of Fortunate Orchard (who many of you met during our November Slow Flowers Meet-up), Kiara Hancock of K. Hancock Design (past podcast guest), and other past podcast guests Nick Songsangcharntara and Tracy Yang of Jarn Co. Farm -- Tracy will also be speaking at the 2023 Slow Flowers Summit coming up. We also hosted friend of Slow Flowers, horticulturist Tyra Shenaurlt of the WW Seymour Conseratory in Tacoma, Washington. I met many fans and listeners who introduced themselves,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bG-kVn_Ybo I'm delighted to host today's conversation with the creatives behind Black Florists Fund. Black Florists Fund is an endeavor embarked upon in partnership with Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) and a team of Black entrepreneur advisors. Through donations and sponsorships, Black Florist Fund (BFF) aims to provide worry-free capital grants and other crucial business resources to Black florists. These grants will be awarded to applicants who demonstrate a passion for the floral business community and a need for additional funding to help reach their goals and propel their business. Black Florists Fund hopes to provide valuable support to help stabilize and grow a number of black owned floral businesses each year. It is with profound gratitude that I welcome three individuals in the floral community who are going to share more about what Black Florists Fund and how we can all get more involved. You'll hear from Elizabeth Cronin, founder and creative director of Asrai Garden; John Caleb Pendleton, creative director of Planks & Pistils, and Taylor Bates of Dusk Lily Floral Design, the first recipient of a Black Florists Fund grant. All three are based in Chicago and you'll hear how their stories are woven together to support entrepreneurial Black florists and flower farmers through this new initiative. Taylor Bates, Dusk Lily Floral Design Floral design by Taylor Bates Follow Dusk Lily Floral on Instagram John Caleb Pendleton, Planks & Pistils Floral design by John Caleb Pendleton Follow Planks & Pistils on Instagram Elizabeth Cronin of Asrai Gardens Floral design by Elizabeth Cronin Follow Asrai Garden on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Cronin on Instagram Follow Black Florists Fund on Instagam Black Florists Fund Assets for your use: Letter to Florist Partners Script for soliciting donations from shoppers/customers at the register Corporate Solicitations Letter Social Media Artwork & Logos Let's support the 2023 round of fundraising and grant making. Link to Donate to BFF I hope you're as inspired as I am to make a difference -- in any way that works for you. Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot, a popular solution for flower farmers, studio florists and farmer-florists.  Save $1000s when you build your own walk-in cooler with the CoolBot and an air conditioner.  Don't have time to build your own?  They also have turnkey units available. Learn more at storeitcold.com. Thank you to Red Twig Farms. Based in Johnstown, Ohio,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw_954Odmk0 Today, I'm so happy to welcome friend, floral designer, and Slow Flowers member Ellen Seagraves. Owner of Chic Floral Designs, Ellen is based in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside the DC Metro Center. Ellen is a floral designer with more than 15 years experience. She holds a BFA in weaving and textile design and often incorporate elements of those disciplines into her work. As a student of Ikebana, she often apply those design forms to her own work. Ellen has achieved AIFD and EMC professional certification and is the president of the Independent Floral Designers Association - IFDA. Her floral aesthetic encompasses a wide range of styles to suit the various needs her clients. Her arrangements have been featured in a large number of venues, including The White House, the French Embassy Cultural Center, The National Botanic Garden, and Blair House. I'm delighted to share our conversation, recorded last week. You can find and follow Ellen and IFDA at these social places:Ellen Seagraves on InstagramIFDA on Instagram and Facebook In other news this week, we have just dropped the Slow Flowers Newsletter for February, so check out the link in our show notes. In it, we announce our new Slow Flower Journal Winter 2023 issue -- Botany Lessons -- which is free to Slow Flowers members as one of your member benefits. The issue is priceless, although you can purchase the digital edition for a nominal fee. Included is the full 2023 Slow Flowers Floral Insights and Industry Forecast, a preview of which Robin Avni and I shared on this podcast last week. We are so proud and inspired to get this content out into the floral marketplace to inform your floral endeavors in the coming season. Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. Thank you to The Gardener's Workshop, which offers a full curriculum of online education for flower farmers and farmer-florists. Online education is more important this year than ever, and you'll want to check out the course offerings at thegardenersworkshop.com. Thank you to Details Flowers Software, a platform specifically designed to help florists and designers do more and earn more. With an elegant and easy-to-use system--Details is here to improve profitability, productivity, and organization for floral businesses of all shapes and sizes. All friends of the Slow Flowers Podcast will receive a 7-day free trial of Details Flowers Software. Learn more at detailsflowers.com. Thank you to CalFlowers, the leading floral trade association in California, providing valuable transportation and other benefits to flower growers and the entire floral supply chain in California and 48 other states. The Association is a leader in bringing fresh cut flowers to the U.S. market and in promoting the benefits of flowers to new generations of American consumers. Learn more at cafgs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ksQcWvapA Here we are at the beginning of 2023; we have already wrapped up the first month of the year! -- and it's time to present the ninth annual Slow Flowers Floral Insights and Industry Forecast. Like you, when we turn the page to a new calendar year, the Slow Flowers community embraces the inevitable progress of change with a dose of optimism as we forecast the future. I'm so excited to be joined today by Robin Avni, my partner in BLOOM Imprint and an experienced consumer trend analyst and ethnographer for lifestyle brands. We will share 8 key insights for 2023 and elaborate both on how the larger culture reflects these themes and how our members are leading the shifts we discuss. 2023 Slow Flowers Floral Insights & Industry Forecast SFJ 2023 InsightsDownload I'm so delighted that Robin Avni joined me in the review. As we move into 2023, we will be expanding on many of these insights with new content, podcast interviews, articles, and meet-up topics. Access to all of these resources is a definite benefit of being a member of the Slow Flowers Society -- and I encourage you to join us as a member. You can find all the details and benefits of membership at slowflowerssociety.com. Starting with the Winter 2023 issue of Slow Flowers Journal, the digital magazine will be behind a pay wall. Current members of Slow Flowers Society will receive the quarterly magazine subscription as a free benefit. In this issue you'll find a 20-page expanded version of the Slow Flowers Floral Insights & Industry Report, along with our regular features and departments. News for the Week Above (left) Krista Rossow of O'Flora Farms and (right) Tiffany Brown Anderson of Earth & Seeds One more bit of news to share with you this week. On Friday, February 3rd, we're hosting the February Slow Flowers Member Meet-Up with 2 of our expert members, Krista Rossow of O'Flora Farm, and Tiffany Brown Anderson of Earth & Seeds. The session Floral Photography Tips & Techniques, takes place Friday, February 3rd 9 am Pacific/Noon Eastern. Both women have extensive backgrounds as professional photographers in addition to owning flower farms. What a great combination, as they have turned their cameras on the flowers they grow and provide to their communities! We've invited Krista and Tiffany to share their expertise with you, including how to make the most of your photography opportunities, both in the field and in the studio. Due to Valentine's Day, we're holding the Meet-Up one week early - on Friday, February 3rd. This session is a MEMBER ONLY Benefit. You must be an active Slow Flowers member to register and attend. The link to register is in today's show notes and will also be in the LINKTREE menu of our slowflowerssociety profile on Instagram. You will gain new ideas and easy steps you can take to immediately improve your flower photography, whether you use a smart phone or a DSLR Camera. Bring your Questions! Click here to join Slow Flowers Society as a member Click here to pre-register for the Meet-Up Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers.

https://youtu.be/bjHfiedUyBE Today, we have a real treat -- a visit with floral artist and longtime Slow Flowers member, Susan McLeary. Susan's new book, Flowers for All, will be released on February 7th and she joined me earlier this week to record a conversation about the book and what inspired Sue to produce it. We discuss her passion for continual experimentation with mechanics, ingredients, as she pushes the boundaries of ordinary botanicals. Susan McLeary (c) EE Berger The subtitle for Flowers for All is this: MODERN FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR BEAUTY, JOY, AND MINDFULNESS EVERY DAY. Forsythia "Bloom Room," from Sue McLeary's new book, Flowers for All (c) EE Berger photograph From "Simply Strung," a project in Flowers for All by Sue McLeary (c) EE Berger photograph From "Trumpet Beads" a project by Sue McLeary in Flowers for All (c) EE Berger photography From the belief that flowers should be enjoyed by everyone, renowned floral artist, Susan McLeary reveals the secrets to making striking, joyful floral displays using common ingredients - whether you get flowers at the grocery store, farmer's market, or your own picking garden. More projects from Flowers for All by Sue McLeary. (Left) Summer Still Life with edible materials; (Right) Floral Meditation with edible flowers and more (c) EE Berger Here's how to enter the drawings: As a thank you for pre-ordering Flowers For All by February 6th, Sue is offering an exclusive and completely free workshop just for you, plus you’ll be entered to win a handmade gift!Go to susanmcleary.com/flowers-for-all and follow the steps. More resources and courses with Sue McLeary:Facebook "Flower Forward" Private Facebook Group Mayesh Design Star 2023 - Q&A with Sue McLeary https://youtu.be/O5snS9C6qT0 Sue's first Tutorial for Mayesh 2023 -- Sustainable Mechanics and Flower Pillar Sue McLeary Virtual Studio: Membership Group (join the Wait List) Library of Individual Design Tutorials Thank you to our Sponsors This show is brought to you by Slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 850 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms. It’s the conscious choice for buying and sending flowers. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Farmgirl Flowers. Farmgirl Flowers delivers iconic burlap-wrapped bouquets and lush, abundant arrangements to customers across the U.S., supporting U.S. flower farms by purchasing more than $10 million dollars of U.S.-grown fresh and seasonal flowers and foliage annually. Discover more at farmgirlflowers.com. Thank you to Store It Cold, creators of the revolutionary CoolBot, a popular solution for flower farmers, studio florists and farmer-florists.  Save $1000s when you build your own walk-in cooler with the CoolBot and an air conditioner.  Don't have time to build your own?  They also have turnkey units available. Learn more at storeitcold.com    Thank you to Red Twig Farms. Based in Johnstown, Ohio, Red Twig Farms is a family-owned farm specializing in peonies, daffodils, tulips and branches, a popular peony-bouquet-by-mail program and their Spread the Hope Campaign where customers purchase 10 tulip stems for essential workers and others in their community. Learn more at redtwigfarms.com. Thank you to Seattle Wholesale Growers Market,