Episode 598: Alex Cacciari of Michigan’s Seeley Farm on trialing native perennials for the floral market

Summary: 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,

Episode 598: Alex Cacciari of Michigan’s Seeley Farm on trialing native perennials for the floral market

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