https://youtu.be/Nk5_XDmAcXM?si=A5_xWCB13cYlaYQP




Join me in a virtual tour of Hautau & Sons, a third-generation greenhouse grower of uncommon specialty cut flowers. Founded in 1902, Hautau & Sons is now run by Brian and Kimberley Hautau, who are both stewarding the family business that Brian’s grandfather started; it was later operated by Brian’s father and uncle, until, in 2010, Brian and Kimberley acquired the business. With Brian’s decades of experience in horticulture and landscape design-build contracting; and Kimberley’s decades in financial accounting, the couple has turned to flower farming for their second chapter. In doing so, they both honor the past and turn to future innovations in how this business serves the greater New York City region. I’ve heard about their amazing winter ranunculus for years, and because I traveled to New Jersey to lecture last week, I invited myself for a tour and conversation with these passionate Slow Flowers members. Learn how their strategic growing calendar keeps Hautau & Sons’ relevant and essential for their marketplace.



Kimberley and Brian Hautau



In many parts of North America, we’ve already marked what my flower farmer friends call “Frost-Mas” on the calendar. It’s that moment when you’re possibly quite exhausted at the end of the growing season . . . and then Mother Nature’s hand and the first frost of the season gives you a respite. The field crops take a hit and while the garden cleanup (and dahlia digs) are on the horizon, you can take a moment to exhale. It's also a time, depending on your crop mix and selection of woody and evergreen plants, when your income stream may begin to look quite different from peak of summer.



A vintage sign from an earlier era



On my visit last week to interview Kimberley and Brian Hautau in Branchville, New Jersey, I learned how these third-generation greenhouse growers celebrate Frost-Mas. They don’t skip a beat because they have a clever strategy to grow premium floral crops that bloom early or late, depending on the variety.



Dahlia greenhouse at Hautau & Sons -- dahlias flourishing in early November for the NYC flower district shoppers.



Under cover of historic 1920s glass greenhouses and a few younger poly-covered structures, Hautau & Sons is still celebrating dahlia, zinnia, and marigold season. These flowers are cut, bunched, sleeved, and delivered each week to NYC’s floral district, fondly known as West 28th Street. Hautau & Sons supplies many of the established wholesale florists in this district and each stem is clearly branded with their family name.



Just-picked dahlias in cream and coral



A seasonal favorite: "chocolate" dahlias from Hautau & Sons



I first met Kimberley through New Jersey based floral designer TJ McGrath, and he helped facilitate our inviting Hautau & Sons to join Slow Flowers Society as members several years ago. It was thrilling to tour the greenhouses with Kimberley (who has an artist’s understanding of floral color and style trends) and fellow hort-head Brian (who is always on the hunt for an unusual landscape shrub that he can introduce to the floral marketplace).







Join us at the Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit 2026



2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit Speakers



Don’t forget to grab your registration to the 2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit, taking place ONLINE January 30-31. We’re so excited to welcome many top floral experts in sustainable farming and floral design, and you’ll gain both inspiration and knowledge to directly invest into your own floral enterprise. The countdown to the Summit is underway and I encourage you to follow us on Ins...

https://youtu.be/OBDEhr2XYTs?si=PhY4qua4rCiVhSR2




The beauty of dried botanicals is a fitting topic for our first episode of November, as the interest in and demand for these preserved florals represents significant financial influx for flower farmers and floral designers. My recent visit to Charles Little & Co. in Eugene, Oregon, illustrates the story as I interviewed both Charles and Bethany Little, return guests of the Slow Flowers Podcast. Join me on a farm tour with Charles as we discuss interplanting strategies for annuals and woody ornamentals, plus check out his favorite annuals to grow for drying. Then, we’ll explore the dried floral operation, from packaging to shipping techniques, with Bethany and her team. I left my visit with a deeper understanding of the ways a dried floral program can enhance fresh-floral farming and retail floristry – with the allure of color, texture, character, incredible variety, and long-lasting beauty.



In the past year, I’ve spent hours speaking with growers to learn of the many ways they are diversifying their crop mixes and product offerings, especially in non-perishable (or less perishable) categories. Dried flowers are having a renaissance, which should be no surprise to you. I wanted to dig deeper into what the folks at Charles Little & Co., are doing in this category. Charles and Bethany are established dried flower growers and experts when it comes to selecting the best varieties and supplying the floral marketplace with their huge inventory of dried floral crops.



My co-author Robin Avni and I featured Charles Little & Co. as one of 29 North American growers in The Flower Farmers, published earlier this year. In their profile, we write: “Trends are often cyclical, especially in the floral marketplace. Charles is delighted that dried flowers are again fashionable. He points out that fresh flower wholesalers who in the past had no interest in stocking dried flowers are now ordering large quantities, thanks to increasing customer demand. One difference between the dried statice, goldenrod, celosia, and lamb’s ears of old and today’s dried flower palette is the explosion of botanical choices – even premium blooms like peonies and dahlias are sold as dried flowers.”



Today’s interview includes some bonus content, filmed during my farm tour with Charles. He discusses the practice of interplanting rows of annuals between rows woody ornamental shrubs, explaining how this makes the land doubly productive. By the time those shrubs are more mature and are shading out the space where annuals previously grew, it means they are also shading out weed production – improving efficiency and reducing labor. I love this idea of permaculture and I remember learning about it from Charles on my very first visit to his farm in 2010.



This episode is a visual one, so I hope you check out the video version above. You’ll love the experience.



As a bonus, I’ve added the two-page Dried Flowers sidebar that accompanies the Charles Little and Co. chapter in The Flower Farmers. It includes their 10 best annual flowers to dry and tips on harvesting, drying, and maintaining colorfastness.



dried_flower_sidebarDownload



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https://youtu.be/_Kl8Bmx6U84?si=ih_0q-H_9QvPoz3g




We’ve been working closely this past year with lily bulb growers around the country, with the goal of providing more lily education to both farmers and florists. For today’s Lily Episode I wanted to learn more about what’s required to have a year-round lily program. I began my conversations with Jessica High of Flamingo Holland Bulbs, a Southern California-based vendor of Dutch-grown lily bulbs for specialty cut flower growers. That’s followed by a visit to Peterkort Roses, a longtime Slow Flowers member, known not only for growing beautiful roses, but also for Oriental, Asiatic, and LA Hybrid lilies around the year. I toured the lily greenhouse with Norman Peterkort, followed by a more extensive conversation with his sister, Sandra Laubenthal, who manages their lily program. What a great introduction to this beautiful and classic flower – I’m mesmerized and you’ll be, too.



Lily design inspiration



I’m excited to bring you today’s conversation about the world of easy-to-grow lilies. If you’re a field farmer, or a garden grower like me, lilies are stars of the summer season. But, amazingly, lilies can be planted to bloom in succession, with  year-round availability. At Peterkort Roses, that means growing Oriental, Asiatic, and LA Hybrids undercover in their heritage greenhouses in Hillsboro, Oregon, outside Portland.



Peterkort Roses in the lily greenhouse



By planting lily bulbs in crates on a weekly succession of about 1,500 lilies per rotation, Peterkort ensurses that lilies are available for Portland and Seattle area florists who have standing orders for their coolers, and for event designers who need dazzling lilies for statement pieces and installations. For each floral holiday, from Christmas and Valentine’s Day to Easter and Mother’s Day, to the fall harvest table, the lily has a perennial presence in Peterkort’s lineup of local blooms.



'Mikaela' lily



As we discuss, innovations in lily breeding are pushing the envelope with double lilies, a wider palette of lilies, as well as fragrance and pollen-free varieties. And those features are attracting a new batch of customers, from the farmers’ market buyer to the client with a luxury vibe.



The episode introduces lily bulb vendor Jessica High, of Flamingo Holland, based in Southern California. Then we jump to Peterkort, which sources lily bulbs from a number of distributors, including Flamingo Holland.



Armloads of lilies -- who could resist?!



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Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit 2026 -- Save $50 off Early Bird Tickets







In Slow Flowers Summit NEWS, this is the last week for grabbing your Early Bird Ticket to the 2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit, taking place online, January 30-31. Join Slow Flowers' doers and thinkers for two days of progressive ideas,creative connections and business inspiration. You’ll learn from some inspiring floral experts covering must-know intel, from sustainable floral design and botanical couture, to growing gorgeous flowers for weddings, events, and the everyday market, to business advice for your future. Thirteen incredible presenters will are joining the two-day event at a great price.



Save $50 off Summit Registration through October 31s...

https://youtu.be/E54I-BYySnQ?si=CUJgETTQRIc8VRPe




Join me for a great conversation with farmer-florist Kelly Brown, owner of Do Right Flower Farm in Santa Cruz and founder of the Santa Cruz Flower Hub. We also welcome return guest Amelia Ihlo, founder of Rooted Farmers, a longtime Slow Flowers partner and podcast sponsor. Together, they will discuss Santa Cruz Flower Hub’s origins and growth, touching on the many opportunities and logistical challenges that farmer collectives are facing. Kelly and Amelia walk us through these topics and highlight some of the ways that the Rooted Farmers platform has helped the flower farmers of the Santa Cruz Flower Hub expand their market, reach more buyers, and interpret sales data to guide future decisions on crop planning and more. It’s a fabulous snapshot of what one group of collective growers is doing to create a more sustainable market for their farms.



Kelly Brown, Do Right Flower Farm and Santa Cruz Flower Hub (c) Justine Almodovar (left) and Amelia Ihlo of Rooted Farmers (right)



Today’s episode dives into a hot topic that we here in the Slow Flowers community have been tracking ever since 2011, when I featured the origin story of the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market in my book, The 50 Mile Bouquet. The natural evolution of cooperative and collective selling continues in today’s conversation. It’s an appealing model to which flower farmers are drawn for economies of scale on the operational side and for market creation on the selling side.



Our friends at Rooted Farmers have become an important resource to the Slow Flowers community – for sellers and buyers alike. Amelia Ihlo, founder of Rooted Farmers and a flower farmer herself (she owns Reverie Flowers in Etna, New Hampshire), is a return guest to the Slow Flowers Podcast. She introduced me to Kelly Brown, founder of Do Right Flower Farm and the Santa Cruz Flower Hub, a new Slow Flowers member.



The beautiful setting of Do Right Flower Farm, Santa Cruz, California



They join me today to walk us through some of the challenges and opportunities facing farmer groups who want to collectively sell. A lot has changed in terms of available technology, distribution systems, expectations that florists have for pre-ordering and more. Rooted continues to innovate and Amelia uses the story of Santa Cruz Flower Hub to illustrate some of the improved tools for growers. We’ll take a tour of Rooted’s data analytics tools available to individual producers and collective hubs and discuss how Kelly is using them in crop planning and management of the hub.







Amelia founded Rooted Farmers in 2019 after pulling her hair out using existing sales platforms to manage her own farm sales. She realized that none of them effectively solved the challenges specific to farming, so she decided to create a solution. Amelia lives on her flower farm in rural New Hampshire, where she runs a wholesale-only annual and perennial operation and is raising a flock of children and animals. Prior to founding Rooted, she spent her career in private equity and finance. Working with farmers every day is much more fun, of course.



The people of Do Right Flower Farm



Kelly Brown established Do Right the end of 2020, at a time described on their website as “post Me Too, amidst a global pandemic and worldwide call for racial justice and an insistence that BLACK LIVES MATTER. These crises emphasized the need for us to follow our hearts and minds to create the future we want to live in. Do Right is a gesture of that clarity.”



After 11 years of gaining knowledge and experience at Blue Heron Farms in Corralitos, California, Kelly saw a massive need for local flower growers specializing in cut...

https://youtu.be/t38z93GptXU?si=Um3XyaE1ocAKU4UA




At Penflora, sustainable floristry meets thoughtful design. Founder Melissa Olson recently hosted me for a book-signing event at her Bay Area shop where we celebrated the publication of The Flower Farmers and enjoyed her beautiful floral design demonstration. It was one stop during a full weekend of floral, garden, and book events and you’ll love joining me on a tour through Melissa’s Slow Flowers-centered business. She founded Penflora in 2017 as a design studio that has expanded into a beautiful retail shop in Burlingame, just south of San Francisco, where the goods are curated and selected for the flower lover. After my reading and short introduction The Flower Farmers, Melissa demonstrated a seasonal arrangement complete with foraged garden elements and locally-grown blooms. It's the perfect inspiration for autumn and I know you’ll connect with Melissa and her story.



Debra Prinzing (left) with Melissa Olson of Penflora Designs (right) (c) Niesha Blancas photo



Today, you’ll learn from Melissa Olson, owner of Penflora, a design studio and lifestyle store in Burlingame, California, just south of San Francisco.



I’ve met Melissa on a few occasions, including at the Slow Flowers Summit in 2021 when it took place in her backyard at Filoli historic home and gardens, and in Seattle when she traveled here to join the design workshop with Shane Connolly a few years ago. But I’ve been wanting to spend more time getting to know her and more about her path to florals.



When I knew I would be in the Bay Area for a weekend of book events, I reached out to schedule an interview for this podcast. That turned into Melissa suggesting we hold a book-signing in her shop. We both managed to achieve our goals and today, you’ll meet Melissa, join me on a tour of Penflora, and learn about her business model.



Growing up surrounded by nature and parents who loved to entertain, Melissa developed a deep appreciation for how plants and flowers can transform a space, whether in a garden, a vase, or as part of a thoughtfully designed interior or table scape. Melissa says she loves layers! 



Penflora specializes in bespoke floral designs and is home to a unique and relaxing boutique where nature meets design through sustainable floristry and an offering of curated items and gifts. There’s a fabulous mix of vintage and contemporary items for gift giving and the home. It’s filled with a residential-style ambiance that enhances workshops, private parties, and (of course) shopping.



Melissa studied landscape design at Filoli, and she continues to provide commercial and Residential plant and floral design work for events and clients as a service of Penflora.



Find and follow Penflora on Instagram and Facebook







Join Us at the Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit



2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit Speakers



In Slow Flowers news, remember, you still have time to grab your Early Bird ticket to the Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit, taking place January 30-31, 2026. The speaker lineup is truly inspiring and as we start to record and capture the tours, design demonstrations and presentations on film, I’m more excited than ever! I have been previewing the expertise you’ll soon learn from Francoise Weeks, Joan Thorndike, Max Gill, Diane Szukovathy, Katherine Raz, TJ McGrath and many other floral luminaries! I’m also excited to be partnering with Dee Hall Goodwin of Mermaid City Flowers and Black Flower Farmers, a she is curating two sessions for the Summit.



Early Bird Promotion features five free sessions from 2025

https://youtu.be/celZnV8yrZg?si=pYtq6P5iOTXJOXXK




Compared to the way today’s guests view the role of herb plants for the landscape, for culinary and medicinal purposes, and especially for floral design, I feel like the herb repertoire in the Slow Flowers Cutting Garden is in need of a major makeover. Learning from herb-lover and edible landscape designer Stefani Bittner of Homestead Design Collective and Rose Loveall, herb grower and nursery owner at Morningsun Herb Farm, both based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been so eye-opening and enriching. We recently collaborated on a Flower & Herb event to celebrate The Flower Farmers book while also exploring herbs for the garden and the vase. You might be surprised at some of the herbs Stefani and Rose use for floral design, and trust me, I now have a big order of scented geraniums heading my way – just in time to get them established in my greenhouse before the season ends. Immerse yourself in today’s herbal extravaganza – I just wish you could smell all the plants we discussed.



Stefani Bittner, Rose Loveall, and Debra Prinzing at Morningsun Herb Farm



Today’s episode was filmed and recorded last weekend when I was on a book tour for The Flower Farmers book. Slow Flowers members around the Bay Area partnered with me to fill four glorious days of talks, readings, floral design demonstrations, and community connections. It was a fabulous autumn weekend and I’m excited to share it with you.



My conversation with Slow Flowers member Stefani Bittner of Homestead Design Collective and her frequent collaborator, Rose Loveall of Morningsun Herb Farm took place during an herb-and-floral-filled morning at Rose’s nursery, located in the countryside of Vacaville, California, on 3 acres, between Sacramento and San Francisco.



Herb and floral arrangement designed by Stefani Bittner



Stefani harvesting design ingredients in Rose's cut flower garden at Morningsun



This is a two-part plant tour, followed by Stefani and Rose’s presentation on growing herbs for the cut flower garden and design tips.



Here’s a bit more about each woman:



Stefani Bittner is the owner of Homestead Design Collective, a San Francisco Bay Area landscape design firm focused on creating beautiful gardens that provide harvest. Stefani is the co-author of The Beautiful Edible Garden, Harvest: Unexpected Projects Using 47 Extraordinary Garden Plants and The Fragrant Flower Garden (all published by Ten Speed Press). She is a past guest of the Slow Flowers Podcast.



Herb drying rack at Morningsun Herb Farm



Rose Loveall-Sale is owner of Morningsun Herb Farm, a family-owned nursery specializing in culinary, medicinal and specialty herbs. She has spent the last 30 years growing more than 700 varieties of herbs and perennials, starting the nursery as a weekend venture and expanding it to a plant lover’s destination, as well as a mail order nursery. Rose is originally a forester by education (University of California, Berkeley), but she discovered that herbs were her favorite plants to grow and enjoy. An M.S. in Environmental Horticulture from the University of California at Davis rounded out her education and piqued her interest in owning and operating her own nursery. Her family’s farm in northern California proved the perfect spot for her horticultural endeavors.



Rose and her team propagate and sell culinary, medicinal and landscaping herbs, as well as many unusual perennials for hummingbird and butterfly gardening, drought tolerant perennials, scented geraniums, succulents, and heirloom vegetables in the spring and fall. They specialize in a huge selection of lavender,

A visit to Japan for two weeks in September was the ultimate dream come true. My husband Bruce and I, joined by three dear friends, experienced some of the country’s incomparable beauty, culture, history, and tradition during our time in Kyoto and Tokyo. We watched World Class athletes compete in Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium at the World Track Championships, ate authentic ramen, sushi, and tempura, and put in our 10k+ steps each day. I also had the wonderful experience of spending one day away from my traveling companions, immersed in Japan’s emerging slow flowers community. Thanks to Megumi Hagiuda, my guide and translator, I visited an organic flower farm, stopped by several flower shops, and enjoyed floral-centric menus at two amazing restaurants. The day culminated with a community meal where I met with more than one dozen slow flowers-minded professionals representing many facets of the floral industry. Today’s episode is a recap of some of those highlights!




https://youtu.be/ryVnDsuPM7Q?si=jlVAM7WeedxxTH58




Scenes from the beautiful teahouse and gourd arbor at Yoshigaki Organic Flower Farm, a century-old, third-generation flower farm in Asao Ward, Kawasaki City, about 50 miles outside of Tokyo



Bruce Brooks & Debra Prinzing Japan, September 2025 (photographed at Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Palace) in Kyoto



As you heard in my opening summary, I just spent two weeks traveling with my husband and friends in Japan. Two weeks barely introduced me to the wonder and mystery of this beautiful country. I left wanting to return and experience Japan’s gardens and landscape during a different time of year, like spring or fall. Let’s just say September is still the hot and humid summer season. I marveled at how cool and crisp everyone there looked in their fashionable wardrobes! So I’m taking notes!



In the Harvest! Debra and Megumi, photographed at Yoshigaki Flower Farm



I first met Megumi Hagiuda in 2023 when she traveled to Bellevue, Washington, for our Slow Flowers Summit. She was immediately adopted by a group of Slow Flowers members, and made some lasting friendships. We learned a bit about Megumi’s background and her journey from owning a Tokyo-based flower shop called Afrika Rose, which was followed by her shift to promoting organic flower farming and sustainable floral design in Japan.




https://youtu.be/j2honCD764Q?si=fX9SCL-e6r3nCMG2




Watch this BONUS session above: Earlier this year in January, during the Slow Flowers Worldwide Summit, our first online conference, Megumi recorded a presentation about Slow Flowers Japan. We featured the presentation as one of our four international bonus sessions. Megumi invited organic flower farmer Ai Takahashi of Green Field Flowers to co-present with her and together, the two women introduced our community to the business aspects of Japan’s small but growing organic floral industry, shared the story of Green Field Flowers, and discussed the Slow Flowers advocacy work that Megumi began in 2022 with two other colleagues.



A day on the organic flower farm with (from left): Shiho Yoshigaki, Debra, Megumi, and Kazuya Yoshigaki



It was so serendipitous to hear from Megumi earlier this summer when she reached out to suggest I come to Japan and host a Slow Flowers Summit in person. I told her about my September trip and asked if we could get together. The result was an incredibly generous, day-long itinerary that Megumi planned for me.



Shiho Yoshigaki (left) and Megumi Hagiuda (right), photographed at Yoshigaki Organic Flower Farm



Today’s podcast features highlights of that day, including interviews with husband-and-wife team Kazuya and Shiho Yoshigaki,

https://youtu.be/_S5lU5VPqk8?si=nJkFjh_vDEfP4aV5




Anne Long likes to call herself a cheerleader for dahlias and many other flowers that she wants gardeners and growers to experience. “I love ridiculously gorgeous flowers that look like they are out of a high-end magazine,” she proclaims. “And I want my neighbor to have them on her kitchen table.” At the peak of dahlia season here in the Pacific Northwest, I sat down with this passionate founder of The Dahlia House in Mount Vernon, Washington, to learn more about her gardening hobby-turned-tuber business. The gorgeous display of thousands of vibrant, healthy dahlia varieties was mesmerizing, with about 500 different cultivars for the 2026 tuber season. Anne also devotes an area of her field to showcase unique selections from her favorite dahlia hybridizers, Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias, and Hailey Sly of River Merle Farm. The Dahlia House has expanded its catalog to include ranunculus and anemone corms, seeds, floral art, as well as freesias and gladiolas for 2026. Join me on a visual tour and an insightful conversation that left me thinking I should rip out everything in my raised beds and devote my life to dahlias!



Anne Long, owner of The Dahlia House in Mt. Vernon, Washington



For the past three years or so, I have connected annually with Anne Long of The Dahlia House at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. Her award-winning retail booth was located quite close to the Blooms & Bubbles mainstage, where I produce the daily floral design workshops. So a friendship began with our mutual interest (and my admiration for the beautiful display created by Anne and her team). I mean, how do you make dahlia tubers look sexy in February? At The Dahlia House display, the booth resembled a charming white cottage-style farmhouse, complete with framed art photographs of the flowers for which you can order tubers and corms.



Dahlia season at The Dahlia House



Anne joined Slow Flowers as a member and I made a note to schedule a visit to see her flowers in person and learn more about her story. In early September, I we spent a morning in the dahlia fields.



When your sneakers match your flowers! Anne Long of The Dahlia House



You can read the full story of Anne’s highs and lows as a dahlia gardener on her website. LINK is here so you can dive in and read more. The narrative includes this recap: By 2020, when Anne was feeling like “a Flower Boss Queen,” something drastic happened. And she had to dig out of a few devastating years of failed crops. Anne decided to start a flower business, mainly to have a business license so she could afford to replace her tuber stock at wholesale prices. She ordered up all of her favorites and listed the extra tubers for sale on my website. The story continues, as Anne writes: Guess what? I was completely sold out! Dahlia mania is real. 



Anne Long with Stephanie Ware of Melodic Caring Project



At the end of the episode, we added a five-minute bonus interview when Anne introduces her friend and farm host, Stephanie Ware, of Melodic Caring Project, a nonprofit organization that serves patients worldwide through live-streaming musical performances and more. The Dahlia House and Melodic Caring Project have teamed up for several years to promote this important cause, and it was really interesting to learn more about this collaboration.



Anemones with a selection of Pots by Emma (daughter Emma Long's pottery company)



Dahlias with a Pots by Emma vessel



Thank you for joining me today! I’m so grateful to Anne Long of The Dahlia House  for her support and membership in the Slow Flowers Society.

https://youtu.be/XiAbthV5xU4?si=Ci5qiYKnqEG70vDS




At The Little Farm on Olga Road on Orcas, Carol Wetzel and Allan Tone live in a small house and have devoted much of the surrounding three acres to growing a food-herb-and-flower farm and seasonal plant nursery to serve their neighbors and island visitors, including destination wedding clients. The Little Farm is a Big Endeavor that began when Carol and Allan arrived at the beginning of the Pandemic. The move was possible because they also own a small software company and are able to operate it remotely. So you might think The Little Farm is a side hustle, but it’s much more than that, as the couple embraces permaculture, environmental biodiversity, and organic practices while caring for a once-neglected hayfield turned magical, plant-centered experience for everyone who enters its gates. Join us on a tour of The Little Farm and a conversation with Carol – I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.



Allan Tone and Carol Wetzel, founders of The Little Farm on Olga Road, Orcas Island, Washington



I recently mentioned that I’ve been busy in the field, gathering stories and interviews to share with you in anticipation of my upcoming 2-week trip to Japan, so today, you’re in for a real treat – a visit to The Little Farm on Olga Road, based in Eastsound on Orcas Island and owned by Carol Wetzel and Allan Tone. I reached this gorgeous destination in a tiny airplane piloted by Allan. The short but breathtaking flight in and of itself was like a luxury vacation to one of the most popular of the beautiful string of islands that make up the San Juan archipelago.



Specialty Cut Flowers from The Little Farm on Olga Road



Overlooking a beautiful bay on Orcas Island, The Little Farm on Olga Road offers a spectacular seasonal array of perennials and annuals to enjoy in a multitude of ways. Carol and Allan’s cutting garden bounty begins in early spring with tulips, anemones, hellebores and irises; summertime welcomes fragrant sweet peas, followed by zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, and specialty dahlias – all of which were thriving at their seasonal peak when I arrived. To come, the arrival of more than 60 varieties of heirloom chrysanthemums later this fall.



A social media post tells the story of The Little Farm's origins



The Little Farm Soap Co. features all local and natural ingredients



What I learned on my visit is that The Little Farm is not just a flower farm. With three distinct orchards, a mini vineyard of wine and table grapes, hardy kiwi, and seasonal vegetables, the gates open to visitors who can enjoy a You Pick experience or shop in the Farm Stand that’s also stocked with fresh farm eggs, plant starts and a selection of the farm’s soap and skincare line made from locally sourced-tallow and essential oils pressed from the flowers. 



The golden hour at The Little Farm (left) and Carol Wetzel (right)



Carol, a lifelong gardener and educator with a Doctorate in Education, says her real delight is the joy her garden creations bring to friends, neighbors and visitors on Orcas Island, people who want to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of flowering perennials and annuals. 



Allan’s role at The Little Farm is evident everywhere you look, including artfully built barns, farm stand, hoop houses, and an innovative irrigation system. Allan is the President of Orcas Aviation Association, which provides Mercy Flights for individuals and family members that need a quick flight off the island for non-life-threatening treatment such as chemotherapy or other medical emergencies.  He and a handful of volunteer pilots fly thousands of missions each year.  

https://youtu.be/_uKTLKHF5Zg?si=pu1QJXMfHrY2RnRs




Alicia Houston is the founder of Healer’s Harvest, based in Poulsbo, Washington. After moving to the Pacific Northwest from San Diego to care for her grandfather, a long-time veggie grower and farmers’ market seller, Alicia found her own passion for flower farming. Her lifelong interest in medicinal plants led her to take courses, attend workshops, and eventually launch Healer’s Harvest in 2022. Alicia provides floral designs for weddings, events, and pop-ups; she offers DIY flower buckets and hosts design workshops. She is committed to sustainability, using locally sourced flowers and eco-friendly techniques to create unique, seasonal arrangements that reflect the beauty of the Kitsap Peninsula where she lives. Join me on a field tour with Alicia as she harvests her healing floral ingredients for a beautiful design demonstration.



Alicia Houston of Healer's Harvest



Now that we’re officially into September, I’ve been motivated to schedule as many in-person interviews for the Slow Flowers Podcast as possible. The floral palette is at its peak and yet there’s an awareness that we’ll soon arrive at the fall equinox. Knowing that I’m heading to Japan for two weeks, I spent the early part of September recording three back-to-back farm visits with beautiful video and delightful conversations. The first of those three is today’s interview with Alicia Houston of Healer’s Harvest.



Alicia, harvesting crabapple branches in Grandpa's Orchard, Poulsbo, Washington



I met Alicia at the leased field where she has farmed annuals and dahlias for two seasons, land that Alicia recently learned she will have to give up. That’s bittersweet, but as she evolves her young floral enterprise, Alicia is discovering that there’s still plenty of garden space where she lives with her grandfather, as well as a possible new location for 2026. As she points out, with her increased focus on floral design and freelancing, Alicia has deepened her ties with other farmer-florists in the Kitsap Peninsula from whom she can source – even if her growing space is reduced.



Alicia's modern, seasonal, Ikebana-inspired arrangement with a pin frog mechanic



Thank you for joining me today! I’m so grateful that Alicia and I met when she was just getting started. I think it was 2022 when she and her sister came to the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival and our membership manager, Tonneli Gruetter, brought them to the floral stage to introduce us. Fast-forward to 2025 and Alicia was a featured Blooms & Bubbles instructor leading one of our Slow Flowers floral design workshop. I love how these connections continue to deepen.



Find and follow Healer's Harvest on Instagram and Facebook







Learn More from Alicia at the Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit 2026



2026 Slow Flowers WORLDWIDE Summit Speakers



Top Row, from left: SHANE CONNOLLY, Shane Connolly & Co.; DEE HALL GOODWIN, Mermaid City Flowers and Black Flower Farmers; MAX GILL, Max Gill Design; and FRANÇOISE WEEKS, Françoise Weeks FloralRow 2, from left: RIZANIÑO “RIZ” REYES, RHR Horticulture; DIANE SZUKOVATHY, Jello Mold Farm and Seattle Wholesale Growers Market; KATHERINE RAZ, The Fernseed; and MONIQUE MORRIS, Epiphany Eight Flower FarmsRow 3 from left: MARILYN GRIFFIN, Griffin Gardens; CELESTINA ROBERTSON, Forever Green Flower Co.; TJ MCGRATH, TJ McGrath Design; and DEBRA PRINZING, Slow Flowers SocietyRow 4 from left; ALICIA HOUSTON, Healer’s Harvest and JOAN THORNDIKE, Le Mera Gardens



For the 2026 Slow Flowers Worldwide Summit in January, Alicia will join Dee Hall Goodwin, Monique Morris,

https://youtu.be/C8G7Tn-8y6E?si=8e5f8qkEfMVU1UzE




The news was impossible to ignore last Tuesday, as the Internet exploded with reports of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement. For flower people like us, seeing the enchanted garden setting with a lush display of roses, hydrangea, delphinium, lilies, and masses of greenery – well, it was all too wonderful. Whether you’re a devoted Swiftie or not, the fairytale narrative is a shot in the arm for flower growers and creatives. We always want to put flowers at the center of the story, right? And thank you, Taylor and Travis for doing just that. Today, I’m so happy to welcome longtime Slow Flowers member Ashley Greer, a DC-based florist and owner of Atelier Ashley Flowers. I know you’ll love hearing Ashley’s behind-the-scenes story of how she helped editors at People magazine report on Taylor’s engagement flowers – and the conversation just might inspire how you communicate the meaning and importance of flowers to your clients.



Ashley Greer of Atelier Ashley Flowers



OMG, well, I said it at the top of today’s episode – thank you, Taylor and Travis for placing flowers at the heart of your magical engagement news! It’s my pleasure to welcome Ashley Greer of Atelier Ashley Flowers, a true Taylor Swift devotee, who joined me at the last minute to record today’s episode about the floral phenomenon we’ve all just witnessed.



Floral Design by Ashley Greer of Atelier Ashley Flowers



As one opinion writer in the New York Times described it: "The news feels like a tiny piece of joy in a sea of troubles, a little bit of brightness in the dark. Yes, it was probably all micromanaged. It still made me happy — and hopeful."



Ashley Greer is a Washington, D.C.-area studio florist whose work and commentary has been featured in People Magazine, The Washington Post, Martha Stewart Weddings and Martha Stewart Living, the Associated Press, and many other outlets, including, now the Slow Flowers Podcast.



Florals for residential clients



After more than two decades as a floral creative, Ashley continues to believe the energy and vibrancy of plant material flowers, foliages, and fruits are elements of transformation. She writes: “They are my tools for creating an intimate experience customized to your situation and floral needs. Each bouquet is a one-of-a kind, unique work of ephemeral fine art designed with love.”



Last week, when I saw that People magazine relied on Ashley’s floral expertise for two online stories, first of all, I was so happy for her, and for the Slow Flowers community, to see that one of our members was part of the international Taylor-Travis engagement commentary. Second, I was thrilled that Ashley made time to join me in the virtual studio as together we viewed the engagement images from Instagram and discussed how she interpreted the installation’s meaning, sourcing, recipe, mechanics and more.



Ashley Greer and one of her custom designs for a residential client



I had a big smile on my face during the entire conversation and I’m excited to share it with you today. I’m so grateful to Ashely Greer of Atelier Ashley Flowers for her membership in and support of the Slow Flowers Movement. As an artisan florist, Ashley knows that her strengths lay in the way she combines unique varieties of blooms and color palettes to produce a one-of-a-kind look that her clients may never have seen before and may never experience again. I hope her story inspires you on your floral journey and gives you confidence to reach out to your local media outlets as a floral expert.



Find and Follow Atelier Ashley Flowers on Instagram and Facebook

https://youtu.be/YIqJkwH7LXY?si=Mz5TXBzwyF6f6Xuy




It’s dahlia season and gardeners and growers everywhere are celebrating the endless variety and exquisite beauty of the Slow Flowers movement’s “it” flower. At Dianne’s Dahlias in Colorado Springs, Colorado, founder Dianne Reitan is motivated by her own dahlia passion. Growing dahlias in dry, high desert conditions at an elevation of 7,000 feet can seem challenging, if not impossible, but Dianne has discovered that these magnificent flowers adore Colorado’s abundant sunshine and cool nighttime temperatures. Join me in a conversation with Dianne to learn about her dahlia-only cut flower farm that thrives on the grounds of a historic mining museum, as she brings together a love of dahlias, a heart for education, and her fund-raising expertise to benefit this local nonprofit cultural center.



Dianne Reitan



After working in nonprofit fundraising for most of her career, Dianne Reitan discovered the joy of gardening, specifically dahlia gardening. Her efforts have expanded from a humble 7-tuber dahlia plot at her neighborhood community garden to more than 260 different varieties and just under two thousand plants for season 2025. Dianne now grows her organic, full-sun dahlias on the grounds of the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, located in the northern part of Colorado Springs across the freeway from the Air Force Academy. As President of the Board of Trustees for the mining museum, she is devoted to supporting this unique non-profit whose mission is to educate the public about the heritage and continuing importance of the mining industry in the American West.  







By leasing museum land for her dahlia farm, Dianne has created a fantastic model in which everyone wins. Customers know that for every bouquet purchased from Dianne's Dahlias, a portion of the proceeds go to supporting the mining museum. Other activities include dahlia classes and workshops, farm tours, wholesale and retail sales of cut dahlias, a subscription program, and sales of tubers.







Thank you for joining me today! I’m so grateful to Dianne Reiten and Dianne’s Dahlias for her membership in and support of the Slow Flowers Movement. I hope her story inspires you on your floral journey and helps you take more creative risks in your own floral enterprise. Please let us know about your journey!







Follow Dianne's Dahlias on Instagram and Facebook



Subscribe to: "Dahlia Talk," American Dahlia Society's newsletter



Subscribe to: Dianne’s Dahlia’s newsletter







Thank you to our Sponsors



This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 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, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu.



Thank you to Charles Little & Company for supplying our industry with some of the most beautiful and sustainably-grown design ingredients, available nationwide through their website at charleslittleandcompany.com. Based in Eugene, Oregon,

https://youtu.be/gaTn7jO3DS4?si=xEnvvGPsdI7t0di3




I truly love learning about the floral journeys that so many of our members have taken to arrive at a life immersed in flower growing, floral design, or both. For Colleen Raney, the path began when she and her husband were professional musicians. Colleen’s decades-long career as a celebrated Irish singer took her around the globe. The “flower adventure” began in 2017, followed by a move from rural Maine, back home to a small farm in Washington State where Colleen and her husband Hanz Araki both were raised. Today, she grow flowers on that 2-acre farm in the agricultural flats of Washington State’s beautiful Skagit Valley and designs for wedding and event clients through her studio Diadem Flower Co. Last Colleen launched a boutique sweet pea seed venture, Songbird Seed Co. Join us for a farm tour and conversation to learn more.



Collen Raney of Diadem Flower Co. and Songbird Seed Co.



How do you ever explain an obsession? Obsessions can be beautifully irrational, rarely based on logic. And when you meet Colleen Raney and hear her story, you’ll conclude that she may be possessed by her love of sweet peas – that’s entirely relatable, as I discovered on a recent visit to her farm in Washington’s Skagit Valley.



Songbird Seed Co. and sweet pea fields at dusk



Colleen has spent her entire life in the performing arts - working as an actor in New York City, touring the world as a musician, teaching theatre and production to young adults, and producing music festivals for several years. All of that experience, plus the several years spent growing and designing with flowers means that she is a versatile farmer-florist who helps couples achieve the floral creations of their dreams. Now, Colleen also grows sweet peas, harvests their seeds, and sells tiny packets of gorgeous and fragrant floral dreams to gardeners and flower lovers.



A rainbow of sweet pea blooms



Born into a Seattle family where Irish music and dance were part of the fabric of everyday life, learning songs from her older siblings was very much a part of Colleen's formative years. Colleen began her musical career with her oldest brother Mark. After attaining her MFA in Acting from the University of Washington, and working as a professional actor for a decade, Colleen dove back into the traditional music world with her first album Linnet in 2008. Her 2013 release Here This is Home is without question one of the finest works in recent years.



Wedding florals by Diadem Flower Co.



Colleen has toured extensively, both at home and abroad, and spent two months in 2017 singing for Irish-American supergroup Solas on their farewell tour. Her music can be heard on radio from Italy, to Ireland, to New York, to Hawaii, to Japan and all parts in between. And we are in for a special treat because Andrew, our podcast editor, has infused this episode with clips from some of Colleen’s albums. I know you’ll enjoy this episode as much as I did creating it with Colleen.



All-local and all-seasonal bridal bouquets by Diadem Flower Co.







Thank you for joining me today! Thank you to Colleen and Diadem Flower Co. for her membership in and support of the Slow Flowers Movement. I hope her story inspires you on your floral journey and helps you take a leap to expand into new horizons through a your own floral obsession. We want to know about it!



Songbird Seed Co. seed packaging



Find and follow Diadem Flower Co. on Instagram



Find and follow Songbird Seed Co. on Instagram



Sweet Pea Seed shop: Purchase $50 or more in gift cards be...

https://youtu.be/L3ykZ98zqsE?si=uJggIXWspcqsw0mo




Dragon Song Farm is located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley outside Eugene. Founder Jenny Jonak’s mission is to bring a sense of floral magic to her customers and community while promoting sustainable, earth-friendly growing practices. By using regenerative farming techniques, Dragon Song ensures that their flowers are grown in harmony with nature, restoring and enriching the soil for future generations. I recently spend a glorious morning with Jenny, touring Dragon Song’s fields, production areas and greenhouses, and discussing her belief that every bouquet should delight the senses and also contribute to a healthier planet. I’m excited for you to join the conversation.



Celebrating THE FLOWER FARMERS book with (from left) Charles Little, Bethany Little, Debra Prinzing, Erin McMullen, and Aaron Gasky



My summer travels continued last week, as I joined my husband Bruce and friends at the USA Track and Field championships in Eugene, Oregon. In addition to enjoying inspiring athleticism of world-class athletes, I was inspired by world class blooms growing there in Willamette Valley.



Celebrating THE FLOWER FARMERS book with (from left) Charles Little, Bethany Little, Debra Prinzing, Erin McMullen, and Aaron Gasky



On the calendar was a long-planned celebration of The Flower Farmers book with two Oregon farms featured in its pages. Bethany and Charles of Charles Little & Co. in Eugene hosted a festive Sunday morning book party at their Farm Stand, and we were joined by Erin McMullen and Aaron Gaskey of Rain Drop Farms, based in nearby Philomath, Oregon, who are also featured in The Flower Farmers. It was so fun for guests who purchased their own copies of the book to have all five of us sign our pages – what a special memento. So many longtime friends and members came to the event and I really enjoyed meeting new friends, florists, and flower farmers who are inspired by the community we have nurtured. Thank you, Charles & Bethany, for a wonderful visit.



Jenny Jonak at Dragon Song Farm in Oregon's Willamette Valley



Also while I was in Eugene, I visited Jenny Jonak, owner of Dragon Song Farm, today’s guest of the Slow Flowers Podcast. Dragon Song Farm has been a Slow Flowers Society member for a few years, but I had not met Jenny in person, so I invited myself for a visit. The weather and views were absolutely perfect and we recorded a tour of Dragon Song’s growing areas, as well as a sit-down conversation, filmed in the barn-studio.



A custom-made farmstand, complete with dragon heads, inspired by Jenny's children's imaginations and lots of JRR Tolkien stories



Here's a bit more about Jenny Jonak. She has been practicing since 1997, and has extensive experience with commercial litigation and corporate law. Jenny graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and obtained her undergraduate degree with high honors from the University of Virginia. She has acted as outside general counsel for several companies, ranging from start-ups to international technology conglomerates. 



Dragon Song Farm at the Lane County Farmers' Market in Eugene, Oregon



On her law firm’s website, we learn that when not practicing law, Jenny has contributed her time as a photojournalist to various wildlife and humanitarian projects, including photography for the World Wildlife Fund, Friends of Calakmul, Rainforest2Reef, as well as HIV and famine relief projects in Africa.  She volunteers for a number of non-profits, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Eugene 4J Schools, Board of Directors of the Asian American Council of Oregon, Steering Committee for the Lane County Campaign for Equal Justice ...

https://youtu.be/EB6eWif0mio?si=pfsFql-4xDnbwBWN




The Bochner family lived in the Des Moines, Iowa, suburbs for many years, in a house surrounded by a beautiful flower garden. As gardeners with other careers, Lori and Jim never dreamed of packing up everything, moving to rural Iowa, and growing thousands of flowers on a farm. Today, they consider Bochner Farms an "unplanned accident" that emerged from 50 acres of raw land originally intended for weekend camping, fishing, hiking and sitting around the campfire --  you know, an outdoor escape from city life. One year after buying the land, Lori and Jim decided to move there permanently. They built a farmhouse, planted thousands of flowers, and have slowly transitioned the property into a botanical wonderland to share with other flower lovers and for those in search of beauty and a sense of peace. Join me on a walking tour with the Bochners and a conversation that connects the dots between an idea and the reality of being a destination flower farm.



Jim and Lori Bochner of Bochner Farms



If you’re a longtime listener of the Slow Flowers Podcast, you know that I can find great interview guests wherever I travel – and that’s because we have Slow Flowers members in all 50 states and in  most Canadian provinces! I also mange to find slow flowers-minded guests when I travel abroad, like on last year’s visit to France – and hint, hint – as part of my upcoming trip to Japan!



The beloved Cottage Garden at Bochner Farms



Last weekend, when I flew to Des Moines, Iowa, to have a garden-and-art weekend with two of my longtime writer-editor friends, I invited myself to meet Lori and Jim Bochner of Bochner Farms. Friends in tow, I made the 30-minute drive south of Des Moines into the rural, Central Iowa countryside. When we arrived at Bochner Farms, we discovered an oasis of flowers surrounded, it seemed, on all sides by corn stalks and bean fields.



The party pavilion hosts private gatherings for up to 50 guests



There, Lori and Jim Bochner greeted us and led a stroll through their event-focused flower farm and nursery. With distinctive, farm-style architecture (even for the chicken house), a huge covered pavilion for groups up to 50, a charming cottage garden, an enviable she-shed, and displays of dahlias, annuals, and their unique collection of daylilies, there was so much to see!



The Willow Cottage, a charming "she-shed"



By necessity, they have installed air conditioning inside the design studio and the picture-perfect shed, as well as in the event barn, currently being upgraded for larger gatherings beginning in 2026. Climate control ensures that all guests are comfortable and never want to leave!



The ever-expanding daylily collection, on display for guests to learn and shop for their own plants.



We wore our sun hats and let our fascination with Jim and Lori’s flower farming story – and the beauty of their blooms – distract us from the Midwest heat!



I’m so grateful to Lori and Jim and Bochner Farms for their membership in and support of the Slow Flowers Movement. I hope their story inspires you on your floral journey.



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Digital Download: How to Build a Cottage Garden



More about GIVING COLOR:1 for 6.  Through a collaboration with Meals from the Heartland, Bochner Farms donates a meal that feeds six people for every flower purchase from our Iowa flower farm.  To learn more about Meals from the Heartland, visit their website at www.mealsfromtheheartland.org.

https://youtu.be/Aa6Q2fWCG1g?si=AuRMPGoLwVJ-ZE_v




Long before I met the women of La Flor Farm, I met their gorgeous flowers. For the past three years, mom Michele and daughter Chantelle have supplied customers (like me) who shop at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market with a breathtakingly beautiful selection of the highest quality flowers – from tulips in time for Valentine’s Day to spring perennials, summer annuals, and (of course) unique dahlias. When I met Chantelle in person and learned that her family flower compound is located just 12 miles from where I live, I had to visit these Slow Flowers members. La Flor is now in its fourth season, and while Michele and Chantelle are the primary operators, there’s help from Michele’s mother (grammy) and Chantelle’s young adult children, making this a four-generation flower farm. Join me on a video tour and insightful conversation from my recent visit. You’ll be inspired!



Chantelle Korcek and Michelle Jensen of La Flor Farm



It’s dahlia season a La Flor Farm, where the fields are exploding with more than 4,000 plants, as well as annuals, foliages, and perennials. The landscape was once used by neighbors to graze their horses, but once Chantelle Korcek convinced her mother Michele Jensen to convert the acreage into flowers, things changed considerably.



All in the family at La Flor Farm! Left photo: four generations with Doris Beck (Grammy), Michele Jensen, Chantelle Korcek and daugher Ava Korcek; Right photo: Michelle and David Jensen, Doris Beck, Chantelle Korcek and her two children, Ava and Griffin Korcek



As they explain, the idea for La Flor Farm grew slowly. For many years Michele shared her garden flowers for weddings, tea parties, birthdays, and baby showers. Chantelle’s yard was overflowing with hydrangeas and dahlias and she was looking for space to expand her garden. Every spring and summer the women collected new dahlias, peonies, hydrangeas, and more flower seeds, nurturing the blooms to share with family and friends.



Late in the summer of 2021, the women visited a local dahlia farm, took a million pictures, oohed and aahed, talked the whole way home about what they loved and what they might try on their dream farm. They realized it was time. Time to take the leap of faith. Time to give this baby business a name. Time to place all the orders and make connections.



It felt scary to dream that they could turn their love of all things flowers into a fully realized floral enterprise based in Auburn, Washington, southeast of downtown Seattle, but they have done just that. Now in their fourth growing season, Chantelle and Michele take pride in growing high-quality, English garden style, seasonal flowers - harvested at their peak of freshness.



They tell customers that La Flor Farm is part of the Slow Flowers movement; their blooms are hand-snipped at the last possible moment to meet florists’ perfect timing. By using appropriate post-harvest care methods that avoid dangerous chemicals, clients are assured of receiving top quality, safe to breathe and handle blooms.



I know you’ll enjoy my visit, filmed last week on an overcast day when the dahlia bloom color was at its most vivid. We start with a walking tour of La Flor Farm, and that’s followed by a sit-down with Michele and Chantelle.



Find and follow La Flor Farm on Instagram and Facebook.







Thank you to our Sponsors



This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 florists, shops, and studios who design with local, seasonal and sustainable flowers and to the farms that grow those blooms.

https://youtu.be/0doEw6lpGz4?si=XdYFY6NZ8r23c5-W




Based in Kingston, Massachusetts, on Boston’s South Shore, farmer-florist Julie Raymond grows cut flowers for her clients’ wedding florals. After an initial career in social service, Julie’s graduate work in horticulture and landscape design now informs her philosophy. She says: “That background in science and design is rooted in everything I do and has inspired my work from the very beginning.” Today, Bittersweet Gardens sources fresh, seasonal and organic flowers to serve those clients with unique, bespoke field-to-vase floral arrangements, tablescapes, wedding bouquets and centerpieces. We recently recorded a conversation about how Julie navigates weddings as a farmer-florist, a topic about which she frequently teaches and writes. Whether you grow cut flowers, design florals for weddings, or do both – this conversation will inspire you!



Julie Raymond of Bittersweet Gardens (left); inside her greenhouse (right)



Join me today in the virtual studio as I visit with Julie Raymond of Bittersweet Gardens, based in Kingston, Massachusetts. With an emphasis on sustainably grown flowers and event design, the studio is known for organic, loose florals inspired by the changing seasons of New England and a lush, ethereal and “just picked” from the garden aesthetic.



Bridal bouquet by Bittersweet Gardens (left); the charming design studio (right)



Since 1998, Julie has farmed land up and down the eastern part of Massachusetts. Outside of growing flowers and designing floral arrangements for weekly corporate clients and couples, she also markets blooms through the Boston Wholesale Flower Exchange. 



Four Flower Shares Collections



The breadth and depth of design ingredients that Julie grows in mind-boggling – she begins the season with early tulips, ranunculus, and anemones and continues through the summer with all the unique, juicy options – annuals, perennials, and ornamental shrubs and vines – and wraps up the season with dahlias and heirloom mums.



A Bittersweet Gardens wedding



Julie edited and narrated a 20-minute bonus video that leads us through a full year at Bittersweet Gardens, including some of her gorgeous design work and evocative, place-setting installations.







Join Bittersweet Gardens' mailing list -- you'll be the first to learn about Julie's upcoming course!



Find and follow Bittersweet Gardens on Instagram and Facebook







Thank you to our Sponsors



This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 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, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu.Thank you to Johnny's Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower, herb and vegetable seeds -- supplied to farms large and small and even backyard cutting gardens like mine. Find the full catalog of flower seeds and bulbs at johnnysseeds.com.



Thank you to Rooted Farmers.

https://youtu.be/RslR3txR91Q?si=yleBkHEYO26z4Ag4




Next year, Gretel and Steve Adams will celebrate the 20th farming season at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio. Far younger than the average U.S. farmer, these first-generation flower growers have built Sunny Meadows into an impressive floral enterprise encompassing more than 30 acres, employing a crew of few dozen folks, and producing tens of thousands of floral stems each year. I first met this talented couple in 2010 at the ASCFG conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is where I first realized that they were ones to watch. Over the years, they have appeared in articles I’ve written for national magazines, as guests on the Slow Flowers Podcast, and now, in the pages of The Flower Farmers. Last week, I joined Steve and Gretel and 100 of their customers and friends, at a special book signing party at their farm. Today’s episode features highlights of that event.



Gretel and Steve Adams, co-founders of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm in Columbus, Ohio



Turn to page 126 in The Flower Farmers book and you’ll read the story of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm, the Columbus-based family farm started by Gretel and Steve Adams in 2006, on a 10-acre parcel with a small cottage and little more. Their dream of farming together, sharing their mutual love of nature, has blossomed into an impressive source of domestic flowers for regional and national customers.



Ranunculus at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm



Early on, they shifted from a food-and-flower-growing operation to 100% cut flowers, inspired by a market grower who raised sunflowers, zinnias, and cosmos to supplement a teacher salary. “We quickly realized how much money we could earn with our local flowers,” Steve explained. “We found this niche that no one else was really doing in Columbus, and we went for it. What we earn per acre on cut flower production is dramatically different than what we were doing with vegetables alone.”



The landscape at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm -- at one of the leased fields



By adding leased parcels in and around Columbus to their original 10 acres, the farm has expanded like a patchwork quilt. The home farm is where woody and herbaceous peonies grow – crops like hydrangeas, viburnum, willows, yarrow, and sea oats. There are more than one dozen greenhouses that produce luxury crops like ranunculus, anemone, freesia, and lisianthus, plus a farm store open to the public. The leased farmland – across the street – is filled with vibrant rows of field-grown annuals (celosia, amaranth, sunflowers, zinnias, and lots and lots of dahlias. I visited both sites while attending our book launch party, and have some video to share with you.



Scenes from Sunny Meadows Flower Farm



The crew at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm with Steve Adams (standing, far left)



You’ll want to check out the video in today’s show notes to see highlights of my visit. On Saturday, I spent time with Gretel as we visited all of the lisianthus trials. You’ll hear us discuss CULTIVATE, which is major horticulture conference that takes place in Columbus each July. In addition to our book event, Cultivate brought me to Columbus. The conference made it possible for Takii Seeds’ flower product development manager Jessica Cudnik to attend and share her insight about lisianthus breeding. The episode concludes with Gretel’s floral design demonstration.



Pinto at Sunny Meadows Flower Farm -- one of the most popular photographs in the pages of The Flower Farmers book.



I’m so grateful to Gretel and Steve Adams for their longtime support of the Slow Flowers Movement as members and collaborators. I know you will be inspired by their story.

https://youtu.be/_tDUwuW3ZGY?si=0gpALTpIPayQcwCG




In early March, Stacey Chapman embarked on a new chapter for Westwind Flowers, opening a design studio and retail space in Gordonsville, Virginia. Adding this beautiful destination for her customers and the public means Westwind can provide more local flowers to their community on a greater scale with everydayflowers, expanded workshop space and events. As Stacey wrote in her announcement post: “We believe in the local and American grown floral industry. We have developed strong relationships with local and regional growers and look forward to working with them as we expand our business.” This was a big step fora small, family-run flower farm. But as you’ll hear in my conversation with Stacey, her background working in flower shops, not to mention her extensive community ties, led to the decision. I’m excited to share that story with you.



Stacey and Tom Chapman of Westwind Flowers Farm & Studio



Last fall, Stacey Chapman sent me a personal note via email – and it immediately made me think, “we have to record a podcast episode about her news!” Here’s what she shared: “The 'great divide' between local growers and 'traditional' shops is astounding in this area of Central Virginia with regard to local flowers. I have been frustrated by this since year one in my growing journey and finally decidedto take the plunge and do something different for my business."



. . . "I love the sign at the beginning of your 'Slow Flowers' book of the definition of a florist…that's what I (many of us) do. The wholesale sales market just doesn't cut it for me though, nor do farmers' markets…so in 2025 I'm opening a retail site. Eeek…”



Love this sign! The original definition of a FLORIST is having a comeback!



The sign to which she refers is one I often include in my slide shows – an aging, somewhat rusty metal sign that I spotted outside a vacant storefront in Chicago – probably back in 2011. It reads like a Webster’s Dictionary entry: FLORIST (-noun), ‘One in the business of raising or selling flowers and ornamental plants.’”



The promise of a beautiful rainbow -- over the fields at Westwind Flowers



Stacey and I had a nice chat over the winter and she updated me on some of the news about her soon-to-open retail space. At Westwind Flowers, Stacey and her husband Tom Chapman are in their sixth season. They lease two acres of land from the Montpelier Foundation, the historic James Madison farm outside of Charlottesville, where they primarily raise field-grown flowers. "We are very aware of sustainability and what that means here," she says. "If we ever leave this land, we want to leave it in better conditions than we received it."



The iconic green barn at Westwind Flowers, with summer dahlias in the foreground.



Prior to Westwind Flowers being established there in 2019, the farmland had been used for horse grazing for nearly a century, and later planted in cover crops to attract natural pollinators. Prior to launching the new Westwind Flowers & Studio, they sold at farmers' markets, through CSA and flower share programs, and via a wholesale flower cooperative. Today, the reimagined business offers daily arrangements, special event florals, seasonal subscriptions, u-picks and workshops at the floral studio.



Farming at the historic property of James Madison



And take note, this interview begins with an engaging video filmed by Lorenzo Dickerson of Maupintown Media, a talented video storyteller who recently filmed a segment that brings Westwind Flowers Farm & Studio to life.



A slice of summer flowers at Westwind Flowers Farm & Studio

https://youtu.be/D2d_-D2HVK8?si=VMUallUaLM2SBsum




Erin Webb grew up immersed in plants and horticulture, following three generations of Michigan ornamental nursey owners before her. For as long as she can remember, Erin was immersed in the business of plants. After studying business and Spanish in college, and after an initial career in corporate America, in 2019, Erin returned to the land. She founded Florista of West Olive, since it to farm specialty cut flowers, design weddings and everyday arrangements, teach workshops, manage a CSA, and bring her blooms to the farmers’ market in Holland, Michigan. And now, her six-year-old son is experiencing a childhood much like Erin and her sister had. Listen in and learn how this full-circle journey has given Erin the floral business that fits her family’s lifestyle and beautifies her community.



Erin Webb of Florista of West Olive



Erin Webb calls herself a Chief Flower Organizer, and that’s an appropriate title for the founder of Florista West Olive, a western Michigan-based micro farm and design studio.



Here's the completed floral design demonstration that Erin Webb filmed for our episode



Earlier this week, Erin and I recorded a fun conversation to share with you, as she reflects on the past six years of her foray into cut flower farming and its emphasis on garden-inspired floral design. As a bonus, Erin recorded a tour of Florista’s growing and production areas, followed by a floral design demonstration featuring her signature bowl arrangement. It’s a packed episode, for sure, so I’m going to jump right in and get started.



Grown and designed by Florista of West Olive



Thank you for joining me today! I’m so grateful to Erin for her support of the Slow Flowers Movement as a member, and I hope her story is an inspiring one to you.



Michigan-grown tulips at Florista of West Olive



Find and follow Erin Webb, Florista of West Olive on Instagram and on Facebook







Thank you to our Sponsors



This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to more than 700 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, Flowerbulb.eu and their U.S. lily bulb vendors. One of the most recognizable flowers in the world, the lily is a top-selling cut flower, offering long-lasting blooms, year-round availability, and a dazzling petal palette. Flowerbulb.eu has partnered with Slow Flowers to provide beautiful lily inspiration and farming resources to help growers and florists connect their customers with more lilies. Learn more at Flowerbulb.eu.



Thank you to A-ROO Company, your one-stop shop for in-stock floral packaging. From sleeves and wraps to labels and tags, visit www.a-roo.com for their full selection of eco-friendly items or to start the process of developing a look that is uniquely yours. Learn more at www.a-roo.com.



Thank you to Charles Little & Company for supplying our industry with some of the most beautiful and sustainably-grown design ingredients, available nationwide through their website at charleslittleandcompany.com. Based in Eugene, Oregon, the farmers at Charles Little & Company have been growing and drying flowers since 1986. New products and dried flower collections are added to their website at the first of each month. Check it out at charleslittleandcompany.com.