What if the flowers from your wedding day, memorial service, or special celebration could last forever? Andrea Cole, founder of Designs by Andrea, brings this possibility to life through her remarkable flower preservation artistry. In this captivating conversation, Andrea reveals how a Valentine's bouquet and the discovery of her husband's grandmother's pressed flower hobby sparked a passion that evolved into preserving thousands of meaningful floral arrangements. Andrea walks us through the...
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What if the flowers from your wedding day, memorial service, or special celebration could last forever? Andrea Cole, founder of Designs by Andrea, brings this possibility to life through her remarkable flower preservation artistry. In this captivating conversation, Andrea reveals how a Valentine's bouquet and the discovery of her husband's grandmother's pressed flower hobby sparked a passion that evolved into preserving thousands of meaningful floral arrangements. Andrea walks us through the...
A critical moment between a flower's first bloom and its peak determines how long it will last in a vase. Miss this window, and you'll lose days of enjoyment from your carefully grown blooms. Flower farmers Liza, Lizzy, and Kenly dive deep into the secrets of perfect harvest timing that dramatically extends vase life. They reveal why early morning cutting makes all the difference (and why noon to 3 PM is catastrophic for your flowers), plus share specific indicators for knowing exactly when ...
Battling aphids on delicate ranunculus, chasing Japanese beetles off prized dahlias, and racing against an incoming thunderstorm to stake sunflowers—these are just glimpses into the not-so-glamorous side of flower farming that we're diving into headfirst. Flower farmers face a relentless trifecta of challenges: persistent pests, sneaky diseases, and unpredictable weather patterns that can transform a perfect field into a disaster zone overnight. From the vampiric aphids that multiply faster ...
Ever wondered if your choice of cutting tool is affecting your flowers' longevity? In this refreshing deep-dive, mother-daughter duo Liza and Lizzy from Wildly Native Flower Farm tackle the great clipper versus knife debate that divides the floral industry. The science behind flower cutting is fascinating—creating a clean wound at the stem end significantly impacts water uptake and vase life. As Liza explains, "When you cut a flower, you're making a wound, and how you make that wound affects...
The conversation doesn't shy away from practical challenges like preserving flowers in sweltering summer heat ("chasing the shade" and keeping everything in water until purchase), navigating social media strategies across different platforms, and battling the market vendor's worst enemy: wind. You'll laugh at Renee's advice for couples at the market: "If your partner stops to admire flowers and you keep walking, you've messed up!" Whether you're a seasoned market vendor or considering your f...
Ever wondered why some cut flowers wilt after two days while others stay vibrant for weeks? The answer isn't expensive preservatives or complicated tricks—it's about understanding the fundamentals of flower care from harvest to vase. Flower farm florist Lizzy Frey pulls back the curtain on professional flower longevity secrets in this practical, tip-filled episode. You'll discover why morning harvest matters, how local flowers dramatically outlast imports, and why keeping leaves out of water...
Join Liza, Kenley, and Lizzy as they pull back the curtain on what spring really means for flower farmers. From pre-dawn alarms and caffeine-fueled early mornings to the meticulous tracking of thousands of seedlings, you'll discover why this season both exhausts and exhilarates those who grow flowers professionally. The team shares candid insights about the controlled chaos of spring farming – battling unpredictable weather patterns, managing planting schedules that can make or break the ent...
Starting flowers from seed is a transformative journey that opens up a world of possibilities most gardeners never experience. While it might seem intimidating at first, the rewards are worth it – greater variety, significant cost savings, and the pure satisfaction of nurturing something from its very beginning. As Kenly reveals from her years of experience managing our seed starting program, success comes down to understanding some fundamental principles. The 128-cell trays we use hit that ...
In this Flower Files episode, we take a refreshing dive into the vital world of soil—the unsung hero of any flourishing garden. Many people underestimate the difference between dirt and soil, completely missing how deeply they affect gardening outcomes. Drawing on our personal experiences at Wildly Native Flower Farm, we discuss various soil types—sandy, clay, silty, and loamy—and how each plays a distinct role in nurturing flower growth. Join us as we unravel the complexities of soil amendm...
Step into the vibrant world of floral design in our latest episode, where we unveil the often-overlooked potential of greens. We'll delve into practical advice on sourcing greens, highlighting sustainable practices such as foraging from your own garden. Discover the joy of incorporating personal touches in your work while also embracing current trends that put greens in the limelight. From lush installations to minimalist settings where greens take center stage, we cover it all. ...
Ever wondered why certain plants, like eucalyptus and snapdragons, seem to have it out for your sanity? We share our personal encounters with these stubborn growers, recounting humorous mishaps and hard-earned lessons. Our greenhouse adventures include a laugh-out-loud tale of overflow chaos, and we emphasize the importance of strategic planning, especially with big events like Mother's Day on the horizon. If you've ever struggled with germination, our candid confessions might just make you f...
Ever wonder what goes into crafting those awe-inspiring floral arches? Join Lizzy as she demystifies the complex process, spotlighting the intricate mechanics behind these breathtaking installations. From the strategic use of chicken wire and floral foam to the collaboration with talented visionaries, Lizzy offers a comprehensive guide to turning ambitious concepts into reality. She also opens the floor to you, the listeners, inviting you to share your own experiences with memorable floral in...
In 2016, as a college horticulture student and a seed-experimenting mom united by a shared passion for gardening. We discovered that flowers, not vegetables, were our unexpected ticket to a thriving business. This episode uncovers the pivotal moments that led us to embrace flower farming as a viable and fulfilling path, drawing on our family's rich gardening history and our love for entrepreneurship. Transitioning from part-time farmers to full-time entrepreneurs wasn't a walk through a dais...
Have you ever thought about how a simple conversation could transform your wedding floristry business? On the Flower Files podcast, we share our journey from the nerve-wracking early phone calls with brides to the rewarding experience of building genuine connections through heartfelt conversations. We dive deep into listening to a couple's unique story and using those insights to create floral arrangements that resonate on an emotional level, turning ordinary transactions into extraordinary m...
Ever wondered how a simple love for flowers could transform into a bustling wedding industry career? Picture this: a former student requests us to craft her wedding florals, setting off a chain reaction that takes us from teachers to floral entrepreneurs. Our journey is filled with unexpected twists, from the pandemic throwing us a curveball, but we found ways to brighten our community’s spirits, selling tulips to support local businesses and healthcare heroes. Our floral adventure doesn't s...
We're going on a journey through the seasons, starting with spring favorites like ranunculus and campanula, each with its charm and set of challenges. From the elegance of white alliums to the unexpected joy of discovering unique ranunculus colors, the conversation paints a vivid picture of flower selection that caters to both aesthetics and the practicalities of gardening in Zone 7b. As summer unfolds, we express our excitement for new varieties like bronze and red Irises and the deli...
Ready to transform your garden with perennial flowers? We bring you practical advice on selecting and growing species like eryngium, along with insights into managing costs, space, and those surprise plant explosions—hello, peonies! Discover how weather plays its mischievous role and learn from our triumphs and mishaps in nurturing a lush perennial paradise. Whether you're a green-thumbed pro or a budding gardener, our shared journeys promise to enrich your gardening adventure. Support the sh...
Join Lizzie, Liza, and Kenly as we navigate the delightful and sometimes challenging process of selecting the perfect flower seeds. Learn from our experiences and Kenly's expertise as we share valuable lessons from past growing seasons, including managing drought conditions and choosing disease-resistant seed varieties. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newbie, our journey promises to enrich your knowledge and inspire your green thumb! Our conversation takes a humorous twist as w...
Thinking about your garden goals for 2025? Get ready for inspiration! We're introducing a brand-new downloadable guide launching on January 5th, designed to help you set productive garden goals with reflective prompts. Whether you're looking to ensure a steady flower supply through strategic planting rotations or seeking effective ways to manage garden pests, our personal stories provide practical tips and inspiration for gardeners of all levels. As we celebrate the New Year, we send our warm...
The debate gets crumbly as we tackle cookie toppings—sprinkles, anyone? Some of us love the vibrant crunch, while others prefer their treats sans sprinkles. We reflect on how our childhood art projects with glitter might be to blame for our sprinkle aversions today. As the episode wraps up, we unwrap holiday wrapping paper traditions and the quirky customs that make the season special. Whether it's setting out milk and cookies for Santa or indulging in Chinese food on Christmas Eve, we...
As Christmas approaches, we're using dried flowers like calendula and echinops in the barn, each with its own quirks, while embracing the perennial resilience of yarrow. This episode invites you to step into our workshop, where the joy of working with nature's diverse palette feels like a festive celebration. From wreath-making to December weddings, we're unraveling the vibrant world of floral arrangements. Our creative process incorporates dried elements like seed pods and pine cones, thoug...
What if the flowers from your wedding day, memorial service, or special celebration could last forever? Andrea Cole, founder of Designs by Andrea, brings this possibility to life through her remarkable flower preservation artistry. In this captivating conversation, Andrea reveals how a Valentine's bouquet and the discovery of her husband's grandmother's pressed flower hobby sparked a passion that evolved into preserving thousands of meaningful floral arrangements. Andrea walks us through the...
