The Flower Podcast

In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Scott welcomes Erik van der Sluys of Beneficial Insectary for a deep dive into natural pest control strategies tailored specifically for flower farmers. They explore practical, real-world approaches to managing common pests such as thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and fungus gnats, and discuss how integrating beneficial insects into your growing system can dramatically improve plant h...

Scott Shepherd sits down with floral designer and grower Lindsey Mizock of Pompelmo Floral to talk about creativity, freelancing, and what it means to intentionally keep your business small. Lindsey shares insights from her years working on small farms along the California coast, her fine-art background, and her approach to design rooted in observation and authenticity. Together, they explore favorite flower varieties, the freedom ...

This week, Scott explores the intersection of science and artistry in the world of flower breeding. Dr. Keith Hammett, New Zealand's leading ornamental plant breeder, shares his passion for developing Dahlias, Sweet Peas, and Clivias that blend genetics, color, and creativity. Together, they discuss the delicate balance between science and art, the importance of scent in breeding, the joy of discovery, and how breeders quietly shap...

Starting Fresh with Galena Berkompas

Building a new flower farm from the ground up!

In this episode, returning guest Galena Berkompas of Micro Flower Farm shares what it's like to start over on a new piece of land in Vancouver, Washington. She talks about prioritizing perennials, choosing cover crops, and balancing short-term crops with long-term investments. Galena also dives into her watering schedule, dahlia care, and the lesson...

What Is Your Most Important Tool?

Madeline Hooper has such a great story. After years in public relations, competing as a ballroom dancer, and teacher she turned her focus to gardening and helping others. Together with her husband, she's spent over three decades creating and caring for their Rockland Farm in New York. She's also the co-creator of the TV series GardenFit, and she shares down-to-earth ways we can take care of our mos...

My guest today is Jenny Marks from Clifton Springs New York, a grower and educator who has built her business from the ground up. Jenny runs Trademarks Flower Farm, a productive one-acre farm celebrated for its gorgeous early spring blooms and smart, efficient growing practices. Alongside her own farm work, she created Trademark Farmer, where she teaches and mentors small-scale flower farmers who want to build profitable, sustainab...

In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Scott is joined by Tina Barkley, co-founder of Fleurs de Villes. With more than 25 years in creative industries, Tina has built a career around bringing beauty, entrepreneurship, and storytelling together. She shares how floral artistry can go beyond decoration — becoming a way to tell stories, engage communities, and open new opportunities for your business.

From saying "no" as a chance to pi...

On this episode of The Flower Podcast, I'm joined by Layne Angelo, Seed Director at The Gardener's Workshop and co-host of Seed Talk with Lisa & Layne, alongside Lisa Mason Ziegler — gardener, flower farmer, educator, author, and founder of The Gardener's Workshop. Lisa has been a guest before, and it was wonderful to welcome her back and to also chat with Layne for the first time.

Their podcast, Seed Talk, is a true treasure trove...

In this episode of The Flower Podcast, host Scott Shepherd sits down with Franceska McCaughan, The Hotel Florist, to explore how florists can grow their businesses with weekly floral accounts. Franceska shares her journey from experimenting with flower bars to building a thriving business serving hotels, restaurants, and professional spaces. She explains why embracing trial and error, thinking profit-first, and creating memorable c...

This week, Scott sits down with Kori Hargreaves, the heart and hands behind Dawn Creek Farm, for a conversation rooted in seeds, selection, and the creative process of flower breeding. Kori shares insights from her decade-long journey developing new open-pollinated varieties—including her collaboration with Floret.

They explore the practical side of breeding—avoiding inbreeding depression, selecting for color and form, and choosing...

In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Scott Shepherd talks with Carole Patilla of Tuckshop Flowers and co-founder of The Farewell Flowers Directory. They explore the growing movement toward sustainable and foam-free funeral flowers. Carole shares practical tips for florists ready to shift away from floral foam, embrace compostable design, and rethink traditional funeral floristry. This inspiring conversation is all about starting ...

In this episode of The Flower Podcast, Elizabeth Hodges, owner of Philo Floral in Greenville SC., opens up about the powerful mindset shift that helped her build a business rooted in authenticity. We explore how understanding generational values—from Gen Z's focus on connection and transparency to older generations' appreciation for experience—can change the way you approach wedding consultations and client relationships.

Elizabeth...

In this episode, we welcome back Adrianne Gammie, a dedicated flower farmer known for her intentional approach to business, sustainability, and community impact. Adrianne shares valuable insights from her evolving farm, covering everything from pollinator habitat and land stewardship to profitability and professional relationships. Her candid advice is grounded in real-world experience and offers practical strategies for flower far...

Flowers are at the heart of so many meaningful moments—especially since Mother's Day week just happened. This episode honors the hardworking farmers, florists, designers, and behind-the-scenes teams who make it all possible. Returning guest Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm joins Scott for a rich conversation about long-term farm planning, infrastructure investment, and the evolving role of a flower grower. As a founding member o...

We're chatting with Nicole Pitt, the passionate owner of Flower Hill Farm, and a popular YouTube creator, as she shares her journey in the world of flower farming.

Nicole's story is all about planting roots, both literally and figuratively, as she returned to her childhood home in 2018 and transformed it into a thriving farm full of flowers.

Some of the topics we discussed:

Perennials as a Foundation:  
Nicole emphasizes that pere...

This week's episode highlights the importance of continual growth and learning in the floral industry. Our guest, Pili, exemplifies this by consistently investing in her skills through workshops and collaborations with leading designers. She emphasizes the need for exploring new trends and refining techniques to perfect one's craft.

A key theme in the conversation is Pili's ability to identify issues and opportunities, then rallyin...

This week on The Flower Podcast our guest is Niki Irving, the owner and florist behind Flourish Flower Farm in Asheville, NC, where she grows a wide variety of flowers and foliage using sustainable methods. She creates beautiful, seasonal arrangements for weddings and events, leads classes and workshops on the farm, and offers fresh bouquets at her farmstand. Niki is also the author of the popular book Growing Flowers: Everything Y...

Numbers are our friends! Digging deep into the data generated through the growing and selling of our flowers is an important part of creating a more sustainable business. This week, we're chatting with Adrianne Gammie, owner of Marilla Field and Flora, along with Amelia Ihlo, founder of Rooted Farmers.

We'll take the time to meet Adrianne and discuss with Amelia how to analyze data from 2024 to evaluate the flower crops grown by bo...

Today's guest is Meg Hutchinson, owner of The Florista, a floral and event business based in Nashville, TN. Meg is known for specializing and creating custom floral designs, bringing her client's vision to life. Her focus is delivering the "Wow Factor" through bespoke floral experiences that exceed expectations.

In this episode we had a great time discussing several aspects of Meg's business.

• Never underestimate the importance...