Fostering Blooms
Two friends, one passion for gardening. Welcome to Fostering Blooms — where the beauty of the garden is designed for life. Join Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum, two friends and neighbors, as they cultivate stunning gardens and bring the richness of nature into their homes. From growing lush English-style borders to designing pastoral homesteads, they’ll guide you through every bloom, bounty, and blunder along the way. Alongside garden projects, they’ll dive into garden design, cooking with homegrown vegetables, and creating floral arrangements with the flowers they grow. It’s not just about cultivating beautiful spaces — it’s about using the garden to nourish the home, table, and soul. Don't miss our recurring "Garden Ready" series — monthly episodes packed with essential tasks to keep your garden thriving through every season. Whether it’s pruning in winter or harvesting in fall, you'll know exactly what to focus on each month. With a love for flowers, vegetables, and self-sufficiency, Shannon and Cait share heartwarming stories, practical tips, and creative inspiration for turning garden dreams into reality. Whether you're planting your first seed, growing a garden to sustain your family, or crafting floral designs that bring nature indoors, Fostering Blooms will leave you inspired to grow more than just plants — but a home, a community, and a life connected to nature. Tune in for gardening advice, seasonal inspiration, and a whole lot of heart from two women with dirty hands and big dreams.
Episodes
Discover how gardening can transform not just what you eat, but how you cook. In this solo episode, Caitlyn shares how growing Swiss chard, fennel, radishes, and even saffron made her braver, more creative, and more mindful in the kitchen. From sautéing radish tops in butter to crafting bright fennel salads and infusing rice with homegrown saffron, you’ll hear simple, garden-to-table recipes that...
Bock bock, baby—it’s chicken time! In this fun (and feather-filled) episode, Shannon grills Caitlyn with rapid-fire questions all about backyard chickens—from how many to start with, to coops, predators, feed, egg production, and beyond. Whether you're a curious beginner dreaming of fresh eggs or knee-deep in coop building, Caitlyn shares everything you
It’s the last call for summer sowing! 🌱 In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn share what’s happening in the garden in August—from cutting back strawberry runners to sneaking in those final summer crops.
We cover:
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In this cozy (and slightly chaotic) episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn get a head start on the holidays—yes, in July!
From canning jam and fermenting kraut to crafting herbal tea blends, oxymels, and even goat milk soap, they share creative, garden-inspired gift ideas that cel...
In this quick solo episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon shares what to do when your garden is exploding with more cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, and beans than you can possibly eat.
From the early days of handing out extra produce to neighbors and HVAC repair people (yep, really) to a full-blown canning and preserving setup, Shannon walks you through simple, beg...
Feeling burned out in the garden? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not failing. In this episode, we talk about the real side of gardening in midsummer: when the weeds take over, the heat zaps your energy, and the pests push you to the brink.
We’ll share honest stories about why burnout happens, how it shows up, and what we’ve learned over the years about ...
The dog days of summer are here, but your garden isn’t slowing down! In this episode, we break down what to sow, harvest, and plan in July—from beans and garlic to fall crops and shade cloth strategies.
We share how we’re prepping beds for late summer planting, troubleshooting pest invasions, and tackling fertilizer dilemmas (RIP to all the bone meal–raided dahli...
f you've ever dreamed of skipping the grocery store garlic aisle and harvesting your own flavorful bulbs—this is the episode for you. 🧄
We’re diving deep into everything garlic and shallots:
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The difference between ...
Can our wives tell the difference between an aphid and a stratified seed? Do we know what a full nelson is or how many yards it takes to get a first down? It’s time for the ultimate showdown in this hilarious episode of Fostering Blooms!
We recorded this battle of the brains back in winter—but with roses blooming and sports sea...
Welcome to Fostering Blooms! In this episode, we’re sharing our latest round of “No Thank You” plants — the ones we’ve grown, inherited, or almost bought… but now politely decline. 🙅♀️🌿
These aren’t plants we hate — okay, maybe one or two ...
This week on the podcast, we’re covering everything you should be doing in the garden this month — from what to plant, what to pull, and what to support, to how we’re handling pests, mulch math, and our melon experiments (yes… there are melon bralettes involved 😅).
Here’s a taste of what’s inside:
✔️ What to sow right now (okr...
Welcome to Fostering Blooms, the podcast where we dig deep into gardening and all the ways it can enrich your home and life. Today, we’re diving into the garden's underground world of veggie families and why planting them side-by-side can cause more drama than a mafia reunion.
In this episode, we cover:
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The four major plant families and their turf wars: Solanaceae (Nightshades), B...
Pollinator gardening isn’t just a trend—it’s essential. In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn break down how to build a garden that supports bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, parasitic wasps, and even hoverflies—season by season. From herbs and annuals to perennials and native plants, you’ll discover how to keep pollinators well-fed a...
We already gave you our May To-Do list… but this episode? It’s a deep dive into the three garden activities we’re obsessed with this month: dividing, propagating, and planting.
We’re sharing how to multiply your garden without multiplying your budget, with real talk about what’s working (and what’s not) i...
Welcome to Fostering Blooms — the podcast where two gardening-obsessed friends, Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum, dig into the joys (and challenges!) of growing a beautiful life from the ground up.
In this episode, we’re talking about all the real-life tasks we’re doing in May to get our gardens set...
Want to grow your own pressed flower collection on a budget—without needing expert skills or a giant garden?
In this solo episode, Shannon answers a question from Instagram follower, Dee at the Fairy Door Project, and breaks down exactly how to create a simple, budget-friendly garden for growing flowers ideal...
It’s finally here — the spring bloom bonanza! 🌷 In this episode, we’re sharing five flowers and five vegetables we’re most excited about in our early spring gardens. From stunning David Austin roses and clematis to sweet peas, tulips, kale, and the best crunchy radishes you’ll ever taste, we walk through what’s blooming (and what’s almost there) in our Zones 7B gardens.
Got a porch, patio, or balcony and want to grow your own food? You’re in luck! In this listener Q&A episode, Shannon and Caitlyn answer a question from Shannon’s sister, Gracie, who lives in an apartment in Wilmington, NC, and wants to start growing some vegetables this year.
Whether you’re working with limited space or dreaming of your first ...
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