Slow Flowers Podcast

Debra Prinzing
  • 4.6 (185)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Slow Flowers Podcast is the award-winning, long-running show known as the “Voice of the Slow Flowers Movement.” Airing weekly for more than 9 years, we focus on the business of flower farming and floral design through the Slow Flowers sustainability ethos. Listen to a new episode each Wednesday, available for free download here at slowflowerspodcast.com or on iTunes, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

  1. 6D AGO

    Episode 738: Meet Melissa Olson of Penflora Designs, a Bay Area floral studio and lifestyle shop reflecting her love of nature, the garden, and local blooms

    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 You’ll enjoy your $50 discount on registration now through October 31st and receive a link to our bonus gift for early bird registrations: A special viewing of five sessions from the 2025 Slow Flowers Summit – that’s right, five free hours of floral education from past instructors, including Pilar Zuniga, Hannah Morgan, Kristin Griffith-VanderYacht, Mara Tyler,

    54 min

  2. OCT 9

    Episode 737: Herbs for floral design (and the garden) with Stefani Bittner of Homestead Design Collective and Rose Loveall of Morningsun Herb Farm

    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, propagating over 45 varieties in our greenhouses. Check out Morningsun’s plant catalog – they ship across the country and are a fantastic resource. Find and follow Homestead Design Collective on Instagram and FacebookRead Homestead Design Collective's Newsletter on Substack Find and follow Morningsun Herb Farm on Instagr...

    1h 11m

  3. OCT 2

    Episode 736: Meet the people, farms, and florists shaping Japan’s Slow Flowers Movement

    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, owners of Yoshigaki Organic Flower Farm, a century-old, third-generation flower farm in Asao Ward, Kawasaki City, about 50 minutes by train from the city center. Megumi served as translator for Kazuya and Shiho, and you’ll hear her speaking in English after their comments. I am so grateful that she helped facilitate the...

    56 min

  4. SEP 24

    Episode 735: The magic of dahlias with Anne Long of The Dahlia House

    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. Dreamy dahlia flat-lay Sign up for The Dahlia House’s newsletterFind Pots by Emma hereFind and follow The Dahlia House 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,

    28 min

  5. SEP 17

    Episode 734: A visit to The Little Farm on Olga Road, with Carol Wetzel and Allan Tone, where customers are welcomed to harvest the beauty of flowers, herbs, and vegetables

    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.   Some of what you'll discover at The Little Farm on Olga Road Their commitment to community and their Little Farm is inspiring and I’m delighted to share it with you today. I’m so grateful to Carol and Allan for their hospitality and for their membership in the Slow Flowers Society.

    43 min

  6. SEP 10

    Episode 733: Field tour and design demonstration with Alicia Houston of Healer’s Harvest

    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, and Marilyn Griffin on a panel discussion: Building a Farmer-Florist Business. As I mentioned last week, we’ve invited Black Flower Farmers to join Slow Flowers Society as the Summit’s co-host, and Dee is producing two of the sessions, including this one. We’ve just announced the full speaker lineup for the online Summit and Tickets will go on sale October 1s...

    43 min

  7. SEP 3

    Episode 732: Celebrating Taylor Swift’s Engagement as People Magazine’s Floral Expert with Ashley Greer of Atelier Ashley Flowers

    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 Read more in People magazine:Taylor Swift's Fairytale Engagement Flowers Likely Cost Up to $38k and Used Over 2,000 Blooms, Says Expert What Taylor Swift’s Stunning Engagement Flowers Symbolize — Including a ‘Snake’ Lily (Exclusive) LISTEN: Ashley's Spotify Play List, “The Taylor in Me"https://open.spotify.

    57 min

  8. AUG 27

    Episode 731: High Desert Dahlias on Colorado’s Front Range, with Dianne Reitan of Dianne’s Dahlias

    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, 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 them out at charleslittleandcompany.com. 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 th...

    57 min
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4.6
out of 5
185 Ratings

About

The Slow Flowers Podcast is the award-winning, long-running show known as the “Voice of the Slow Flowers Movement.” Airing weekly for more than 9 years, we focus on the business of flower farming and floral design through the Slow Flowers sustainability ethos. Listen to a new episode each Wednesday, available for free download here at slowflowerspodcast.com or on iTunes, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

Information

  • Creator
    Debra Prinzing
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Slow Flowers LLC
  • Show Website
    Slow Flowers Podcast

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