The Backyard Bouquet Podcast: Cut Flower Farming Podcast for Flower Farmers & Backyard Gardeners

In Episode 87 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Jenny Rae Swan, founder of Flowerwell, a cut flower farm and floral design studio in Rochester, New York.

As a first-generation farmer, Jenny Rae didn’t grow up in agriculture, but she followed her pull toward flowers and built Flowerwell from a small plot on a neighboring blueberry farm into a thriving flower farm and design business. In this conversation, she shares what it really looks like to start a flower farm without a roadmap and steadily scale it over time.

Jennifer and Jenny Ra...

If you've ever looked at a dahlia and wondered "what if I could create my own variety?" Kamille is the person you need to learn from.  

Her session is unlike anything else at the summit. She's taking us on the journey of a seedling from its first bloom to its official debut and showing how the art of hybridizing is so much more than science. 

It's about mentorship, community, and opening your garden to others.  What I love about Kamille's approach is that she believes the most beautiful varieties come from shared wisdom. Growing something new...

Charlotte is a 5th generation farmer and mindset coach and there's a reason she's one of our first speakers on Day 1 of The Profitable Dahlia Summit. Everything starts with mindset. You can learn every strategy in the world for selling dahlias, but if you don't believe you're worth charging for them, none of it matters.

Charlotte is going to get your head right so you can take full advantage of every single session that follows. She's tackling the "broke farmer trap," the pricing guilt, the scarcity thinking, all of it. And she's replacing it with the confidence...

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my Instagram Live conversation with Heather Cain of Petal Pink Flower Farm. We talked all about selling dahlias to florists and she shared so much that I know you're going to want to hear her full session at the summit.

Have you ever thought about selling your dahlias to florists but weren't sure where to start? What do they actually expect? How do you price for wholesale? How do you even approach them?

Heather is answering all of it at the Profitable Dahlia Summit. From what florists look for...

In this bonus episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcst, I'm sharing my Instagram Live conversation with Marryn Mathis of The Farmhouse Flower Farm. We talked about getting ready for her tuber sale season, how it feels like a total rollercoaster, and some of Marryn's favorite dahlias this year. Marryn is speaking at the Profitable Dahlia Summit on March 4th and she's teaching how to host a dahlia tuber sale that sells out in a single day. 

Grab your summit ticket at the link in the show notes. Tickets start at $99.

https://thefloweringfarmhouse.mykajabi.com/profitabledahiliasummit

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, I’m joined by Melissa Stewart of Sweet Bloom Farm, a boutique dahlia farm in Battle Ground, Washington.

Melissa’s journey began the way so many of ours do, with a few mystery dahlias from a garden center and a spark she couldn’t ignore. What started as six blooming plants in her suburban backyard quickly grew into 20 varieties… then 50… then 100… and eventually into a two-acre farm growing 4,000 dahlias.

In this conversation, we talk about:

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we’re heading south to Australia to visit Florelie, a small-scale but highly productive specialty cut flower farm near Ballarat, Victoria.

Jennifer is joined by flower farmer and dahlia breeder Lorelie Merton, who shares how a gifted bunch of homegrown peonies sparked a journey that led her from speech pathology to full-time flower farming. Today, Florelie grows flowers on just 2.5 acres of a 20-acre property, with 20,000 dahlias, a robust dahlia breeding program, and a thriving tuber business serving Australian gardeners and florists.

In this conversation, Lorelie opens up...

What’s possible when you start with just a small bit of earth—and a love of flowers rooted in childhood stories?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Fawn Rueckert, founder of Sego Lily Flower Farm, a thriving suburban flower farm growing on just one-third of an acre in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley.

Fawn’s journey into flower farming began long before her first seed tray—from listening to The Secret Garden as a child to learning from generations of women who gardened before her. What started as a backyard cutting garden evolved into a...

What if your garden could feed your family, support pollinators, and bring more joy into your everyday life — all at the same time?

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Tasha Medve, creator of The Purposeful You and author of the bestselling book The Purposeful Gardener.

Tasha shares how her journey into purposeful gardening began during early motherhood, when making conscious, sustainable choices for her family became a priority. What started as a small garden and a desire to live more intentionally grew into a thriving backyard oasis — and eventually, a gl...

Welcome to Season 3 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast — and to the first episode of 2026.

To kick off the new year, I’m doing something a little different. In this episode, I’m sharing the full replay of a live planning workshop I hosted this past weekend called How to Plan Your Most Profitable Dahlia Season Yet.

Growers joined live from all over the world — Australia, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, the UK, and across the U.S. — and the response made it clear this was too valuable to let disappear once the workshop ended.

If you’r...

What if caring for land goes beyond soil tests, nutrients, and visible inputs?

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer is joined by Brittney Herrera, founder and creative director of Thunder Egg, to explore the concept of geotuning—a practice often described as acupuncture for the land.

Through her work, Brittney helps harmonize land and spaces by identifying and correcting geopathic stress, subtle disruptions in the Earth’s natural field that can impact people, plants, animals, and the overall vitality of a place. Brittney recently worked with Jennifer to tune her new farm prop...

What if growing dahlias wasn’t about doing everything perfectly—but about showing up, finding joy, and learning to flourish right where you are?

In today’s episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we are joined by Anne Long of The Dahlia House, a longtime dahlia grower, educator, and creative who has spent more than two decades growing flowers—and helping others discover that you don’t need a huge farm, endless time, or a picture-perfect life to fill your days with beauty.

This honest, heartfelt conversation weaves together stories of resilience, loss, hope, and humor, as...

How do you grow flowers in a region known for long winters, short seasons, and frequent frosts?

In this episode, we are joined by Annie Amrich of Janniebird Farm, a Zone 4 flower farmer thriving in the high-altitude climate of Gunnison, Colorado. Annie shares how she forces thousands of tulips each year, grows without greenhouses, and keeps flowers blooming nearly year-round in a place where frost can arrive any month of the year.

Annie’s journey — from athletic training and medical sales back to the creativity she grew up with — is a beautiful reminder that it’s never...

Have you ever wondered how a simple backyard garden can grow into a thriving YouTube channel that inspires gardeners everywhere?

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Claudia of In The Garden with Claudia, a Zone 8b gardener in Oregon who transformed a small suburban space into a blooming cut flower haven. What began as a creative outlet during the pandemic soon became a beloved YouTube channel where gardeners turn for honest tips, beautiful garden tours, and a dose of encouragement.

Claudia shares how she started gardening only a few years ago, the steps she...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to build a creative and meaningful life in the floral world, especially when your journey starts far from where you end up?

In this episode, we are joined by Julio Freitas of The Flower Hat, a Montana-based floral designer and flower farmer whose work has influenced and inspired thousands. Julio shares how he went from hotel management to running a thriving floral design studio and one acre flower farm, and how following small sparks of curiosity eventually led him into a life fueled by creativity and connection.

...

Have you ever wondered how to confidently sell your flowers and build a thriving flower business?
In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Lennie Larkin, flower farmer, educator, and founder of Flower Farming for Profit. Lennie shares her expert advice on pricing, mindset, and how to approach flower sales with clarity and confidence.

Tune in to Episode 76 to learn:

As another growing season comes to a close, Jennifer invites you to pause and reflect on the power of gratitude. In this solo episode, Jennifer shares how gratitude can carry us through each stage of growth, from the early seeds of an idea to the quiet rest of winter.

She looks back on this past year of farming with honesty and perspective, offering gentle reminders that growth often happens in the unseen moments. Through her reflections, Jennifer encourages you to find gratitude not only in the beauty of what has bloomed, but also in the challenges that...

In this heartfelt conversation, Jennifer sits down with Nicole Pitt, the flower farmer and creative behind Flower Hill Farm and Boon Street Nursery in upstate New York. Nicole is also the voice and heart behind the popular Flower Hill Farm YouTube channel, where she shares her authentic journey as a farmer, creator, and community builder.

Nicole opens up about how life’s unexpected seasons have shaped her perspective, what it means to grow through change, and how the flower community has supported her through it all. From rebuilding her business with renewed purpose to manifesting hope and gr...

As the flowers fade and the farm quiets down for winter, Jennifer reflects on what this past year of rebuilding her farm has taught her about patience, gratitude, and growth. Inspired by the timeless reminder that “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey,” she shares how slowing down and being present has brought new meaning to the work of tending both the land and the heart.

This episode is an invitation to pause and reflect, to notice the beauty in what’s already growing, to find joy in the process, and to move forward with faith even...

In this inspiring episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Jessica Eckford-Aguilera, the visionary founder of The Flower Summit and Newcastle Food & Flower Markets in Australia.

Jessica shares how her lifelong passion for creativity and community led her to build one of Australia’s most beloved floral destinations, complete with a flower market, café, and floral design school. That journey eventually blossomed into the creation of The Flower Summit, a global platform celebrating women in floriculture.

Together, Jennifer and Jessica explore:
🌸 Jessica’s leap from corporate events to full-time floristr...

The first frost often marks the end of the flower growing season, and it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect. In this short solo episode, Jennifer invites flower farmers and gardeners to slow down and look back on the year with honesty and gratitude. She shares how to “thin the weeds” in both the garden and in life so you can focus on what truly thrives.

Learn how to rest your garden, reset your mindset, and prepare for a new season of growth. Whether you grow flowers for profit or for joy, this gentle conversation will r...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia of The Flowering Farmhouse sits down with Shannon Allen of Bloom Hill Farm and Lyndsay Biehl of Wildroot Flower Co. — the powerhouse duo behind The Dirt on Flowers Podcast.

Shannon and Lyndsay pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving flower farm. From humble beginnings to leading two of the most recognized farms in the industry, they share honest insights about growth, grit, and learning through every season.

You’ll hear how they’ve turned passion into profitable, purpose-driven busine...

What happens when flower farming and painting come together? In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with artist and flower farmer Valerie Miller of Steel Cow Lavender Farm in Iowa. Valerie is a gifted painter and the founder of Art Garden Therapy, a monthly painting membership that invites people of all skill levels to discover the joy of creativity through simple, step-by-step lessons.

Valerie shares how her journey began with painting cows, evolved into creating vibrant flower and farm-inspired art, and how her lavender farm continues to inspire her work. She...

What does large-scale flower farming really look like in the United States? In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Madison Milgard, Vice President of Brand and Market Strategy at Continental Floral Greens (CF Greens) — the largest U.S.-based flower farm.

Madison shares the inspiring story of her family-owned business, from its roots in Washington’s noble fir forests to stewarding thousands of acres across Oregon, California, Florida, and beyond. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how Continental Floral Greens produces millions of stems, the innovations driving sustainability, and why gree...

If you’ve ever had more flowers than you know what to do with—or wished you could make a special bouquet last forever—this episode will spark your creativity.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Kate Punnett, founder of The August Press, a professional flower press studio dedicated to turning fresh blooms into timeless art. With over a decade as an organic urban flower grower and sustainable florist, Kate shares her best tips for pressing flowers successfully, from choosing the right blooms to avoiding mold, storing delicate petals, and creating pieces that last.

We talk...

If you’ve ever struggled with burnout, self-doubt, or pricing your flowers with confidence, this episode is for you. In Episode 66 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Charlotte Smith — a farmer, coach, and host of The Profitable Mindset Podcast — to talk about the mindset shifts that can make or break your flower farming business.

Charlotte shares how her own farming journey led her to coaching, why your thoughts shape your results, and how to overcome limiting beliefs like “people won’t pay that price” or “my field’s not good enough.” You’ll learn why perfectionism ho...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Jenny Jonak of Dragon Song Farm in Oregon’s Willamette Valley to explore how one flower farmer is blending sustainable flower farming, community-supported agriculture (CSA), and policy advocacy to create real impact.

Jenny shares how she grew her CSA flower farm from a few bouquets for friends into a thriving market business—and why she now champions water rights reform and land access for small farmers. We also dive into her innovative pressed flower jewelry, neurodivergent-friendly farm systems, and real-world tips for succeeding at f...

In Episode 64 of The Backyard Bouquet, flower farmer and educator Brooke Palmer of Jenny Creek Flowers returns to the podcast—one year after making the leap from part-time growing to full-time cut flower farming.

After balancing a teaching career and a growing flower farm for several years, Brooke decided in 2024 to hang up her classroom keys and pour her energy into her blooms. Now, she’s reflecting on what it’s really been like to turn her side hustle into a full-time flower farming business.

We talk about everything from launching successful workshops and peony you-pi...

In Episode 63 of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Diane Szukovathy of Jello Mold Farm to explore the critical role of floral standards in flower farming. Diane shares how she went from planting zinnia seeds as a child to co-founding the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market and co-authoring Floral Standards — a groundbreaking guide for harvesting and handling over 230 floral crops.

We dig  into:

What does it take to grow cut flowers for over 40 weddings a season—while running a farm as a family of four?

In Part 2 of our conversation, Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm returns to share the details of how her family built a thriving, regenerative flower business in Maine. From crop planning to bouquet-making, and from packing systems to building in family rest, Jennifer walks us through what it really takes to succeed in growing cut flowers for weddings.

You’ll hear:
🌸 How they scaled from 8 to 65 weddings—and why they chose to scale bac...

What happens when a simple question—“What about farming?”—leads to a total life transformation?

In this powerful episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer Joray of Eastern River Farm shares her family’s courageous journey from city living to flower farming on a 20-acre homestead in Maine. But their story goes far beyond soil and seeds.

Jennifer Joray opens up about the challenges of navigating Lyme disease, the unexpected health impacts of ticks on the farm, and how her family found healing through nature, herbal remedies, and a more intentional way of living.

You’ll l...

In this powerful episode of The Backyard Bouquet, host Jennifer Gulizia sits down with Nicole Sardo of Midnight Magic Garden—a former stop-motion artist who left her dream job at Laika Studios after a life-altering autoimmune diagnosis.

Nicole shares her remarkable journey of healing through gardening, how she's building a flourishing micro flower farm in her front yard, and how she’s now uplifting other growers through her initiatives: Small Farms Big Orders and a fascinating Heirloom Dahlia Study.

If you've ever faced a turning point, wondered how to pivot with purpose, or needed a remi...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet, we are joined by Frances Palmer—renowned potter, gardener, photographer, and author—to celebrate the release of her newest book, Life With Flowers. Known for her iconic handmade vessels and stunning floral photography, Frances shares how a life rooted in creativity, cultivation, and intention can lead to unexpected beauty and joy.

In their conversation, Jennifer and Frances explore:

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we are joined by Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers Movement and co-author of The Flower Farmers: Inspiration and Advice from Expert Growers. Debra shares her journey from writing The 50 Mile Bouquet to founding the Slow Flowers Movement—a movement that champions local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers.

In this inspiring conversation, Debra talks about the importance of supporting local flower farmers, how storytelling is transforming the floral industry, and the lessons she’s learned from interviewing flower farmers across North America. Whether you're a flower lover, a backyard gard...

This week on The Backyard Bouquet, we’re celebrating a century of spectacular blooms with Schreiner’s Iris Gardens, one of the most iconic names in American flower farming. For over 100 years, the Schreiner family has been growing and breeding world-class bearded iris—a legacy that began in Minnesota and eventually found its forever home in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

In this conversation, Ben Schreiner and Liz Schmidt offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a multi-generational iris farm, from hybridizing breathtaking new varieties to caring for over 150 acres of flowers. Whether you’re dreaming o...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer invites you to step away from the rush of the season and pause at the garden gate. With raw honesty and gentle encouragement, she explores what it means to be in a season of becoming—when everything feels tender, stretched, and unfinished.

Through the metaphors of seeds cracking open, the lotus rising from the mud, and the relentless (but sacred) push of spring, this episode offers a soulful reminder: you're not behind, you're in the middle of something meaningful.

Whether you're planting your first seeds, rebuilding so...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we’re joined by one of the most respected voices in the cut flower industry—Dave Dowling. With over 20 years of experience as a flower farmer and now a trusted mentor to growers across North America, Dave shares insights you won’t want to miss.

We talk about how he got started growing flowers (before Google existed!), what helped him turn a few backyard beds into a thriving year-round business, and the advice he gives most often to new flower farmers. From choosing the right flowers to grow, to sellin...

In this special Earth Day episode of The Backyard Bouquet, flower farmer and garden educator Jennifer Gulizia shares a deeply personal reflection on growing in harmony with the earth—and what it really means to be a steward of soil, beauty, and biodiversity.

This solo episode blends story, science, and soul. Jennifer shares a poem Where Flowers Lead and shares the regenerative journey that led her family to restore 20 acres of neglected farmland—guided by flowers, rooted in soil, and inspired by hope.

Show notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/04/29/ep-54-earth-day-flower-farming-reflection/

🌿 Inside the episode, you'll...

In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer sits down with Jessica Hall, co-founder of Harmony Harvest Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. What began as a simple question during a family beach vacation—“Where do florists get flowers?”—sparked the beginning of a 20-acre flower farm that now ships bouquets and heirloom chrysanthemum plants across the country.

Jessica shares how she, her sister, and their mom grew their passion into a thriving business rooted in sustainability, technology, and a whole lot of heart. From saving the last U.S.-based flower frog manufacturer to building a farm tha...

How can we create gardens that are both beautiful and beneficial to the planet? In this episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we sit down with award-winning landscape architect and author Marian Boswall to discuss the power of regenerative gardening and sustainable landscape design. As the founder of Marian Boswall Landscape Architects and co-founder of the Sustainable Landscape Foundation, Marian has spent decades transforming gardens into thriving ecosystems. We explore her new book, The Kindest Garden, which shares practical tips for designing gardens that nurture both nature and the soul. Whether you're a backyard gardener or dreaming of a...