Bailey's Back: Flowers, Trends, and the Garden Club Plants Launch at Farmer Bailey
Release Date: 12/10/2024
Grit, Growth, and the Real Work Behind Flower Farming with Lyndsay Biehl-Mercer and Shannon Allen
The Flower Podcast
Most of flower farming doesn’t look like the photos—and that’s exactly what this conversation is about. In this episode, I sit down with Lyndsay Biehl-Mercer of Wildroot Flower Co. and Shannon Allen of Bloom Hill Farm to talk about the real side of building a flower business: grit, focus, fear, finances, burnout, and learning as you go. We talk about why there’s pressure to make everything look beautiful, how easy it is to work yourself into the ground, and why getting good at one thing early matters. We also dig into practical habits—tracking numbers, using simple tools, and making...
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Using Beneficial Insects in Cut Flower Production with Erik van der Sluys
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 health and resilience. Erik breaks down how growers can strengthen their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through foundational cultural practices (watering,...
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Rethinking Growth with Lindsey Mizock of Pompelmo Floral
The Flower Podcast
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 of freelancing, and how staying small can create space for deeper creativity and connection in your floral business. Don’t miss the Sell Your Flowers Summit, a...
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The Science and Art of Plant Breeding with Dr. Keith Hammett
The Flower Podcast
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 shape the world of floristry through their vision and dedication. This episode is made possible by our sponsors: Rooted Farmers: Connecting flower farmers and florists...
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Starting Fresh with Galena Berkompas, Micro Flower Farm
The Flower Podcast
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 lessons she’s learning as she rebuilds her micro farm from the ground up. Highlights: 1 Starting fresh on new land 2 Planting perennials for long-term success 3 TEFF...
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What Is Your Most Important Tool: Madeline Hooper of Gardenfit
The Flower Podcast
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 most important tool—our own body. Whether you’re planting, weeding, hauling buckets, or marathon wedding installations, her tips will help you move smarter,...
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Planning for Profit with Jenny Marks, Trademarks Flower Farm
The Flower Podcast
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, sustainable businesses of their own. Jenny is also the voice behind the Six Figure Flower Farming podcast and teaches an in-depth online course of the same name, sharing...
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Fleurs de Villes: Celebrating Floral Artistry and Opportunity with Tina Barkley
The Flower Podcast
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 pivot, to embracing perseverance and creativity, Tina encourages florists, flower farmers, and designers to see exhibitions and collaborations as powerful stages...
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Seed Talk: Planning, Planting, and Cool Flowers at The Gardener’s Workshop with Layne Angelo and Lisa Mason Ziegler
The Flower Podcast
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 of information, offering growers practical guidance and insight into all things seed-related. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of...
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Weekly Blooms, Steady Profits, with Franceska McCaughan, The Hotel Florist®
The Flower Podcast
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 client experiences can transform your floral business. You’ll learn: -How weekly accounts can create reliable, recurring income -Why embracing “no” as “not...
info_outlineThis week, we’re catching up with Bailey Hale to dive into all the exciting developments happening at Farmer Bailey. So much has unfolded over the past two years that we had to bring Bailey back on the podcast to get the inside scoop. We’ll hear about his recent tour to the Netherlands, the latest trends in cut flower plants, and their brand-new program, Garden Club Plants, launching this week. As a floral designer, flower farmer, and plant distributor, Bailey’s expertise is unmatched. It’s always a pleasure chatting with him, especially since he travels worldwide, scouting new cut flowers for local farmers to grow and share. Be sure to check out our first episode with Bailey Hale for more!
Explore the new website gardenclubplants.com !
Learn more about Bailey, Farmer Bailey, and today’s show notes with all of our past guests just visit TheFlowerPodcast.com
You can also listen to our first episode with Bailey here.
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