The Slow Flowers Podcast is the award-winning show known as the “Voice of the Slow Flowers Movement.” Launched in 2013 as the original flower podcast, we’ve devoted more than 10 years to covering the business of flower farming, floral design, and 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.
In 2019, Corinne Bryson founded Flora Good Times, a retail plant and flower shop and design studio in Beacon, New York. Located on Beacon’s beautiful Main Street, in a lush, plant-filled jewel box of a space, Flora Good Times specializes in unusual houseplants and unconventional flower arrangements. Corinne has cared for and loved thousands of houseplants throughout her life, and has no plans to stop loving more. Proudly woman-owned, with a team of women creatives, Flora Good Times contributes a portion of its sales to fighting for justice in food and farming systems, human rights initiatives, and local community building. As Corinne says, “We believe in science and equity. We believe that plants aren’t decor, they’re a relationship. Education is the most important thing, and online advice is endless. We want to help customers weed through it all to know what really matters, so that they and their plant friends can take a deep breath and enjoy each other.” Recently featured in the Summer 2026 issue of Slow Flowers Journal, Corinne enthusiastically said “yes,” when I told her I would be in the NYC area in late July and hoped to visit Flora Good Times in person. Located about 75 minutes by train north of Grand Central Station, Beacon is a charming town, with a vibrant downtown area. Join me on a tour of the flower and plant shop there, followed by a sit-down conversation with Corinne, filmed in the production studio located nearby.
Corinne Bryson of Flora Good Times
Flora Good Times was built with a focus on supporting local in every way possible. The shop and studio source flowers locally from farms in all directions – including the Hudson Valley, northern New Jersey, and members of the nearby Connecticut Flower Collective. The products on Flora Good Times shelves come from local and national makers for everything from pottery offerings to home goods, paper, gifts, and accessories. This is a small business that walks the talk, believing that a rising tide lifts all ships. And by looking to individual small farms and makers, all rise.
Curated pottery and unique houseplants
As I mentioned in the intro, I spend a delightful day visiting Beacon. Ostensibly, we were in NYC to attend the USA Track and Field Championships in Manhattan, my husband Bruce’s passion, and of course, to see our two sons who live and work there. But I snuck away one morning, taking the Metro North train on a beautiful route along the Hudson River. I wish I had more time to visit other Slow Flowers members in the area, but that will have to take place on my next trip. Focusing on the story of Corinne and Flora Good Times allowed me to film a video tour of her plant and flower shop, and to sit down for an informative conversation about what gives her joy – and her inspiring story.
The Flower Bar at Flora Good Times
As a post-script to today’s episode, I dug into “The Flora Dispatch,” the blog on Flora Good Times’ website, where I learned this:
In 2025, the shop and studio purchased Over 82,270 stems of flowers from local farmers across the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
The off season was supplemented with over 54,470 stems from select importers, always chosen with care, to support
30 full-Service, A-La-Carte and Pickup weddings for couples who came from near and far to celebrate in the beautiful Hudson Valley.
In addition to serving wedding ceremonies, Flora Good Times made 1,532 bouquets, 1,231 arrangements, tended to 3,475 specialty plants, and completed 613 deliveries.
They did it all: From everyday gestures to corporate retreats to once-in-a-lifetime moments, it meant filling the Lower Hudson Valley with natural beauty through flowers and plants.
Behind all the pretty stuff, the team at FGT we spent approximately 1 million hours (Rounding Down) cleaning buckets, candles, and processing stems.
They lost 40 pairs of clippers — but Corinne admits, those might be in her car.
The post concludes with this summary: “What we learned was immeasurable.
The flower lover: Hand-tied delivery bouquet (left) and Corinne with a floral headdress (right)
“None of this happens alone. We are endlessly grateful to the farmers who grow with integrity and care, the vendors and collaborators who show up ready to make something beautiful, and our customers who trust us with meaningful moments in their lives. To our floral artists and shop team: your talent, patience, creativity, and calm under pressure are the backbone of this business. We see you, and we’re so thankful for you.”
More inspiration from Hudson Valley’s Flora Good Times
“Most of all, thank you to our community. To our local customers, our fellow small businesses, and the couples and planners who choose to work with us for their wedding day. Six years in, we still feel surprised by our good fortune. We’re crazy proud of the work we do, ridiculously grateful for the support we receive, and so excited to keep growing, one season at a time.”
I’m so grateful for Corinne’s leadership in the Slow Flowers community and I hope you draw ideas and inspiration from her story!
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
Thank you to Charles Little and Company for supplying our industry with some of the most beautiful and sustainably-grown design ingredients, available nationwide through their website at charleslittleandcompany.com. On August 25th, spend the day touring Charles Little & Company in Eugene, Oregon, as part of the ASCFG regional gathering. Learn how the farm operates seasonally with an emphasis on field grown crops for national sales and visit the farm stand and U-Pick fields that connect the farm to its community. Interact with Charles Little and Bethany Little to learn and be inspired. Lunch is included. Ticket details are at ascfg.org.
Thank you to the Seattle Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Visit them at seattlegrowersmarket.com.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too.
Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography
If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com. I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
Labellum Flowers is a contemporary flower boutique in Bozeman, Montana, by the way of New York, Paris and Los Angeles. Founder Remy Greco-Brault describes Labellum’s style as hip, modern and organic. She writes: “We love mixing natural elements and incorporating rich textures into our work. With artistry and imagination, each arrangement tells a story and is as unique as our clients. We are inspired by the ever-changing seasons with all of their natural textures.” Celebrating its 15th birthday this year, Labellum Flowers works with gardeners and farmers in the region – especially during the warmer months in Montana — to combine as many vibrant local flowers as possible into their designs. In her own urban micro farm, Remy grows many flowers, foliages and textural elements to supply her shop and studio. Whenever possible, she loves to forage respectfully and ethically. Today’s episode features a floral design demonstration by Remy, using 85% Montana-grown botanicals. If you want to learn about Remy’s design, sourcing and pricing philosophy, check out the video interview where she challenges me to guess the retail price of a long, low centerpiece for a summer dinner party!
On location with Remy Greco-Brault of Labellum Flowers
Recently, I had a fun conversation with today’s guest, Remy Brault of Labellum Flowers in Bozeman, Montana. We reminisced about the beautiful Yellowstone Club wedding she designed that we published in Slow Flowers Journal’s wedding issue a few years ago, a ceremony for a couple who wanted the majority of their flowers to be as local as possible. It was a stunning event, and spontaneously, I asked Remy if she would be up for designing on camera for the Slow Flowers Show.
The interiors at Labellum Flowers
Since she was creating long, low table arrangements for an upcoming dinner party for 40, Remy offered to show how one of the pieces comes together while we chatted. That’s what you’ll be treated to today. We start out with a re-introduction to Remy and Labellum Flowers. She is a return guest to the Slow Flowers Podcast, where she joined me in 2020, before we added the video component.
Bee-keeping at Remy’s Bozeman backyard
The design demonstration features ingredients from Jamie Rogers, a longtime Slow Flowers member and past guest of this podcast. Jamie is also featured, along with his former partner at Killing Frost Farm, Carly Jenkins, in The Flower Farmers book – out last year. In her table arrangement, Remy includes some of Jamie’s gorgeous dahlias and other stems, along with goodies from her own garden.
Remy and her mom ~ a frequent presence at Labellum Flowers and on Instagram
Join me in guessing the budget for this arrangement and you’ll be as surprised as I was. I know you’ll love this mid-summer treat, an inspiring and visually beautiful conversation!
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
Thank you to Rooted Farmers. Rooted Farmers works exclusively with local growers to put the highest-quality specialty cut flowers in floral customers’ hands. When you partner with Rooted Farmers, you are investing in your community, and you can expect a commitment to excellence in return. Learn more at RootedFarmers.com
And thank you to Johnny’s Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower, herb and vegetable seeds — supplied to farms large and small and even backyard cutting gardens like mine. Find the full catalog of flower seeds and bulbs at johnnyseeds.com.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com.
Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
Belle Pétaleis a boutique floral design studio located in Lakewood, outside Tacoma, Washington. For owner Teresa Rao, each of her made-to-order floral arrangements is created with a custom palette of seasonal flowers sourced in the Pacific Northwest from local flower farmers. Teresa credits three influences for her aesthetic: “My spirit is American; my heart is Mexican; and my soul is French.” Her childhood summers consisted of trips to Guadalajara, Mexico, where her family is originally from, and where the Spanish and French influences are profoundly evident in the Mexican cuisine, architecture and traditions – it’s where she fell in love with an old-world sensibility. Now, as an ardent gardener, homemaker and creative, Teresa continues to draw inspiration from her Mexican heritage, romantic gardens, European art and home interiors to create classic, seasonal, French-inspired floral designs. Belle Pétale incorporates all of this into design elements that accentuate the French floral style: poetry, structure, and nature – with a polished presentation. Join me on a visit to Teresa’s new studio in Lakewood, where we discuss her focus on blooms and events. We wrap up the interview with a Bastille Day floral design demonstration!
Teresa Rao of Belle Pétale
Teresa Rao is a Tacoma-based Slow Flowers member who we first introduced you to in the pages of our 2021 book, Where We Bloom. The feature documents her transition as an avid gardener with a 16-year corporate training career to a studio floral designer. In the story, she discusses having a love for “all things French,” which explains her choice of Belle Pétale as a studio name.
In the new Belle Pétale Studio with Teresa Rao and Debra Prinzing of Slow Flowers Podcast
It has been a joy to watch this floral entrepreneur’s business evolve in the subsequent five years. Through her studio Teresa continues to support local floral sourcing, as she continues to weave the language of flowers into her designs, delighting customers with the meaning and messages of the arrangements they order. There is always a French flair, and now, Belle Pétale has a new studio in the community of Lakewood, outside Tacoma. I visited a few weeks ago and this really feels like Teresa’s “forever studio,” designed for both efficiency and to welcome larger workshops of up to 15 students.
We’ll catch up on the news of Belle Pétale’s branding re-fresh, and learn about Teresa’s future plans. And of course, I visited just before Bastille Day, the July 14th French national holiday marking the beginning of the French Revolution – so Teresa treated us to a blue-white-and red floral design to reflect the colors of the flag of France.
In Slow Flowers news, today’s episode marks our 13th anniversary of the Slow Flowers Podcast! The show debuted on July 23, 2013, with Episode number 100 – and little did I know that we’d continue going strong for 13 years, with nearly 700 consecutive weekly episodes ever since. The Slow Flowers Podcast is an award-winning podcast known as the “Voice of the Slow Flowers Movement.” We launched as the original, first-ever flower podcast, and for 13 years we have devoted this show to the business of flower farming, floral design, and the Slow Flowers sustainability ethos.
Join me in the celebration! We have brand new show graphics, designed by Niesha Blancas of Fetching Social, our longtime social media manager and branding maven. Each Wednesday you can enjoy this free Slow Flowers content two ways: Watch a brand new video interview on our YouTube channel (a feature we launched in 2021 for our 8th anniversary), and as always, listen via free downloads on slowflowerspodcast.com, or on iTunes, Spotify, anywhere you subscribe to podcasts.
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
Thank you to the Seattle Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Visit them at seattlegrowersmarket.com.
And thank you to Longfield Gardens, which provides home gardeners with high quality flower bulbs and perennials. Their online store offers plants for every region and every season, from tulips and daffodils to dahlias, caladiums and amaryllis. Check out the full catalog at Longfield Gardens at longfield-gardens.com.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com.
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
The Snohomish County Flower Collective is a regional wholesale floral hub founded in 2023 to bring together nearly 40 growers under one roof. Frequently called the Sno-Co-Flo-Co, the group is based in the historic town of Snohomish, about 35 miles north of Seattle, and most of their members have farms in Snohomish and nearby counties. Their home base is at Fleurs Creative, a floral design studio owned by Alicia Schwede, a longtime Slow Flowers member, floral educator, and advocate for seasonal design. Having a centralized location is a win-win for both Alicia and the farmers. As a community that serves both florists and the general public with high quality, fresh, and local flowers, SnoCo Flower Collective is changing the face of agriculture in an already vibrant farming region. Most of the flower farms are women-owned and their commitment to elevating local flowers and supporting one another is a valuable model. Join me in a conversation with the leadership team’s Tracy Sundby and Beth Kendall, and a bonus chat with Alicia Schwede.
Where they grow: Snohomish County Flower Collective
The Flower Farmers gathered in front of Fleurs Creative
Community, not Competition is the motivating ethos for the Snohomish County Flower Collective. They say: “We believe that thriving farms start with thriving farmers. Our mission is to provide education, training, and resources that empower growers to build successful, sustainable businesses. By fostering collaboration over competition, we break down barriers, create an inclusive space, and ensure a vibrant future for local agriculture. Since our founding in 2023, our collective has been more than just a network—it’s a community. Together, we share knowledge, support one another, and strengthen the local flower movement. By working side by side, we’re not just growing flowers—we’re growing a stronger, more resilient future for small-scale farming.”
On the occasion of the collective’s rebranding and relaunch for season four, I visited last month and was treated to a beautiful experience. Today’s episode begins with a brief bonus conversation with Alicia Schwede, who many of you know for her Flirty Fleurs blog, and her studio, Fleurs Creative. Alicia’s own move to Snohomish, known for its amazing antiques, quaint main street with l9th century buildings along a river’s edge, and a thriving artists community, led to the purchase of a 1905 building, which she and her husband renovated and one portion of which is home to Fleurs Creative.
My 50 Mile Bouquet, created by Snohomish Country Flower Collective
Tracy Sundby of Freedom Flowers
Beth Kendall of Flower Farmer Girls
Next, I recorded a conversation with two of the four members of Sno Co. Flower Collective’s leadership team, Tracy Sundby, owner of Freedom Flower Farm; and Beth Kendall, owner of Flower Farmer Girls. Let’s welcome all to the Slow Flowers Podcast.
Alicia, with some of her favorite flowers, which she grows in her Snohomish, Washington garden.
And on a personal note, did you hear what Alicia said about the experience that lured her to the town of Snohomish? She credits an early outing when I took her to Snohomish after she first moved to Seattle. Secondly, she credits Slow Flowers for bringing together Alicia’s Fleurs Creative with the Sno Co Flower Collective. Isn’t it serendipitous what happens when we build community with authentic relationships – I was really touched by this and I know that you must have similar stories. The connections between floral designers and flower farmers are strong and interdependent!
Find and follow Snohomish County Flower Collective on Instagram and Facebook
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
Thank you to Johnny’s Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower, herb and vegetable seeds — supplied to farms large and small and even backyard cutting gardens like mine. Find the full catalog of flower seeds and bulbs at johnnyseeds.com.
Thank you to Charles Little and Company. On August 25th, spend the day touring Charles Little and Company in Eugene, Oregon, as part of the ASCFG regional gathering. Learn how the farm operates seasonally with an emphasis on field grown crops for national sales and visit the farm stand and U-Pick fields that connect the farm to its community. Interact with Charles Little and Bethany Little to learn and be inspired. Lunch is included. Ticket details are at ascfg.org.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com.
Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
Based on her recent design workshop for the Seattle Growers Market, Gina Thresher of From the Ground Up Floral shared a design demonstration during our Slow Flowers Member meetup in June – and we filmed the session to share today. Gina’s European Sustainable Armature Bouquet elevates floral artistry by moving beyond foam, glue and tape. She shares the method of creating a European-style natural bouquet armature, a sustainable design philosophy pioneered by legendary German Master Florist Gregor Lersch – and technique that’s beautiful and completely compostable. An International Master Florist, member of AIFD and EMC-trained, as well as a longtime Slow Flowers member, Gina demonstrates how to build an intricate structure using only organic and biodegradable materials, allowing floral compositions to dance within a sculptural framework. As a bonus, she shares a second design method using moss and raffia as the mechanic. You’ll want to add the ideas and inspiration she shares to your toolbox as you expand your skills and techniques.
Gina Thresher has trained with top florists in North America and Europe – and beyond – and she has achieved the highest credentials, from AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) and EMC (European Masters Certification) to IMF (International Master Florist). At the heart of her aesthetic and design philosophy, Gina is a garden-lover and a Slow Flowers member. Today, you’ll see her design a European-style armature with a beautiful array of seasonal flowers from her garden and from her neighbors (which she clipped with permission). She learned this method from Gregor Lersch, who teaches the IMF certification program. Gather your branches and get out your toolbox and drill bit to you can challenge yourself to this game-changing approach to floral design, suitable for hand-tied bouquets, arrangements, and installations.
Hand-tied bouquet using sustainable armature by Gina Thresher of From the Ground Up Floral
Supply List for Sustainable European Armature
Seasonal bouquet using Spanish Moss-and-Raffia ball as mechanic
Supply List for moss ball-bouquet mechanic
Gina’s second “bonus” demonstration (see final design, above) incorporates seasonal flowers that she sourced from the Seattle Growers Market. The mechanic uses natural, compostable materials, and you probably have them on hand.
The Content Retreat, July 20-22
The Content Retreat with Gina Thresher
And here are the details (and a promo code) about Gina’s upcoming workshop, The Content Retreat, taking place July 20-22, 2026 at Viva la Flora Studio in Ellicott, Maryland. The three-day course will set you up with three months of social media content and launch your future confidence in creating the posts, stories, reels, and blogs that showcase you and your brand. Polish your photography skills and learn about AI content scheduling, too. The workshop cost is $497 and Gina has shared a gift with our listeners, viewers, and members to save $100 off with code: SLOWFLOWERS.
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
Thank you to Longfield Gardens, which provides home gardeners with high quality flower bulbs and perennials. Their online store offers plants for every region and every season, from tulips and daffodils to dahlias, caladiums and amaryllis. Check out the full catalog at Longfield Gardens at longfield-gardens.com.
Our final sponsor thanks goes to Rooted Farmers. Rooted Farmers works exclusively with local growers to put the highest-quality specialty cut flowers in floral customers’ hands. When you partner with Rooted Farmers, you are investing in your community, and you can expect a commitment to excellence in return. Learn more at RootedFarmers.com.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com.
Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
Designed by Alanna Messner-Scholl of Waverly Flower Co., the “Earth Dress” is a slender, floor-length gown that appears to grow from a demure pair of seed-embellished ballet flats. It seems fitting that a sustainable farmer-florist who once attended the Fashion Institute of Technology would conjure up this organic-looking garment using compost, soil, moss, roots, seeds, and vines. “I wanted it to be a concept piece with an organic, natural feeling,” Alanna said. Having designed botanical couture fashions for Slow Flowers Society’s past two American Flowers Week collections–both of which featured blooms, petals, and foliage straight from her cutting garden–Alanna wanted to highlight other aspects of flower-growing, so she turned to her potting shed. For 2026, she explores the lifecycle of a flower through botanical fashion. Her creativity helps us better understand what it means to grow and design. I know you’ll love our conversation as you learn about Alanna’s ideas and design process!
Alanna Messner-Scholl of Waverly Flower Co.
Slow Flowers Society created American Flowers Week in 2015 as a community-focused floral holiday that allows and encourages participation from everyone in the floral industry — from flower seed and bulb producers to growers; from designers to retailers; from cutting garden enthusiasts to artists. Now in its 12th year, the campaign continues to engage flower farmers, floral designers, farmer-florists, wholesalers, retailers, grocery stores, and flower lovers!
Our first botanical couture look began with Susan McLeary’s iconic red-white-and-blue floral Afro, an impeccable floral headpiece became the branding for American Flowers Week in 2016 and inspired a decade of botanical couture looks that followed: Garments, ensembles, and accessories created by Slow Flowers members and farmer-florist teams across the U.S. Since 2016, we have celebrated an impressive lineup of more than 50 American Flowers Weekbotanical couture looks, designed by our members and featuring domestic flowers and foliage as the inspiration. These floral fashions hail from across the continent — Alaska and Hawaii; Maine and Florida; Missouri and South Dakota and beyond.
Alanna’s original inspiration board for the Earth Dress
So today, we travel to Pennsylvania, to meet Alanna Messner-Scholl of Waverly Flower Co., and learn about her third botanical couture look for American Flowers Week. It’s great conversation and I’m happy to share it with you!
Hot off the Press: Slow Flowers Journal – Summer 2026
And please enjoy our Summer 2026 issue of Slow Flowers Journal – out this week. You can read extended stories about our featured artists and botanical couture designers, as well as some fun features about what our members are doing around the world. The stories are mostly based in the U.S., but we have a very special article commissioned by Slow Flowers Society — a report by Dee Hall Goodwin of Mermaid City Flowers who traveled to London this past May to cover the first flower farm installed at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. You’ll find all this inspiration in our 42-page digital magazine – Click on the flipbook above to read and enjoy!
Thank you to our Sponsors
This show is brought to you by slowflowers.com, the free, online directory to 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, My Patio Tree: Expertly Grown Plants, Perfectly Designed to Elevate Your Garden. Their second-generation family tree farm has curated the best-performing, cutting-edge, multi-zone varieties to enhance your garden, patio or special event. Every tree purchased supports Plant With Purpose, a nonprofit organization that restores hope by reversing global poverty and environmental damage. Learn more at mypatiotree.com.
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 it out at charleslittleandcompany.com.
Thank you to the Seattle Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Visit them at seattlegrowersmarket.com.
Thank you for joining me today! The Slow Flowers Podcast is a member-supported endeavor, downloaded more than 1.6 million times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much. As our movement gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of our domestic cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious. I know you feel it, too. If you’re new to our weekly Show and our long-running Podcast, check out all of our resources at SlowFlowersSociety.com.
Thank you for listening! Sending love, from my cutting garden to you! (c) Missy Palacol Photography
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Show & Podcast. The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization. Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more Slow Flowers on the table, one stem, one vase at a time. Thanks so much for joining us today and I’ll see you next week!
