Join Lisa Mason Ziegler of The Gardener's Workshop on the Field and Garden Podcast talking flower farming, cut-flower gardening, business, and all things related!
What happened to the flowers that once filled our spring gardens? Lisa shares the story of cool-season hardy annuals, why so many of these beautiful flowers were forgotten, and how learning when to plant them can bring an entirely new season of blooms back to your garden.
Mentions
Cool Flowers resources: Book, Online Course, Planning Tool
Lisa's book, The Cut Flower Handbook
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Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
How did a flower farmer with limited land, no greenhouse, no tractor, and no cooler build a successful flower farming business and eventually The Gardener’s Workshop? Lisa shares her story, the challenges that shaped how she grows and teaches, and some of the lessons she learned through nearly three decades of flowers, business, and figuring things out as she goes.
Mentions
Free Resources: All About Soil Blocking
Lisa's Book, Growing A Beautiful Life
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
More flowers aren’t always better! In this episode, Lisa shares why overplanting can lead to weeds, missed harvests, broken succession plans, and garden burnout — and how growing less can actually help you create a healthier, more productive, and much more enjoyable cutting garden.
Mentions
Merlin Bird ID Phone App (free!)
Lisa's Book, Growing A Beautiful Life
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Cool-season flowers can be confusing because they don’t follow the same rules as warm-season flowers. In this episode, Lisa shares the story behind the new Cool-Season Cut-Flower Planner and explains how it can help you grow gorgeous spring blooms with more confidence.
Mentions
The Cool-Season Cut-Flower Planner
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
This episode of Field & Garden is a replay of a recent Ask Me Anything event with guest host Ellen Frost, one of our online instructors and the owner/head designer of Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ellen shares practical floral design advice for working with seasonal, locally grown flowers — including favorite foliage for September weddings, how to keep hydrangeas hydrated, reliable flowers for fall boutonnieres, ways flower farmers can practice designing with what they grow, and why fall can be a great time to connect with florists.
Mentions
More from Ellen: Website, Email, Instagram, FlowerMore
Ellen's online courses: Preparing to Sell to Florists, Growing Your Business with Local Flower Sourcing
Ellen's recommended books:
Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style by Christin Geall
Color Me Floral: Stunning Monochromatic Arrangements by Kiana Underwood
Life in Bloom by Graeme Corbett
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Fall flowers deserve more attention — especially if you want rich color, useful texture, long vase life, and blooms that customers are excited to buy in September and October. In this episode, Lisa shares 13 standout flowers and foliage for the fall cutting garden, plus simple planning tips to help you time them well for next season.
Mentions
The Flower Farmer Club, presented by The Gardener's Workshop
Baker's Dozen Fall Flowers (find them here)
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Happy customers are one of the best marketing tools a flower business can have, but they often need a simple invitation to share their experience. In this episode, Lisa explains why reviews matter, when to ask for them, and how to make it easy for customers to help others discover your flowers.
Social Media suggestion
"We hope you’re loving your experience with The Gardener’s Workshop! If you have a moment, we’d be thrilled if you could share your thoughts with us in a review. Your feedback helps our community grow and lets us know what we’re doing right. Thanks for your support!"
Newsletter suggestion
"Your opinion matters to us! 🌿 At The Gardener’s Workshop, we strive to provide the best for our valued customers. If you’ve enjoyed our flowers, we’d love to hear your thoughts in a review. Click [here] to share your feedback and help others discover our blooms. Thank you for being a part of our journey!"
In-person suggestion— have a QR code!
We’re so glad you chose The Gardener’s Workshop for your flower needs! If you have a spare moment, we’d really appreciate it if you could leave us a review online. Your feedback is invaluable and helps us grow and improve. Thank you!"
Mentions
Preorder Lisa's Book, Growing A Beautiful Life
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
A beautiful landscape does not have to feel like one endless chore. In this episode, Lisa shares practical flower-farmer habits — like planting in groups, planning before buying, choosing the right season, and feeding the soil — that can help create a more peaceful, low-maintenance garden.
Mentions
Preorder Lisa's New Book, Growing A Beautiful Life
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
Cool Flowers can bring some of the earliest, strongest, and most rewarding blooms of the season — but only when their timing and needs are understood. In this episode, Lisa walks through five common pitfalls that can trip up gardeners and flower farmers, plus the simple shifts that can set you up for cool-season success.
Mentions
Plug Suppliers: Farmer Bailey, Ball Hort/Colorlink
Cool Flower Seeds from The Gardener's Workshop
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest
TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!
If you are a Southerner or a Northerner, you may think the Cool Flower concept doesn't work for you. Nothing could be further from the truth! When you find your planting time sweet spot, you will be the envy of all your grower friends, and your customers will think you are nothing short of a miracle worker!
As a Southerner, I spent years at the farmers market watching customers love on my sweet peas and tell me why they can't be grown here - Ha!
Meanwhile, I hear from my northern flower farming friends that they have become driven to find ways to get this plant family in the ground earlier and earlier each year to reap the benefits!
Cool Flowers are for everyone. Myth busted, truth unveiled!
Enjoy this week's episode for my best Cool Flower tips and recommendations for Southerners and Northerners.
Mentions
Online Course: Cool Flowers from Seed to Harvest
Request the FREE webinar: 3 Foolproof Steps to Success with Cool Flowers
Lisa's Book, Cool Flowers
Request the Cool Flowers video book study
Lisa's Book, The Cut Flower Handbook
TGW Phone App/Live Shopping Show
Shop the TGW Online Store for all your seeds and supplies!
Sign up to receive our weekly Farm News!
The Field and Garden Podcast is produced by Lisa Mason Ziegler, award-winning author of The Cut Flower Handbook, Vegetables Love Flowers, and Cool Flowers, owner of The Gardener’s Workshop, Flower Farming School Online, and the publisher of Farmer-Florist School Online and Florist School Online. Watch Lisa’s Story and connect with Lisa on social media!