SLOW FLOWERS NEWS for February 2019 Podcast & Membership Milestones!
 
The Slow Flowers Podcast achieved a major milestone in January -- with 400,000 downloads. This project began with Episode 100 on July 23, 2013. In the ensuing five years, 287 consecutive episodes have inspired and informed listeners. Other Accolates:
Thanks to all of our amazing guests, sponsors, listeners and this generous and supportive community. And thank you to the best editor/engineer ever, Andrew Brenlan!
LISTEN: Slow Flowers Podcast Episodes for January
Episode 382 (January 2): Slow Flowers’ 2019 Floral Insights & Industry Forecast
Episode 383 (January 9): The Joy of Seeds with Hillary Alger, Flowers Product Manager of Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Episode 384 (January 16): Blending Cut Flower Production with a Nursery Business at Minnesota’s Green Earth Growers, Plus our new State Spotlight: Alabama Episode 385 (January 23) A Conversation with Soul Fire Farm’s Leah Penniman, author of Farming While Black, Plus State Spotlight: Alaska
Episode 386 (January 30): Hudson Valley’s Tiny Hearts Farm Adds Retail to the Mix, Plus State Spotlight: Arizona
Welcome to New & Renewing Slow Flowers Members -- Biggest Month Ever!
Debra Prinzing launched Slow Flowers in 2014 with this mission: "To inspire the floral industry and its consumers to embrace local, seasonal, and sustainable flowers."
It has been a joy to watch our community grow as flower farmers, designers, farmer-florists, wholesalers and retailers continue joining our cause!
January 2019 New & Renewing Members
Our new and renewing members ranks more than doubled all previous top months! Please welcome a total of 62 new and renewing members from 14 states across the U.S. and 1 Canadian Province. WELCOME!
*Arcola Trail Flower Farm, Stillwater, MN
Agave Maria Botanicals, Flagstaff, AZ
*All Dahlia'd Up, Palmer, AK
*Andrea K. Grist Floral Art, Lee's Summit, MO
Angela Pearl Cimino
*Annie's Flower Farm/Sweet Annie's Floral Design, Sequim, WA
Bel Fiore Farm, Lee's Summit, MO
*Bird Watching & Pruning Floral, New York, NY
Black Kerr Farm, Phoenix, AZ
Blossom Flower Farm, Louisville, CO
*Cape Lily, Harlem, NY
*Chic Florals, Bethesda, MD
*Chilly Root Peony Farm, Homer, AK
Cool Hollow Flowers, Hagerstown, MD
Decatur Blooms, Decatur, GA
Dragonfly Dreams Peonies, Merrill, WI
Fiddlin' Frog Flowers, Marysville, CA
Florage, Paradise, UT
*Flourish Flower Farm, Asheville, NC
*Foothills Flowers, Everson, WA
Gather Flora, Oakland, CA
Gholson Gardens, Walla Walla, WA
*Gilsum Gardens, Gilsum, NH
Green Mountain Florist Supply, S. Burlington, VT
*Harvest Home Flowers, Waverly, NE
Hawley Hill Gardens, Emily, MN
*Hilltop Community Farm, LaValle, WI
Honey Petal Plants, Brooks, ME
*Jacklily Seasonal Floral Design, Ashland, OR
Juniper Blue Studio, Providence, RI
*KRISanthemums, Hermiston, OR
Lavender and Locks, Harrisburgh, PA
Liberty Flower Farm, Lynchburg, VA
Little Seed Flower Farm, Johnstown, CO
Lowlands Farm, Snohomish, WA
*Lucky Bee Cut Flower Co., Longmont, CO
Maura Rose Floral Design & Events, Philadelphia, PA
*Meadow Ridge Perennial Farm, Hebron, ME
*Menagerie Farm & Flower, Live Oak, CA
Millwood Flower Farm, Reddick, FL
Miranda's Flower Co, Pasco, WA
*Molly & Myrtle, Indianapolis, IN
Paeonia Designs, Sudbury, MA
*Papillon Floral Design, Rohnert Park, CA
*Petal Patch Flower Farm, Walkersville, MD
*Petals by the Shore, Damascus, MD
*Pistil Design, Seattle, WA
*Pistil & Stamen Flower Farm & Studio, New Orleans, LA
*Rain Drop Farms, Philomath, OR
Reverie Fields, Boulder, CO
*Rose of Sharon Floral Design Studio, Fayetteville, AR
*Rose Story Farm, Carpinita, CA
*Rusted Vase Co., Seattle, WA
*Snapdragon Flower Farm, Spokane, WA
*Splints & Daisies, Lancaster, PA
Starry Fields Farm, Bowling Green, KY
*Sweet Luck Farm, Monroe, WA
*Tamara's Designs, Pt. Republic, VA
*Verde & Co., Seattle, WA
*What Cheer Flower Farm, Providence, RI
*Whimsical Wisteria Design, Pemberton, NJ
Yellow Brick Flowers, Melbourne/London, ON Canada
*Denotes Renewing Members
Carly Jenkins: SUMMIT Speaker Q&A
Here's the the fourth Q&A in our Slow Flowers Summit 2019 speaker series, conducted and written by journalist and Slow Flowers contributing writer Mackenzie Nichols.
Meet farmer-florist and foraging maven Carly Jenkins of Killing Frost Farm! Carly will join Louesa Roebuck in the Summit presentation, "The Art & Ethics of Foraging," and the two will collaborate with Christine Hoffman to lead the interactive large-scale installation at the Summit!
Arrive Early for Flower Farm Tours + our
Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm  
Spend Sunday, June 30th
Exploring Minnesota's Flower Farming Community You're Invited to Two Free Farm Tours on June 30th, 2019
Sunday Afternoon Tours of Two Local Flower Farms
On Sunday, June 30th those attending the Slow Flowers Summit are invited to attend two optional farm tours.
1:00-3:00 p.m. // Farm Tour at Blue Sky Flower Farm, Lakeville, MN (Free, pictured at top)
4:00-5:30 p.m. // Farm Tour at Green Earth Growers, Prior Lake, MN (Free, pictured above)
BONUS Event: Sunday Evening Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm
6:00-8:00 p.m. // Dinner on the Farm at Green Earth Growers
(Tickets sold separately)
Read More about our First-Ever Slow Flowers Dinner on the Farm
New in the Slow Flowers Journal
The January issue of Florists’ Review, which includes Issue No. 17 of Slow Flowers Journal, features two extensive packages you'll want to read and save!
This is the second consecutive New Year SFJ section that leads off with the Slow Flowers' Floral Insights and Industry Forecast, titled "Tracking Floral Futures." You'll find our 10 insights about the progressive floral marketplace and how people like you are redefining best practices and the "new normal" for local, seasonal and sustainable flowers.!
The second piece is a remarkable series of 12 months of seasonal and local flowers, designed by Kelly Shore of Petals by the Shore and photographed by Sarah Collierof Taken by Sarah. 
Tracking Floral Futures
Slow Flowers' Floral Insights and Industry Forecast 2019
The Flower Calendar
A 12-Month Series of Bridal Bouquets
Floral designer Kelly Shore challenged herself to use only local, seasonal and domestic blooms for a 12-month series of bridal looks. She collaborated with photographer Sarah Collier to capture a stunning Slow Flowers Year.
Kelly owns Petals by the Shore, based in Damascus, Md.. She has set big goals to stretch herself creatively before. In fact, two years ago, her collaboration with Plant Masters, a Maryland flower farm, led to our editorial feature called "Four Seasons of Floral Design."
That idea of producing four styled photo shoots during winter, spring, summer and fall -- each specific to one farm's seasonal harvest -- was artistically inspiring. The gorgeous results demonstrated to Kelly, and to her bridal clients, that it's possible to find local beauty if you look for it, regardless of the time of year.
SLOW FLOWERS Members in Houzz.com
Our January gallery for Houzz.com features Slow Flowers' Best Floral Design Ideas for Hellebores, including this lovely bridal bouquet with hellebores as the focal flower, designed by Kris Bennett of KRISanthemums in Hermiston, Oregon. All hellebores are from Bennett Botanical Gardens, and the bouquet also includes locally-grown white tulips, green ranunculus from Peterkort Roses (c) the Sweet Life Photography
PR Opportunities for
SLOW FLOWERS Members  #1 Our full year of Slow Flowers Galleries for Houzz.com continues for February (NOTE early deadline)! Each Month's floral themes are noted below. SHARE YOUR Best Designs for OUR NEXT Houzz.com Gallery! You're invited to be part of this ongoing member-only editorial opportunity. Here are more details:
February 10th (2/8 deadline) American-grown roses for Valentine's Day!!
Future months:
March 15 (3/10 deadline) Flowering Branches in floral design
April 15 (4/10 deadline) Tulips & Narcissus in floral arrangements
May 15 (5/10 deadline) Peonies in floral design
June 15 (6/10 deadline) Red-White-Blue floral designs for American Flowers Week
July 15 (7/10 deadline) Lisianthus floral designs
August 15 (8/10 deadline) Dahlias in floral design & bouquets
September 15 (9/10 deadline) Sunflowers & Rudbeckia floral design
October 15 (10/10 deadline) Pumpkins and gourds for tablescaping
November 15 (11/10 deadline) Heirloom mums in floral design
December 15 (12/10 deadline) Poinsettias in floral design and decor
#2 -- SUBMIT IDEAS FOR #SLOWFLOWERSJOURNAL IN FLORISTS' REVIEW
Each month, Slow Flowers produces the Slow Flowers Journal (Print Edition) in Florists' Review. From the first issue in August 2017, we've put a priority on publishing articles about our members and their projects, designs, news.
Check out the Editorial Topic Calendar above -- Slow Flowers Journal reflects many of those larger themes in monthly content. But we need to hear from you -- what suggestions, ideas and imagery would you like to suggest?
To see examples of our past coverage, check out the online Slow Flowers Journal. Each month's content is posted if you search "Slow Flowers Journal Print Edition."
Planning takes place several months in advance, so please suggest topics from April to December 2019. Send suggestions to: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
#3 -- Local Flowers for Grocery Channels -- story ideas for SuperFloral Magazine
Each month, Slow Flowers produces a product-sourcing feature for SuperFloral, a sister publication of Florists' Review. The editorial focus is: From Seed to Consumer, covering breeders, growers, importers, distribution, wholesale, bouquet makers, marketers and mass market retailers. DO YOU sell your flowers through a grocery or supermarket channel? We'd love to hear more! Send your suggestions to: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
SLOW FLOWERS in the NEWS
AD French Edition (Architectural Digest)
Slow Flowers is highlighted in this report about how American floral designers are influencing the French floral marketplace.
SEATTLE Magazine
"Petal Poise"
We love it when our members are featured by the media! We love it even more when they mention how much their brand and business philosophy is influenced by the Slow Flowers Movement.
Thanks to Meridith Isaacson of Verde + Co.for doing just that! According to the article: "She's also committed to sustainability and responsible product sourcing through the Slow Flowers Movement, whose members are dedicated to using American-grown flowers whenever possible."
Congrats, Meri -- great press!
Upcoming SLOW FLOWERS Presentations
Philadelphia Flower Show: Designer’s Studio
Saturday, March 2nd (12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.) Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA
The Designer’s Studio is a unique presentation stage on the Philadelphia Flower Show’s main Flower Show exhibit floor, providing prominent exposure for the floral industry. The studio features demonstrations, artistic displays, and lively interactive competitions, all focused on floral design. Thank you to the American Horticultural Society for underwriting Debra Prinzing's Designer’s Studio presentation!
BONUS: After Debra's demo on the Designers’ Studio stage, she has been invited to participate as a contestant in the 5 p.m. design competition, held on the same stage. You can learn more here.
Slow Flowers: Seasonal Floral Design
Wednesday, June 5th (6:45-8:30 p.m.)
NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St. Seattle, WA 98195
Debra will speak about the significant changes in floral agriculture and sustainable floral design that she’s witnessed and documented over the past 10 years.
She will illustrate her presentation with three floral design demonstrations incorporating botanical ingredients sourced locally from area growers. Debra’s books will be available for purchase and signing.
Floral vendors from Pacific Northwest flower farms will have flowers for sale at the lecture.
Reception begins at 6:45 pm, lecture at 7:15 pm.
Cost:Members: $5.00 Non-Members: $10.00
Program Notes: Be Part of Our
2019 Slow Flowers Podcast 
We're excited about a new weekly feature in the Slow Flowers Podcast that will debut on January 16, 2019. It's called "50 States of Slow Flowers," and that means for each of 50 consecutive weeks on the Slow Flowers Podcast, we'll focus on what's happening in the Slow Flowers Movement, state-by-state -- from Alabama (Jan 16th) through Wyoming (Dec. 25th). For the month of January, we featured:
ALABAMA -- Lisa Thorne of Thorne & Thistle
ALASKA -- Kim Herning of Northern Lights Peonies
ARIZONA -- Debby Mittelman of MiViva Designs
There will be lots of love for Canadian Slow Flowers members, too -- We'll also feature Slow Flowers news from each Canadian Province during the course of 2019!
Get in touch if you have news to share about locally-grown flowers and regional design in your State or Province! Email: debraprinzing@gmail.com.
RESOURCES: FREE PEONY GUIDE
The Alaska Peony Cooperative, Slow Flowers members, recently released its "Passionate for Peonies" educational series.
The series shares detailed information about the 25+ varieties of peonies grown by the Alaska-based Cooperative's member farms, with the goal of answering common questions to choose the best peonies for specific design needs.
If you are a grower, you’ll develop a solid knowledge of commercial-worthy peonies from which to select the perfect cultivars for your field. If you're a floral designer, you’ll develop a better understanding of bloom nuances (size, fragrance, subtle color variations, petal form) and will be able to confidently order peony stems by specific name (versus just color) in order to meet the detailed needs of your clients.
By the end of the series, the Cooperative hopes you’ll be able to choose your favorite cultivars and plant with confidence, knowing which peonies are best for borders and which will need extra support and staking.
Throughout the Passionate for Peonies series, you’ll receive two peony newsletters a week, each dedicated to celebrating a fun and outstanding peony cultivar.
At the series' conclusion, you’ll receive a DOWNLOADABLE PEONY REFERENCE GUIDE, featuring all of the cultivars featured in one, easy to use reference guide.
The Passionate for Peonies series is F R E E to the Slow Flowers Community.
Meet the Slow Flowers Team
SOCIAL MEDIA MAVEN Niesha Blancasof Fetching Social Media.
If we feature you on Instagram or Facebook, it's Niesha you have to thank! She loves giving shout-outs to Slow Flowers members, our Podcast guests, our Event Partners and our Summitspeakers. Niesha has more than doubled the followers on @myslowflowers since we teamed up last fall. You can learn more about Niesha and her consulting packages for creatives here. Follow her @fetchingsocial or @nieshamonay
EVENT DIVA Karen Thornton of Avenue 22 Events.
Karen Thornton is the talent behind the Slow Flowers Summit and I'm so grateful for her counsel, her organizational genius, her strategic planning and her generally chill approach to anything that makes me panic. We've worked together on two previous events for creativepreneurs and I have to say, Karen's involvement in any event is the *secret sauce* to success! If you attend the Summit, you'll meet both Karen AND Niesha! Follow Karen at @avenue22events. 
Slow Flowers Sponsor Thanks for 2019
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Christina Burton-Fox AIFD floral artist & instructor
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