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.

In Episode 77, you will hear about:

 * How Julio found the confidence to step into his future self
 * Why saying yes opened unexpected doors in his floral career
 * What it takes to grow premium flowers in Montana’s short and intense season
 * How weddings, farming, and business growth shaped his mindset
 * The importance of letting go, pivoting, and embracing the seasons of life
 * Where joy and clarity are leading him next

Julio also shares a personal story about rediscovering what truly matters to him and how tuning into nature, rest, and intention transformed the way he sees his work.

Whether you are a flower farmer, floral designer, or a creative who wants to build a more aligned and fulfilling path, this conversation offers practical wisdom, gentle reminders, and heartfelt insight.

Flowers may be the medium, but this episode is really about growing through every season.

Connect with Julio

Website: https://www.theflowerhat.com [https://www.theflowerhat.com/]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflowerhat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theflowerhat

Connect with Jennifer, Host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast:

Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhousehttps://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

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New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.77: Flower Farming & Floral Design in Montana: The Flower Hat Story with Julio Freitas

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 [https://www.flowerfarmingforprofit.com/]. 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:

 * How to know when you’re ready to start selling your flowers
 * The biggest myths about flower sales (and what actually works)
 * Mindset shifts that help you charge your worth
 * How to attract loyal customers who value your story
 * What to expect at the upcoming Sell Your Flowers Summit

Whether you’re dreaming about turning your garden into a business or already running a small flower farm, this conversation will help you sell your flowers with purpose and profitability.

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/11/11/ep-76-how-to-sell-your-flowers-with-confidence/

Learn more and connect with Lennie:
👉 Website: flowerfarmingforprofit.com [https://www.flowerfarmingforprofit.com/]
👉 Instagram: @flowerfarming.forprofit [https://www.instagram.com/flowerfarming.forprofit/]
👉 Sell Your Flowers Summit: Join the Summit [https://flower-farming-for-profit-academy.mykajabi.com/syfs]: https://flower-farming-for-profit-academy.mykajabi.com/syfs

💐 About the Sell Your Flowers Summit:
The Sell Your Flowers Summit is a free three-day online event designed to help small-scale and backyard flower farmers sell more flowers with confidence. Hosted by Lennie Larkin of Flower Farming for Profit, the summit features leading voices in flower farming, sales, and marketing. Each session is short, actionable, and focused on real strategies that work in today’s floral marketplace.

👉 Learn more and register for the summit: https://flower-farming-for-profit-academy.mykajabi.com/syfs

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

*** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review?  I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.76: How to Sell Your Flowers with Lennie Larkin of Flower Farming for Profit

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 helped you grow.

Whether you’re wrapping up your season or already dreaming about spring, this episode offers a moment to slow down, look back, and give thanks for all that has taken root this year.

Connect with Jennifer, Host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast:

Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhousehttps://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

*** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.75: Gratitude in the Garden: The Five Petals That Root Us Through Every Season

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 growth — even in challenging times — Nicole’s story is a beautiful reminder of resilience and connection.

You’ll also hear about her plans for a new hoop house, her vision for expanding Boon Street Nursery (thanks to a major grant!), and her exciting new project — a brand-new podcast launching later this month.

Connect with Nicole:

 * Flower Hill Farm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlowerHillFarm
 * Flower Hill Farm Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowerhillfarmny/
 * Flower Hill Farm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flowerhillfarmny/
 * Flower Hill Farm Website: https://www.flowerhillfarmny.com/

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/11/06/ep-74-nicole-pitt-of-flower-hill-farm/

Mentioned in this episode:

 * Farmer’s Friend pre-burned landscape fabric: https://www.farmersfriend.com/p/quick-plant-fabric?rid=floweringfarmhouse

Connect with Jennifer, Host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast:

Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhousehttps://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter

*** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.74: Nicole Pitt of Flower Hill Farm: Growing Through Change and Finding Strength in Every Season

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 when the outcome isn’t yet visible. Jennifer shares lessons learned from transforming a fallow field into a thriving flower farm, from the small wins to the moments that stretched her the most. Along the way, she offers reflections to help you reconnect with your own journey, the one that’s unfolding right now between the planting and the bloom.

Whether you’re a flower farmer, gardener, or simply navigating a season of change, this episode is a gentle reminder that growth takes time and that the real magic isn’t found at the finish line but in who we become along the way.



Podcast Listeners Enjoy 7 Days of Growth Day FREE:

Try the GrowthDay App, Jennifer’s favorite tool for journaling, tracking habits, and staying grounded in personal growth

https://app.growthday.com/signup/referral-trial/floweringfarmhouse

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/10/25/ep-73-journey-to-bloom/

Connect with Jennifer:

Website: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhousehttps://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/

Follow the Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast/



Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter



*** Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet ***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep.73: Journey to Bloom: Learning to Be Present in Every Season

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 floristry at just 23 years old
🌸 How Newcastle Food & Flower Markets grew into a thriving hub for education, weddings, and local blooms
🌸 The story behind The Flower Summit, a first-of-its-kind event uniting female florists, growers, and creatives around the world
🌸 Why local flowers and global collaboration matter more than ever
🌸 What attendees can expect when they gather in Newcastle, Australia in November 2026

If you love hearing stories of creativity, connection, and women building beauty through flowers, this episode will fill your heart with inspiration and new ideas for your own journey.

🌼 Connect with Jessica Eckford-Aguilera

Summit Website: https://flowersummit.com.au [https://flowersummit.com.au/]
Instagram: https://instagram.com/theflowersummit
Newcastle Food & Flower Markets: https://www.foodandflowermarkets.com.au/

🎟️ Tickets are now on sale for the first-ever Flower Summit, taking place November 24–25, 2026 in Newcastle, Australia. Join us in Australia: https://flowersummit.com.au/events/flower-summit/

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/10/22/ep-72-the-flower-summit/  [https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/10/22/ep-72-the-flower-summit/]

🎧 Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more inspiring stories from flower farmers, gardeners, and dreamers who are growing beauty and purpose one bloom at a time.

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet E-Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 72: Inside The Flower Summit with Jessica Eckford-Aguilera: Celebrating Women, Flowers and Creativity in Australia

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 remind you that every ending creates space for new beginnings and that letting go is part of flourishing.

✨ In this episode:

 * Practical ways to reflect after the first frost
 * What to release in your garden or business before winter
 * How to plan now for a thriving, more intentional next season

Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/10/17/ep-71-end-of-season-reflection-thinning-the-weeds/

Read: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown [https://amzn.to/43qyDpg]

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

Connect with Jennifer | The Flowering Farmhouse

 * Podcast Website: thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/ [https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/]
 * Instagram @thefloweringfarmhouse [https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/]
 * Instagram @thebackyardbouquetpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thebackyardbouquetpodcast]

Ep. 71: End-of-Season Reflection: Thinning the Weeds and Making Space to Flourish Next Year

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 businesses while staying true to their roots — and why embracing imperfection and community has been key to their success. They also give us a behind-the-scenes look at DirtCon, their new virtual summit designed to connect, educate, and inspire flower farmers from around the world.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting or scaling a flower farm, this episode will leave you feeling encouraged, grounded, and ready to dig into your own next chapter.

In this episode:

 * How Shannon and Lyndsay built successful flower farms from the ground up
 * The mindset and resilience it takes to grow season after season
 * Lessons learned from the real side of flower farming
 * The vision and purpose behind DirtCon, their virtual flower farming summit

Episode 70 Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/10/15/ep-70-behind-the-dirt-on-flowers-podcast/

Links mentioned in this episode:

 * The Dirt on Flowers Podcast [https://www.thedirtonflowers.com/]
 * The Dirt on Flowers: Tulip Episode [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-209-tulip-deep-dive/id1625592313?i=1000727446889]
 * Bloom Hill Farm [https://www.instagram.com/bloomhillfarm/]
 * Wildroot Flower Co. [https://www.instagram.com/wildroot_flowerco/]

🌼 Learn More About DirtCon

Ready to connect with other flower farmers and grow your business? 🌸
Join DirtCon, the virtual summit created by The Dirt on Flowers team — featuring expert speakers, real-world strategies, and inspiration for every stage of your flower farming journey.


👉 Click here to learn more and grab your ticket. [https://dirtcon2026.heysummit.com/?ac=9lbFI4Ji] (affiliate link)

🎧 Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more inspiring stories from flower farmers, gardeners, and dreamers who are growing beauty and purpose one bloom at a time.

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

Ep.70: Behind The Dirt on Flowers: How Shannon & Lyndsay Built Thriving Cut Flower Farms

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 opens up about the story behind Art Garden Therapy, why flowers—especially lavender, peonies, and dahlias—show up so often in her art, and how farming and painting both create powerful spaces for connection and creativity.

🌿 In this episode, you’ll learn:

 * How Valerie and her family built Steel Cow Lavender Farm
 * What inspired her transition from animals to flower paintings
 * The vision behind Art Garden Therapy and how it helps beginners paint with confidence
 * Why flowers play such a central role in her art and teaching
 * How farming and painting both serve as pathways to creativity and joy

🌸 Connect with Valerie Miller:

 * Steel Cow Lavender Farm: https://www.steelcowlavenderfarm.com [https://www.steelcowlavenderfarm.com/]
 * Art Garden Therapy Membership: https://artgardentherapy.com [https://artgardentherapy.com/]
 * Steel Cow Art & Paintings: https://www.steelcow.com [https://www.steelcow.com/]

If you love flowers, painting, and stories of creativity rooted in nature, this conversation will inspire you to pick up a brush—or plant a seed.

📌 Subscribe to The Backyard Bouquet Podcast for more flower farming insights!

Sign up for The Backyard Bouquet Newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

***Rate, Review, & Follow The Backyard Bouquet***

If you enjoyed this episode, will you please consider leaving the podcast a review? Your review helps make the podcast more discoverable to others and allows me to continue creating more episodes. I'd love to know what you enjoyed most about the episode.

New episodes every week to help keep your garden blooming!

Ep. 69: Painting Flowers and Farming Lavender with Valerie Miller of Steel Cow Lavender Farm

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 greenery is the unsung hero of floral design.

You’ll learn about:

 * How Continental Floral Greens grew from a small tree farm to the largest U.S.-based flower farm
 * What sustainability looks like at scale — from recyclable packaging to stewarding 10,000 acres of noble fir
 * New dahlia trials with extended vase life and what it means for florists and regional growers
 * Why collaboration across farms, wholesalers, and organizations like SustainaBloom is key to the future of floriculture
 * Advice for growers who dream of scaling their flower farm (and why resilience + the right team are essential)

Whether you’re a backyard grower, a budding flower farmer, or simply fascinated by the floral industry, this conversation will expand your perspective on what’s possible — and how sustainability and innovation are shaping the future of flowers.

📍 Connect with Continental Floral Greens:

 * Website: https://www.cfgreens.com/https://www.cfgreens.com
 * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cfgreens
 * Email Madison: madisonmilgard@cfgreens.com

Enjoying the show?
Please rate & review The Backyard Bouquet Podcast—it helps more flower lovers find us and keeps these conversations blooming!

Ep.68: Inside America’s Largest U.S.-Based Flower Farm: Sustainability, Innovation & the Future of Floriculture with Madison Milgard of Continental Floral Greens

A podcast for flower farmers, gardeners, and cut flower growers who are growing more than just flowers.

Hosted by Jennifer Gulizia of The Flowering Farmhouse, The Backyard Bouquet shares inspiring conversations and expert tips from the fields and gardens of cut flower farmers and home growers.

Whether you're planting your first backyard bed or running a thriving flower farm, each episode offers practical growing advice, heartfelt stories, and the encouragement to cultivate beauty, joy, and connection—both in your garden and in your life.

From backyard plots to blooming fields, this podcast celebrates the people behind the petals and the lessons we learn when we grow with intention. Discover how locally grown flowers can enrich your days, root you in the present, and remind you that every flower—and every season—has a purpose.

Join us on this flourishing journey—where growing flowers is just the beginning.

For Show Notes And More Podcast Details: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/the-backyard-bouquet-podcast/

Join The Backyard Bouquet FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutflowergardening/

Sign up for our newsletter: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.myflodesk.com/backyardbouquetpodcast

The Flowering Farmhouse: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/thefloweringfarmhouse]   [https://www.pinterest.com/thefloweringfarmhouse/]| Website [https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/]

Jennifer Gulizia

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