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Ep. 48: Sweet Pea School: Marryn Mathis on Growing, Breeding, and the Magic of Sweet Peas
1.9k Plays11 days ago
This special episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast features returning guest Marryn Mathis, founder of The Farmhouse Flower Farm and widely known as the Sweet Pea Queen. Marryn joins the show to celebrate the release of her debut book, Sweet Pea School, a comprehensive guide to growing, nurturing, and enjoying these fragrant, timeless blooms.
In this conversation, Marryn shares her journey from flower farmer to published author, the inspiration behind her book, and invaluable tips for successfully growing sweet peas—no matter your climate. We also explore the fascinating history of sweet peas, the art of breeding new varieties, and the deep emotional connection flowers bring to our lives.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting your floral journey, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and a love for all things sweet peas. Tune in to discover why these fragrant flowers are having a moment in the gardening world and how you can cultivate them in your own space.
👉 Episode Highlights:
- How a student’s suggestion led Marryn to write Sweet Pea School
- The surprising origins of sweet peas and their journey to popularity
- Common mistakes gardeners make when growing sweet peas
- Why sweet peas don’t need to be soaked before planting
- The importance of timing and variety selection for success
- Marryn’s personal connection to sweet peas and how they shaped her farming journey
📚 Grab a copy of Sweet Pea School: https://amzn.to/4bhrYR6
🌸 Connect with Marryn https://www.instagram.com/thefarmhouseflowerfarm/
💐 Visit Marryn’s Website: https://thefarmhouseflowerfarm.com/
Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/02/25/ep-48-growing-sweet-peas-with-marryn-mathis/
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Transcript
Introduction to the Backyard Bouquet Podcast
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Backyard Bouquet Podcast, where stories bloom from local flower fields and home gardens. I'm your host, Jennifer Galizia of The Flowering Farmhouse. I'm a backyard gardener turned flower farmer located in Hood River, Oregon.
00:00:17
Speaker
Join us for heartfelt journeys shared by flower farmers and backyard gardeners. Each episode is like a vibrant garden, cultivating wisdom and joy through flowers. From growing your own backyard garden to supporting your local flower farmer,
00:00:32
Speaker
The Backyard Bouquet is your fertile ground for heartwarming tales and expert cut flower growing advice.
Celebrating the Launch of 'Sweet Pea School'
00:00:39
Speaker
All right, flower friends, grab your gardening gloves, garden snips, or your favorite vase because it's time to let your backyard bloom.
00:00:55
Speaker
Welcome to a very special episode of the Backyard Bouquet podcast. Today we're rejoined by a dear friend and past guest, Marin Mathis from the Farmhouse Flower Farm.
00:01:06
Speaker
Many of you may also know our guest as the Sweet Pea Queen. Marin has captivated us before with her deep knowledge and passion for sweet peas, and she's back today for a wonderful reason, to celebrate the launch of her first book, Sweet Pea School.
Journey from Workshops to Writing
00:01:22
Speaker
She's For years, Marin has been teaching the art of growing sweet peas through her popular online workshops, and she's now compiled her extensive knowledge into a beautiful and informative guide.
00:01:34
Speaker
The book is filled with everything from the charming history of sweet peas to practical tips for cultivating vibrant blooms, all illustrated with stunning photography from her farmhouse flower farm in Washington.
00:01:47
Speaker
We're going to dive into her journey from online instructor to published author, explore the inspiration behind her book, and of course, get some insider tips directly from the Sweet Pea Queen herself.
00:01:59
Speaker
Marin, it's so great to have you back on the show, and congratulations on this incredible milestone. Thank you so much, Jen. That was quite the introduction. it was. I felt like I was getting tongue-tied there.
Inspiration Behind the Book
00:02:14
Speaker
i loved it. Well, oh my gosh, thanks for coming back on. I know your life is so busy right now. How does it feel? You are a published author.
00:02:25
Speaker
a still am in shock over over it all, honestly. It's just, you know, you work for, you know, it this child of mine almost, you know, for the last so four years now. wow And just to finally, yeah, to finally see it, you know, coming to fruition and the first copies arriving. And now I'm not just looking at digital versions.
00:02:47
Speaker
I'm actually feeling the pages and it, you know, you're holding it in your hands and it smells like a book and it's just, the reality is, is really hitting. So it's, it's, it's an emotional, an emotional thing, but I'm, I'm so excited.
00:03:00
Speaker
I had no idea that you've been working on this for four years. Yeah. Yeah. that's from paul From the time that it, you know, that little, you know, seed was planted in my head um from my workshops to, yeah, to now.
00:03:15
Speaker
So yeah let's go back to four years ago. What made you decide to write a book? Well, actually it was actually, it was one of my students, actually a couple of my students, I was teaching the Sweet Pea School in-person workshops at that time.
00:03:30
Speaker
And after we were sitting around after class, you know, talking, and one of them, you know, was like, have you ever thought of writing a book? And in that moment, I was like, oh, no, you know, not me kind of thing.
00:03:43
Speaker
But um so I just kind of dismissed it a little bit. But it just, you know, the thought, ah you know, when she said that, and I just like allowed myself that time to really think about it, um you know, I was like, wow, I could really reach, you know, a lot more people with a book.
00:04:03
Speaker
And i had received so many, you know, great comments about, you know, my course and my class and all those kinds of things. And when I started teaching the classes, you know, I thought,
00:04:15
Speaker
I can share my passion for sweet peas. And that's what I just, that I just wanted to share my love of flowers with people. But the more that I shared my love of flowers with people, the more it filled my cup in a way that I would have never honestly imagined in a million years. And so you know when I started growing flowers, I just envisioned the flowers, right? I never envisioned you know teaching a class or even writing a book, but just the the energy that I received from that, I'm like, okay, all right.
00:04:45
Speaker
And then just pushing myself you know out of my comfort zone and you know, in the writing process and all those kinds of things. So yeah, so it started with my, with my workshops and it just kind blossomed into something, yeah, bigger than i would have ever imagined.
00:04:59
Speaker
That's awesome.
Passion and Growth Through Teaching
00:05:00
Speaker
We never know when we sow a seed, how big yeah it can sometimes grow and the ripple effects that it can have, which is so apparent with what you've done here. i mean, your first sweet pea class was when?
00:05:15
Speaker
2020. In 2020. and twenty twenty And how many people came to that first class? Do you remember? First class, the first class, I think it was around 40 to 45.
00:05:28
Speaker
And I remember, I was so nervous because it was my first time, you know, getting in front of a group of people. And I had my notebook next to me and all of my props and all the things. And, um you know, I thought, okay, this will just be, you know, like an hour long.
00:05:42
Speaker
And bless bless their hearts, they stuck with me through the whole thing. We ended up, it was like two and a half hours wow all about sweet peas. And after I was done...
00:05:54
Speaker
I just, i I turned to my friend and I was like, that was the most invigorating, amazing experience that i've that I've ever experienced. Just to feel the energy in that room and to see everyone's excitement, you know, for these flowers that I love so much.
00:06:11
Speaker
um Yeah, like i said, it just fed my soul in a way that I can't put it into words. And it just it just kept kept growing over the years. So. I love it. It's kind of like when you give a bouquet to someone.
00:06:23
Speaker
i always I almost feel selfish thinking that I'm feeding more of myself and my soul by giving that bouquet because it feels so good, that gesture of sharing those flowers. And I know as a teacher also that it feels that same way.
00:06:36
Speaker
You get those same, even know the right word for it, but just those like feel good vibes in your body of like, you're doing something good and you get to share this incredible thing with other people. Oh yeah.
00:06:48
Speaker
Giving is such an amazing, amazing feeling. And no matter what, you know, aspect it is, whether it's a bouquet or, you know, book or you know, whatever, you're putting something out into the world. And just that feeling that, you know, you get in return, you know, they're getting something tangible, but just that feeling that you get in return is, is pretty, pretty awesome.
00:07:08
Speaker
Yes. Well, especially with flowers. I mean, seeing people be able to grow something. And maybe that's what it is, the fact that we are literally getting to grow something and nurture it that feed That's the part of, I guess, feeding the soul.
00:07:22
Speaker
um the The teaching makes you feel the same way. Yeah. i Well, and as I'm, you know, all these copies are arriving and I'm getting ready to ship all the books out, I just keep thinking about how many people this is going to teach, how many people this is going to reach, um you know, how the rip like you said, the ripple effect, you know, that's going to, they're going to give their flowers away.
00:07:45
Speaker
Those flowers that that person receives is going to, you know, make their day. And you know, can just make a difference in somebody's life. So you never know, like, you know, what inspires them. um So yeah, it's, it's pretty amazing to think of, you know, just the the widespread love that a book that a book can, you know, reach a lot of people.
00:08:06
Speaker
And probably so many more than you'll ever know. Yeah. I hope so. I'm sure so. Well, you have been a flower farmer and you grow a lot of flowers, not just sweet peas.
00:08:19
Speaker
Tell us why a book on sweet peas or why a class on sweet peas, I guess, even going back to 2020.
Personal Connection to Sweet Peas
00:08:25
Speaker
Well, so looking back, you know when I was a little girl and my grandma you know had told me all about sweet peas and you know she was the mother of four boys.
00:08:34
Speaker
And so you know her house was you know full of like Boy Scouts and all the all the boy things um and not a lot of flowers. And because of where they lived, she wasn't able to grow them.
00:08:46
Speaker
But she had little touches in her handkerchiefs and you know she would tell me little stories about them and stuff. And I never... I mean, it wasn't something that I dwelled on in my adolescence, but when i you know, started my journey with flowers, it just, it clicked.
00:09:02
Speaker
Right. And so it just, my first inkling was, you know, to sow sweet peas. And those were the first seeds that I had sown as a budding flower farmer at the time. And so then, you know, fast forward a few months after I'd sown those seeds and, you know, I'm looking at the first flowers and it just, it made it,
00:09:22
Speaker
it all connected for me. i understood what she had been telling me so many years ago and, you know, as a little girl. And so I just absolutely loved them.
00:09:33
Speaker
And It was just an amazing an amazing full circle moment for me, ah to be honest with you. And so I just, I couldn't grow enough of them. So I started with a row and a half my first season.
00:09:47
Speaker
Then I went to five rows. And then you kind of know the story. um But they just have my heart. They just have my heart. i They're all so different, um but yet so similar.
00:10:01
Speaker
And so many people have such an amazing connection with them that it's just, there's just something magical about sweet peas. And they just, they're so rich in history. um So many people love them. They're just, they're so relatable.
00:10:14
Speaker
And I just, yeah, I just, every year I fall more and more and more in love with them. And even when I feel like I can't love them more than I do, you know, this season I'm preparing to fall even more than them. So, um but yeah, they're just, they're amazing flower that I just, I can't get enough of.
00:10:31
Speaker
You grow more sweet peas than any other flower. Is that safe to say? Yeah, I would say so. Yeah, we grew 32,000 sweet pea plants last year.
00:10:42
Speaker
Wow. That's a lot. Do you know how many you're going grow this year? um No, we're still sowing. ah and So, um you know, I always have a ah really detailed plan going into the season. And then by the end of seed sowing, I'm like, okay, maybe just a few more. Or, oh, maybe I'll try this one. Or I find seeds of, you know, a certain variety that I haven't grown before. So, um you know, i always allow myself a little bit of wiggle room. But ah yeah, I will definitely be at 32,000, not more this year.
00:11:11
Speaker
Wow. yeah and You have a big field. Yeah. I keep telling my husband, can you give me a few more rows? Can you give me a few more rows? Can I get a few more rows? Well, it seems like he's pretty good at complying with that.
00:11:25
Speaker
Yeah, he doesn't mind. and They're his favorite flower too. Oh, I love that. Yeah. So that's one of our favorite things to do you know during the season when they're blooming is you know that's our are nightly rituals. We'll you know walk around through the sweet peas and and stuff. So it's, it's fun to see them, you know, through his eyes as well.
00:11:44
Speaker
And, um, you know, it's not just me that's enamored with him. he he loves him just as much as I do. I think that's one of the neat things about actually getting to touch and see and feel flowers is that it's like growing up, I feel like girls were given flowers for certain things. But when you introduce anyone to flowers, everyone that comes in contact with flowers, I feel like it becomes enamored with them because how can you not? Like, I feel like I can smell your sweet peas just through the audio here.
00:12:16
Speaker
and When you talk about 32,000 sweet peas, Yeah, and it's pretty incredible. Can we go a little bit back in time? You mentioned that they have a strong history. Can you tell us a little bit about the history of sweet
History and Cultivation of Sweet Peas
00:12:28
Speaker
peas?
00:12:28
Speaker
Sure. um So they were founded by a Sicilian monk um named Francisco Copani. And a lot of people...
00:12:39
Speaker
you know, correlate sweet peas with being English, right? Because that's where a lot of them stem from, but they actually um came from the hills of Sicily. No way. ah Yeah. Yeah. Which was really incredible to read and, um you know, discover in my research. But um yeah, so I just, I had always thought that they were you know english English flowers, but they actually weren't. And so the varieties that the variety that he discovered all those years ago ah was actually a wild sweet pea. So it's very different than the sweet peas that we know of as today.
00:13:12
Speaker
um So it was a wild sweet pea, very short um and you know very different than you know your standard sweet peas. There's so many different species of sweet peas um out there. So you know we are all very familiar with the Spensers and the you know modern Grandifloras and all of those guys.
00:13:33
Speaker
um But there's so many different types of sweet peas that fall under that sweet pea umbrella. um But basically what he did was he saved some seed from those wild sweet peas And he sent them to um different, I guess you could call them flower friends at the time, um back in the 1700s, but um to different gardens in Europe.
00:13:54
Speaker
And that's where, you know, sweep the history of sweet peas actually started. And so those those seeds, you know, over the course of the years were, you know, sported and mutated and all those kinds of things. But it wasn't until like the eighteen hundred that they really started hybridizing and and playing around with breeding of sweet peas to what we know of as today.
00:14:15
Speaker
Interesting. So were were they originally used as a cut flower or a garden when he found these wild ones? What did they with them back then? Back then, they just grew on a hillside and they were very short. So they weren't, you know, what you and I would consider as cut flowers.
00:14:30
Speaker
ah But he was very intrigued by them um from what my, you know, I wish I could go back in time and actually talk to him. Wouldn't that be a cool interview but to to just really like pick his brain and see like what he actually thought of you know, these flowers that he found just on a, on a walk through the hills. But, um, so yeah, so he just does, he just saved those seeds cause he was a botanist.
00:14:51
Speaker
And so he was really involved in, you know, nature and flowers and plants and all those kinds of things. And so he just saved the seed and, and shipped them off to some friends and the rest is, the rest is history.
00:15:04
Speaker
Wow. So in the 1800s, when they started being cultivated for cut flowers. Yes. And did that start in England or where did that first come about? Do you know? ah That came from, so there was a um a man named Henry weckcker Eckford, excuse me, ah Henry Eckford, and he was actually from Scotland, but moved to England.
00:15:24
Speaker
And a lot of his breeding efforts, I mean, he's he's still... um known for, you know, some of those varieties that he bred in his very, very early days. And so he, ah kind of like what they call the godfather of sweet peas, so to speak. So a lot of, lot of his early, early, early work um from the late 1800s to early 1900s. And then, you know, ah the breeding efforts have been passed down.
00:15:49
Speaker
um You know, Roger Parsons is definitely, definitely high, high on um the list of sweet pea breeders. um Dr. Keith Hammett, ah Phil Johnson from English Sweep Peas.
00:16:02
Speaker
So it's just amazing to, you know, I was actually lucky enough to have Roger walk me through the breeding process when I was able to visit his garden in 2022. And so that was a very, very fun experience just to, you know, be right down in the flowers with him and showing me, you know, how new varieties are bred and created.
00:16:23
Speaker
So... That's so amazing that you got to experience that and meet Roger Parsons in person. He is so lovely. um Just such an amazing, you know, just not only friendly, but just so... um willing to share his knowledge, you know, and just, you know, here I am just coming over from America and he welcomed me with open arms and, you know, gave me a tour around the farm and showed me how to breed sweet peas and how they, you know, all of the things. And it was just a lovely afternoon. And, um, yeah, I'll forever be grateful, um, you know, for him and, and his, you know, knowledge, but yeah, it just,
00:17:06
Speaker
His, um what's the word I'm looking for? drawing a blank. But, oh, I mean, just his contributions to, you know, the flower. I mean, it's so many varieties that Roger has bred over the years.
00:17:19
Speaker
um You know, like i said, Dr. Keith Hammett as well has some amazing varieties. I wish I could get my hands on more of those from New Zealand. But um yeah, just those guys have just been working on, you know, creating new varieties for so many years, so many years. So, you know, for me to just kind of dabble into that, you know, I can't wait to see kind of what the future holds um for us here on the farm, but we'll, we'll see. Time will tell.
00:17:44
Speaker
Yeah. So I've got so many questions for you about the breeding process.
Scientific Breeding of Sweet Peas
00:17:50
Speaker
Is it like dahlias where the bees can help you pollinate them or is it very scientific?
00:17:56
Speaker
It's very scientific. i mean, we're talking tweezers and you know you've got to get them i to, honestly, they're in bud stage at the point where you want to cross them.
00:18:07
Speaker
Interesting. So it's very, very delicate, very, very intricate. And then, you know, just the of, you know, making that cross and then waiting for, you know, the seed to develop and collecting the seed. And, you know, mean, you're just talking one pod, you know, for the next season and then growing that out and observing it and, you know, seeing if those traits, you know, what comes out of it and, you know, seeing those traits and what, you know, is it going to be a Spencer? Is it going to be a Grandiflora? What is, you know,
00:18:36
Speaker
what What are the parents? You know, all of those observations that need to be made. um So it takes years and years for a sweet pea variety to come to market. And I think the last time you were on the podcast, you hinted at that you were doing a little bit of dabbling in the breeding yourself.
00:18:52
Speaker
Just a little bit. How many years? Just little bit. Time will tell. Have you had a chance to see any bloom that you have crossed? Not yet. not Not yet.
00:19:02
Speaker
Okay. Yeah. so I did some crosses this year. So we'll see you know what those crosses what you know what comes out of those crosses. But fingers crossed it's something good. That's exciting. So you probably have to be very selective and very particular on what you're crossing.
00:19:19
Speaker
Right. Because if you're only getting one seed pod, you might get, what, two to four seed pods? Yeah, you could get two, you could get eight, you just never know how many seeds you're going to get of the pod. But yeah, it could be little as one.
00:19:34
Speaker
Or you could go you know to all this effort and not even get anything. You know you just don't know. Interesting. Yeah. it's It's a number. Well, I'm sure it's a numbers game, but it's it's a much longer game. I'm trying to think of an example. I can't even think of any analogy of what it would be like.
00:19:51
Speaker
Because dahlia is the great thing. I think why so many of us can do it is because the bees help us. And especially on the open pollinated ones, you might get 40 seeds out of one seed pod. Right.
00:20:03
Speaker
Yeah. it's It's a very intricate process. and One that I was very intimidated to start, but I'm like, you know what? I'm just going to start. I'm just going to go with it. If it produces something great, if it doesn't produce anything, you know you learn from your mistakes and we're just we're just going to go with it. So we'll but we'll see what I came up with this year.
00:20:22
Speaker
Well, it's exciting that you're bringing the breeding to the U.S. Are there any breeders in the U.S. currently of sweet peas? Oh, goodness. um ah Not that I'm aware of. I'm sure there are out there.
00:20:35
Speaker
you know i mean it's just you know I'm sure there's people that are dabbling in it um and you know making crosses and stuff like that. They're just not saying anything. But um yeah, i there's got to be somebody in the U.S. that's doing it. i just I'm not aware of one.
00:20:51
Speaker
They're just so popular right now. i mean, i feel like so many people are trying to grow sweet peas in their gardens, which before I jump to that, I wanted to ask you, sticking with Roger Parsons real fast. Yeah.
00:21:04
Speaker
Did I hear you say this last year that you got to help him name a few varieties? So I actually purchased the naming rights for two of his varieties so that I could name them after my grandma's.
00:21:16
Speaker
Oh, love that. Yeah. So Beverly Ann and Ada Marie are both ah new varieties that came out he came out with in late 2024.
Sweet Pea Varieties and Their Legacy
00:21:28
Speaker
And those are named after my grandma. Yeah. So are you able to grow those on your farm? Yeah, I have both of them. Yeah. Yeah. and Is there potential that those could eventually be on your seed cell?
00:21:41
Speaker
That's the plan. ah Fingers crossed. Yeah. So I've already got, you know, those are already, I've did some fall sowing with those varieties just, you know, to see if I can beef those guys up and and get, get some more seed out of them. But, um, that's the plan.
00:21:57
Speaker
Fingers crossed. We'll see. Can you describe what they look like to us? Yes. So Beverly Ann is a really beautiful icy blue. It's an early flowering variety.
00:22:07
Speaker
um And it's a really just, it sparkles in the sunlight. It's just, it's very, very, very pale. um But I'm just totally enamored with that variety. And I was actually able to share that variety with my grandma before she passed away. So that was pretty special. So she got to see her flower.
00:22:24
Speaker
um so that was, yeah, yeah, that was a really special time. um And then Ada Marie is a really deep eggplant purple. It's a Spencer variety as well.
00:22:35
Speaker
And um yeah, I wasn't able to get as much seed of Ada Marie as I was of Beverly Ann. So I'll definitely, fingers crossed, I'll have Beverly Ann for sale, but Ada Marie, I'll probably have to work on that one for another year or two. Okay.
00:22:50
Speaker
Well, that's really exciting. oh And there's pictures of them in my book. Awesome. Yeah. Do you highlight individual varieties then in the book? Yeah. I highlight my, so the whole, um, back portion of the, um, of my book is in rainbow order.
00:23:07
Speaker
she love your rainbows i know, I know. Um, so it's a rainbow order. And then we also have, you know, we have a featured variety within every colorway. And then we also have supporting varieties. So I have my favorite variety within that color, but color palette.
00:23:21
Speaker
And then we have six supporting characters, um, for, that's for each other So yeah, very exciting. That's awesome. So we were saying how flower, not just flowers, flowers in general are gaining popularity, it feels like these days with gardeners, but sweet peas in particular, I feel like are having kind of this moment in the spotlight, which is perfect timing for your book.
00:23:45
Speaker
Can anyone grow sweet peas? So that I think there's a huge misconception, um you know, out there that not everyone can grow them. And there are some, you know, environments so to where, you you know, that are really warm to where it would be definitely, you know, challenging um to grow them.
00:24:03
Speaker
But I think... you know, given the right information and the right varieties and the right timing can make such a huge difference in the success of your sweet peas. So let's say, you know, you're down in the South where it gets really hot really quickly.
00:24:18
Speaker
You're definitely going to want to fall sow your sweet peas and you're going to want to grow those early multiflora varieties so you can actually give, get a leg up on that heat and kind of beat mother nature at her own game, I like to say.
00:24:29
Speaker
um So a lot of people just think, you know, they see these Spencers and, you know, they, they grab the, they get the seeds and they start the seeds and then they're not successful because they're living in a more challenging environment. And so they kind of give up on sweet peas where if, you know, they started their stuff, their seeds at the right time, grew those early flowering varieties, they would be, you know, a lot more successful with those. So that was another, you know, goal with my book was, you know, really teaching people you know, how to grow them so that they can, you know, really, you know, experience sweet peas um for themselves.
00:25:04
Speaker
Because so many people are like, I got, you know, my plants look great. They, you know, grew great, but I just didn't get any flowers, you know, because it just got too hot.
00:25:16
Speaker
So just because they like it cool. So there's definitely some more challenging environments, but, you know, sweet peas can be grown and in a lot of different environments for sure. What environments do they thrive in? Like, is there an ideal growing climate for them?
00:25:32
Speaker
We're pretty lucky here in the Pacific Northwest, you know, and again, England as well. You know, we have similar, similar climates. um We pretty much have the ideal climate for, you know, growing sweet peas. So we're, you know, very, very lucky in that aspect.
00:25:47
Speaker
um But, you know, like I said, if you know, you know, what it's all in the timing. It's all in the timing. And I think, you know, a lot of people kind of, you know, tend to get caught up in social media because we're seeing what other people are doing, you know, but we're not, we're not seeing like, you know, their growing conditions and, you know, what, what growing zone are they in? Are they in an unheated hoop house? Are they putting their stuff outside? There's so many different variables, you know, when growing your sweet peas, um you know, that, you know, a lot of people don't consider.
00:26:16
Speaker
So I really, you know, try to tell people, Don't get caught up in what you're seeing. Concentrate on what you have available to you, what zone you're in and what is going to be successful for you.
00:26:29
Speaker
I think that's such great advice because especially this time of year, i mean, we're talking, well, we're pre-recording this in end of January. And like, if I go on social media right now, there are so many people sowing plants or even planting them out in their fields.
00:26:45
Speaker
And it's 19 degrees for me. And so when I look online, I'm like, I'm so behind and I feel discouraged, but really Especially with building out a new farm right now, I can't do any of that.
00:26:57
Speaker
And I'd be just killing the plants and wasting my time if I was sowing things now. I mean, right I could probably if I was able to grow them this year, I'll definitely be buying sweet peas when you next year once I have some space built out for them.
00:27:09
Speaker
Yeah, it's so easy to get, you know, you see like for Instagram, for example, you know, you see that, you know, people are showing like their greenhouses and they're full of these seedlings and stuff like that, but really take into account, you know, are they heating the greenhouse? Do you have a greenhouse? What zone are they in? When are they going to be planting them out in the field?
00:27:28
Speaker
I mean, even for me and you, I mean, we're, you know, pretty much in the same, in the same zone, but You know, I, even myself, I caught myself feeling this morning, like, oh I'm behind.
00:27:39
Speaker
I'm not behind at all. You know, it just, and sweet peas are the only thing that I'm sewing right now and that I'm totally on track, but it's easy to get, you know, caught up in that. um But also that can set you up for success or failure, right? So if you're starting your stuff way too soon, that's not good.
00:27:56
Speaker
And if you're starting your stuff way too late, that's not good either. So really knowing your zone is just crucial. Yeah, yeah that's great advice.
00:28:07
Speaker
It was so good to hear you say that you haven't started anything other than the sweet peas either, because that makes me feel like I'm not behind because I almost can't even look on the stories right now because i'm like, oh, everyone's sewing and I have nothing going right now.
00:28:21
Speaker
Yeah, no, i've I've only done sweet peas. Oh, and I've got some trays of larkspur. But other than that, I mean, every year I tell myself I'm going to get on the Hardy annual train. I'm going to, you know, do stuff in the fall. And it just, you know, it gets away from me and I never do. And I'm just like, you know what? It's totally fine.
00:28:39
Speaker
It's going to, you know, don't get caught up. Just concentrate on what you're doing. And, you know, everything's great. Well, I think that's such a good reminder, too, is that when you focus on what you're doing,
00:28:51
Speaker
You can stay on track because like for you, you grow for seed production now mostly. And right you have two big crops. Am I correct? Yes. Vallejas and sweet peas.
00:29:03
Speaker
So you probably don't need to be seeds. a thousand, I'm trying to even think what I might be sowing right now, like Sweet William, for example. Yeah. um Because you're not going to be growing and selling to wholesale as much as you were previously now that your business model has changed. Is that correct?
00:29:20
Speaker
Right. Yeah. so you know, we grow mostly for seed. Yeah. we grow here on the farm whether it's cut or you know sweet peas um you know dahlia were mostly growing for the tubers um so yeah it's just it kind of takes the pressure off of that a little bit i mean i still have a really rigid seat sewing schedule But especially at this time of the year, you know, it's so early and it's, it's way for us anyways, it's way too early to start any of that stuff, you know, unless you've overwintered things or, you know, you have a greenhouse or, you know, whatever you have at your disposal. So, yeah. So it's just, I'm just keeping my eye on the prize and just kind of, you know, I don't want to deter from, you know, I know what we have in store for us in 2025.
00:30:07
Speaker
And I don't want to deter from that plan, right? So it's just, if I can just keep my blinders on, you know, everybody's kind of got their own thing. So I'm just keeping my blinders on and just, you know, I don't want to be like,
00:30:20
Speaker
you know, granted, like you see somebody's, you know, story or whatever, and you're just like, oh, that's cool. But then, you know, that and kind of deep, you don't, I don't want to deviate. I've got way too much going on in 2025.
00:30:31
Speaker
So, so yeah, so I'm good where we're at. we're We're good. We're good. That's really good advice. It kind of leads me to my next question for you, because you mentioned about not deviating and having a plan for those that are listening to our conversation today that do want to grow sweet peas this year.
00:30:51
Speaker
How do they go about choosing the right varieties for their climate and their garden?
Practical Growing Advice for Sweet Peas
00:30:57
Speaker
Do you have any tips on that? Yeah. so depending on what your growing zone is.
00:31:03
Speaker
So if you are in, you know, I would say nine and 10, you've probably missed your window. Well, actually, I'm not going to say probably you've missed your window. um Just because for you guys even to be able to grow sweet peas, they need to be, you know, sown in the fall.
00:31:20
Speaker
And you need to grow those early flowering varieties. Now, when you get into the kind of the 8A and 8B, which is crazy for us because you and I are, are you 8B?
00:31:33
Speaker
I'm seven. And with my new firm, I might even be closer to six. Okay. So we're here. Okay. here But Texas is also 8B. And I'm like, you can't even, i mean, the environments are completely, completely different.
00:31:49
Speaker
But if you follow the, you know, the 8B rule, you know, we can fall sew, we can early winters sew, we can, you know, late winter sew pretty much.
00:31:59
Speaker
You know, they need to sew in the fall. And they need to grow the early flowering varieties as well. ah Now, if you're zone three, you know, you can't fall sow at all.
00:32:11
Speaker
And you're going to have to, you know, sow your stuff a lot later than us. And also, it really depends on, you know, are you growing them in a greenhouse? Are you growing them, you know, are you going to direct sow?
00:32:22
Speaker
You know, all those different variables as to when you're when you're actually starting your seeds? Can you give them a little bit of protection if you're in zone three? Or are you going to direct sow them? Because if you're in zone three, you're not going to be able to direct sow them, you know, until later in the season. So it's really knowing your zone um specifically. And then once you know your zone and what your timing looks like,
00:32:45
Speaker
then if you're you know on those in those hotter climates, I would definitely recommend growing some of those early flowering varieties, ah you know just so, like I said earlier, because they only take 10 to 11 hours of sunlight to induce the bloom cycle, whether, you know versus your standard Spencer. So that's, a you know after talking to you know a lot of my students,
00:33:05
Speaker
you know, a lot of them haven't been successful because, you know, their timing was right, but they actually grew the Spencer varieties instead of the early flowerings. And so their vines are beautiful, but they never got flowers before they started petering out.
00:33:17
Speaker
Whereas if they would have grown the early flowering varieties, this is a lot of information. No, this is great. They would have started with, you know, the early flowering varieties then, you know, they would have definitely seen flowers and been more successful.
00:33:29
Speaker
So it's all about, you know, knowing what varieties are going to be, you know, successful for you, knowing your zone and also, you know, kind of playing with, you know, I like to say, you know, if you do get those hotter climates or, you know, you want to extend your season a little bit, think about giving them some afternoon shade.
00:33:47
Speaker
You know, sweet peas can have full sun, but also if you live in one of those hotter climates where you're going to get, you know, a lot of afternoon heat, see if you can find them a location where they can, you know, handle some of those, you know, some of that shade and give them a reprieve from the heat and it will definitely extend your season. They will thank you for it.
00:34:06
Speaker
So, you know, there's a, like i said, there's a lot of different, you know, variables that come into play with, you know, your environment, the different varieties, you know, and t toying around with, you know, what works for you. And so that was a lot of my, um ah also a lot of my thought behind the book was, you know, trying to help people be more successful with,
00:34:24
Speaker
their flowers so they wouldn't give up on them. That's great advice because it can be discouraging. Like think my first time trying to grow them, I want to say but it was probably May that I sowed the seeds, which was way too late.
00:34:38
Speaker
And when you just said the varieties, I'm pretty sure they were Spencer varieties that I sowed that very first year. So no wonder I had terrible success. I had some greenery and then the aphids attacked them and I and don't know if I got any flowers that season.
00:34:50
Speaker
So that makes sense. So if someone is listening right now that's in growing zones 9 or 10 and it's late winter now, If they've already bought seeds, can they store those seeds till next year?
00:35:05
Speaker
oh absolutely. Absolutely. Sweet pea seeds, if they're stored correctly, will last years in a freezer. So I just tell people, if you've already got seeds, don't start them. you know If you're in zones nine or 10 and it's way too late for you to start, um don't waste your seeds.
00:35:22
Speaker
Put them in a Ziploc baggie and put them in your freezer. And just forget about them until October or November. And then then start your seeds because you're going to be way more successful and you're not going to waste waste your seeds.
00:35:35
Speaker
But yeah, they will last a really long time if they're stored correctly. That's good to know. So my seeds that I've saved from my last farm, I could put in my freezer and oh yeah some of those next year. I've got like four or five varieties, so I'll need to add a few more varieties.
00:35:50
Speaker
um But I always tell people, you know, save your seeds. Sweet pea seeds are really easy to save. You know, it's an investment in next year's garden, right? So if you have all of these seeds, don't feel like you have to use them that first that first season.
00:36:02
Speaker
You know, whatever you don't use, put it in the freezer and you can use it the next time. That's great advice. Thank you. Oh, yeah. um I'm sure that lots of people that are listening today are either wanting to improve their sweet pea growing or are eager to grow them for the first time.
Debunking Misconceptions About Sweet Peas
00:36:23
Speaker
Can you go over what are some of the common misconceptions about growing sweet peas? I think the number one thing that people, the number one mistake that I see people making is they start them too warm and they don't give them enough light.
00:36:40
Speaker
So many people that I talk to have these, you know, really tall, lanky sweet peas. And, you know, with the sweet peas, slow and steady wins the race, right? You want your plants to be stocky and you want them to be short. You do not want them to be, you know, you don't want them to be basketball players.
00:36:56
Speaker
Right. So, you know, you're just kind of setting them up for, you know, failure. You want to start them off on the right foot. And I think in, you know, as a human being, it's just kind of human nature to want to nurture, you know, these plants, you know, we're tucking our seeds in the soil and all of those things and, you know, keeping them warm.
00:37:13
Speaker
Sweet peas do not like it warm. That is the number one misconception I think, you know, with sweet peas is people start them way too hot. I've seen people put them on heat mats. um You know, they're they're under these hot grow lights and these, you know, warm plants.
00:37:28
Speaker
grow rooms and all this kind of stuff. Sweet peas like it cool. And so 50 to 55 degrees is ideal for germination. And then as soon as though you see, they look kind of like little snake heads when they, you know, pop through the soil, right?
00:37:41
Speaker
These little tiny serpents. And so as soon as I see that, you know, they've, they've reached the soil level, I get them out into my unheated greenhouse.
00:37:52
Speaker
And that's where they grow all, you know, the rest of the winter or the rest of the, you know, so I have two different sowing. So I do my fall sowing and then I do my next round, which is what's happening now on the farm.
00:38:03
Speaker
um But as soon as they germinate, they go out into my unheated greenhouse and that is where they stay. I do not put frost cloth on them. I let them grow cold and they are just fine. So for example, ah last year we got down to single digits and it was, you know, low teens, but I put frost cloth on them then um in my unheated greenhouse, but ah it was so cold that they literally froze in their seed trays The plants were like literally crunchy.
00:38:34
Speaker
um And within two hours of, you know, I was kind of like this devil on one shoulder and like the angel on the other. Right. So I had, you know, the teacher in me was telling me, you know, it's going to be fine.
00:38:45
Speaker
Your plants are going to be fine. But, you know, that grower in you just instantly kind of panics when you see frozen plants. Right. Um, but it, within a few hours, they were right as rain and you would have never known that they were frozen, you know, just a few hours before that.
00:38:59
Speaker
So grown cold sweet peas are such stronger plants. Their root systems are stronger. The cell walls are, you know, of the leaves and of the plant itself are so much stronger.
00:39:11
Speaker
So there you'll be way more successful when you grow your sweet peas cold. So I know that goes kind of against everything when we're, you know, doing all these, you know, starting tomatoes and just all of these different plants, you know, that need to be warm.
00:39:23
Speaker
Sweet peas are definitely different in the aspect where they do not need to be warm. They actually like it cool. What about the water? Do they have to be soaked in water?
00:39:35
Speaker
I mean, you see so many people putting like glass jars on their countertops and each vari variety is labeled in cups. That's not... No. In fact, it's so funny because when I see that on Instagram, I'm like, inside, I'm like, no, don't soak your seeds.
00:39:49
Speaker
Now, it's a huge topic in the sweet pea world, you know, to soak or not to soak. Now, for people that are just religious about soaking, I'm not poo-pooing on the soaking at all. If that works for you, that's great.
00:40:02
Speaker
um But It's an unnecessary step for me. And if, you know, when I'm growing 32,000 plants, like if I can just put a seed in the dirt, give it a good drink and it's done, like I can skip that step.
00:40:14
Speaker
Right. And not only can, is it unnecessary because, you know, there's this, there's this, you know, common thought process that because sweet pea seeds have a really thick shell,
00:40:25
Speaker
that they need to be soaked in order to soften the shell and you get faster germination that way. um It actually reduces the germination rate and can also introduce bacteria and and fungus to your seeds.
00:40:37
Speaker
So, you know, like I said, if there's been studies that have been done about it, you know, all those kinds of things. So I'm just, if I'm of, you know, work smarter, not harder. So if I can, like I said earlier, if I can just put a a seed in the dirt, I'm going to do it.
00:40:53
Speaker
So, um, but like I said, there's people that are just, you you know, it's always worked for them. I'm not, to I'm not saying, you know, that you to change that, I guess I should say, but I personally don't soak my seeds.
00:41:08
Speaker
Um, never have. So, um, yeah, it's just, it's easier that way. And it's, you know, you can skip a step. So, um, Yeah, but that's my thought on that. 32,000 seats. I can't even imagine how many jars that would take up on your countertops. Yeah, I've, you know, I've i've learned that it, like I said, it's, it's, I posted about it in my Instagram before.
00:41:33
Speaker
i have pretty strong feelings about not soaking. You know, some people have pretty strong feelings about soaking. So I just, you know, whatever works for you. That's just kind of my my thing. And, you know, if people want to know how I do it, I don't soak.
00:41:47
Speaker
And, you know, like I said, whatever works for you. Well, I know I took your advice. And the last time I grew sweet peas, I didn't soak them. And I had great germination. And it saved a step. And I'm like, as a busy farmer and a mom, yeah if I can eliminate a step, I'm all for it if I'm going to have the same success rates.
00:42:07
Speaker
Right. And with sweet peas, you actually, you know, a lot of people think, like I said earlier, that soaking the seeds will actually speed up the germination, but slow and steady wins the race in sweet peas.
00:42:18
Speaker
Like you don't want to rush anything, right? Ideal 10 to 14 is when you'll see germination with sweet pea seeds. You know, there's some that will see germination in, you know, they're like, I've soaked and I've seen germination in, you know, three days. And then they're sending me photos and their seedlings are like, you know, this tall and lanky and, you know, they're, they're going to put them outside and they're just going to get wind whipped and not be successful. So um short and stocky, but just you you want your plants short and stocky and slow and steady wins the race.
00:42:51
Speaker
That's good advice. I love that. What about pinching them? ke I've been seeing a lot of videos lately of people pinching them to multiply. Yeah. So if you fall sow your sweet peas, you actually do not have to pinch them.
00:43:07
Speaker
They will naturally branch on their own. And when they're grown cold, um you know, they'll they'll do all of that for you. um You know, the thought process behind pinching is that you want to speed up, you know, especially if, you know, your fault you're not sewing until, you know, February or whatever.
00:43:23
Speaker
um you would definitely want to pinch your plants at that time. um So fall sowing, you don't have to pinch. If you're going to plant them any other time, definitely pinch your plants. Now, one of the ways that you can also multiply your stock.
00:43:36
Speaker
So for anybody that, you know, received King's Ransom this year specifically, um that is a pretty, you know, hot sweet pea right now. But if you, you can get more bang for your buck by taking cuttings.
00:43:49
Speaker
of of sweet peas. And it's really easy to do. You just take your cuttings from pinching them, put them in a little, you know, a bottle of water and let them, let that stem soak in that water. And it'll, you'll see within, i would say 10 days, 10 to 12 days, you should start to see roots and then um just plant those in the dirt and you can multiply your stock really easily and inexpensively.
00:44:16
Speaker
And it's, it's a great, it's a great thing to do. Wait, so you're just cutting it, putting it in a cup of water. and then when the roots start forming, so there's no guessing. You can see the roots. You can see the roots.
00:44:27
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. just put it yeah you put it just You can use just any little jar that you have, like a tiny little bud vase or anything like that. Just take your pinchings and then put them in water.
00:44:38
Speaker
And um yeah, you'll see the roots start growing in 10 to 12 days. And then you can just go ahead and plant those in soil. And you've doubled your stock just like that. um Really easy to do. Yeah.
00:44:50
Speaker
Now, if only dahlias were that easy. I know.
00:44:54
Speaker
Yeah. no sweet peas are really, really easy. So like I said, if you get your hands on, you know, like King's Ransom, Juliet, any varieties that, you know, are really hard to find, it's a no brainer, right? You just, when you pinch them, you take those cuttings, put them in water, and then just, you know, plant those when it's time.
00:45:14
Speaker
Thank you for that tip.
Sweet Peas in Bouquets
00:45:15
Speaker
What about, because I know most people listening to this podcast like to make bouquets, what flowers do you like to grow that bloom about the same time as sweet peas that you can use in arrangements together?
00:45:27
Speaker
Oh my goodness. um Okay, so early flowering varieties... will bloom and about the same time as Mother's Day usually.
00:45:39
Speaker
um So you've got, you know, peonies, um, you you know, ranunculus, I'm totally drawn, you know, all of those. Yeah. I was like, uh, I'm trying to envision one of my arrangements.
00:45:52
Speaker
Um, just all of those like may type flowers, like GM, Columbine. Um, if you, so you know, got anemones, if those are planted outside, just, yeah. So you can put those in with those.
00:46:06
Speaker
Um, and then there's out in the field, ah July is like prime time, sweet pea time. So from the beginning of July till I would say about the third week of July, They are just, you know, primo, i you know, ideal.
00:46:20
Speaker
Now for us, that's when they start kind of starting to set seed, I would say the late third week, early fourth week, end of July. um So they start to kind of wear a little bit just because I...
00:46:33
Speaker
hardly ever cut my sweet peas. The only time that I ever cut my sweet peas is for, you know, if I need a photo for our website. But other than that, I i don't cut or so our sweet pea plants just because, you know, we're growing for seed.
00:46:46
Speaker
um But they are cut and come again. So for, you know, a lot of other people that are continuously cutting their flowers, they're continually, you know, regenerating themselves. So, I mean, you'll get anything that's blooming, anything that's in your garden in July and August.
00:47:02
Speaker
So you could have them with dahlias even. Oh, yeah. So there's definitely... Like last year, i had um we had 12 rows in our, the last time you were up to the farm.
00:47:14
Speaker
So yeah where we started in the reds, like those first 12 rows were all sweet peas this year. So I had, you know, my purples. So I actually started my rainbow and my dahlia field backwards this year so that the purple dahlias were butted up with the purple sweet peas.
00:47:30
Speaker
oh And I had blooms at the same time. It was beautiful. It was beautiful. So you going to do that again this year? ah We'll see. but I'm trying to i'm figure out, I mean, honestly, i don't I've always really sheltered my sweet peas. They're tucked on the side of my barn.
00:47:49
Speaker
um They're behind a fence, you know just all those things just because they're my babies, right? And I've just been so nervous about them. So I've never put them out into the main field until this last season. And i was completely...
00:48:03
Speaker
enamored with them being out in the main field this year. It was just, I thought people stopped by the farm a lot just to look at the dahlias. There were 10 times as many people that stopped by the farm. to look at this, the sweet peas.
00:48:15
Speaker
My favorite, my favorite was um one of those vans from one of our local nursing homes. Oh, and they literally, it was the sweetest thing, Jen. They literally parked on the side of the road and um you know, they opened the doors and it was just, you know, all these little, you little old ladies that were in there and they were just completely just tickled to see so many sweet peas. It was, it was the best thing.
00:48:39
Speaker
But, but Yeah, I will never not grow the sweet peas out in the field, in the main field again. It was, i'm ah you know, I'm sorry, dahlias, but I had to push the dahlias down a little bit.
00:48:52
Speaker
But um yeah, but it was absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing being out in the field. So um so but we'll see. We'll see what this year entails. and Let's just clarify. You're not open to the public to just come walk through your fields. So they were seeing through the fence. Yeah. The sweet peas just randomly showing up.
00:49:11
Speaker
Yeah. And I felt so bad because by, you know, I was doing something else in the greenhouse. So by the time I saw them, you know, they had been there a little while. And so then when I went out there, you know, they had to get back and, you know, couldn't stay. But had had I known, I mean, I would have just, you know, moved heaven and earth to be able to accommodate them. But it was it was the sweetest thing, you know. And so um it was fun to hear, you know, their stories about, you know, sweet peas and and stuff, you know, growing up.
00:49:37
Speaker
But um yeah, it was it was a lot of fun. I bet those would have been some amazing stories to hear, too. Oh, that's why I was so bummed. I was like, you know, you guys need to come back. So they're going to come back, you know, this this year.
00:49:49
Speaker
So, yeah, we'll be able to host them again. But I love that. Yeah. I mean, stories like that. That's honestly the unexpected amazing. has been just the biggest gift in my journey with flowers.
00:50:05
Speaker
um You know, my book was unexpected. Teaching classes was unexpected. You know, sharing my love of flowers. You know, I, when I started growing flowers, I wanted to do farmer's markets and weddings and, you know, those kinds of things. And I don't do any of that any anymore. It's just, um know it's it's been ah real, you know, ah real joy seeing, seeing everything kind of unfold for us. Yeah.
00:50:29
Speaker
What do you think has been the most surprising thing in your journey that you've least expected? The book for sure. Really? The book. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, to get me to write a book report in high school, I mean, that did not happen. um English was not my strong suit.
00:50:48
Speaker
But, you know, so that's why when my student said, have you ever thought about writing a book? It was instant terror, you know, just the thought. And then once I kind of simmered on it a little bit, I was like, you know what?
00:51:01
Speaker
you know what, I'm just, I'm, I'm, let's see where this thing takes me. And there was so much energy and so much, you know, great feedback from the classes because, you know, the in-person classes turned into online classes.
00:51:15
Speaker
And so I've been able to reach so many more people online and teach, you know, to people that have attended from all over the world. And now, you know, we're taking that and turning it into a book and, you know, it's going to go, it's going global.
00:51:29
Speaker
Um, so yeah, that has been the biggest surprise by far. And just seeing how much, um, it just excitement and how ah much it fills my cup just to share my love of flowers, um, you know, with people, not just the flowers themselves, but just, you know, my knowledge and just my love for them. Um, yeah, it's, it's, it's,
00:51:55
Speaker
It's been good for the soul. that's That's a great way to put it. Well, I'm so excited for you. i would love to know, have there been any challenges while you've been writing the book?
00:52:09
Speaker
um Or do we need another episode for that? need another episode for that. um No, honestly...
00:52:18
Speaker
the biggest challenge for me was um doubting myself, if that makes any sense. oh and
00:52:29
Speaker
You know, they're definitely, mean, doubting myself and just having this love for flowers and knowing, you know, knowing about sweet peas and being able to teach about sweet peas and, you know, share my story with sweet peas, but also just that,
00:52:49
Speaker
that little, that little, you know, that little devil on your shoulder. That's just like, you know, you can't do this, you know, what, you know, all this kind of stuff and just trying to ah talk myself out of that.
00:53:00
Speaker
Um, and just really trying to keep my blinders on and believe in myself, believe in the process and, you know, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. It was the, by far the hardest thing that I've ever done.
00:53:16
Speaker
The hardest thing that I've ever done. um is is to write a book. It was eye-opening, just the experience and, um you know, just all the steps and how long, you know, it takes. But then, you know, once I,
00:53:34
Speaker
was connected with my publisher and got the contract and all those kinds of things, you know, they're like, okay, so pub date is, you know, February of 25. And I'm like, that's two years away. And, you know, it's here. It's so crazy how fast it goes. Yeah.
00:53:51
Speaker
So, um, that was the hardest part for me, you know, was, was the self doubt and, you know, just trying to, um I don't want to say talk myself out of that, but you know, it's just, um, yeah, I, I drank a lot of tea and ate a lot of scones and a lot of trying to like, you know, channel my inner, my inner English garden, um, you know, trying to write the book, lots of classical music.
00:54:23
Speaker
Um, but yeah, it was that, that girl that didn't want to write a book report. Just wrote a book. ah And look at you now. i i appreciate your honesty with that. I think doubt is something that we all struggle with.
00:54:39
Speaker
My affirmation today, actually, that I wrote down on paper was, I can turn doubt into determination. There you go. That's perfectly said. Yes, because lisa because the thing is, is that whether you're wanting to write a book or you're wanting to start a flower farm or you're wanting to take on a new challenge, every one of us has that doubt, that little devil, like you said, on our shoulder that's telling you, you're not capable of this. You're not worthy of this. You can't do this.
00:55:09
Speaker
But then at the same time, you look and see these other people that are successful. So for me, like I can say, Marin did this. Marin grew these beautiful sweet peas. Look at her dahlia field. And you can also have the mindset, if she can do this, why can't I?
00:55:24
Speaker
and then you can empower yourself. And look at you now, like two years, you said, went by in the blink of an eye. and you this incredible book and this incredible gift for the flower world to enjoy now.
00:55:36
Speaker
So I think that's a really powerful story. I appreciate your vulnerable. I can't even say that word.
00:55:44
Speaker
I appreciate your honesty and willingness to share that feeling because yeah, it was hard. And honestly, you know, now that you say that it's, it's,
00:55:56
Speaker
almost the same scenario as when I left corporate America and started flower farming. It was, you know, I felt like I was kind of on the edge of this cliff and I could, you know, feel my toes, you know, kind of dangling off the edge and, you know, was I going to jump or you know, was I going to stay and, you know,
00:56:16
Speaker
it was kind of the same scenario. And so again, you know, like you said earlier, just being very determined. and I'm extremely determined when I get, you know, something in my head. And um so I just kind of had to trudge through, trudge through that. And I think, you know, it's,
00:56:33
Speaker
part of the process, right? You know, it's it's normal to have those doubts and and, you know, those thoughts and kind of those those feelings kind of creep in from time to time. And so that was the hardest part. You know, I could i could write the words, I could teach it, I could you know, share the stories and, you know, share my love of flowers and all those kinds of things. But it's, it was, it was that, it was that, that really kind of, there were days where I was just like, okay, you know, but, um, I'm glad I did it.
00:57:04
Speaker
I'm so glad I did it. And i as soon as I finished, I did a video and I posted it on my stories on Instagram and just tears just streaming down my face.
00:57:19
Speaker
And it was such, like, I closed my laptop and I was like, wow, that last period, you know, like, you know, on those TV shows where they're writing the end, you know, I feel like I wrote the end.
00:57:33
Speaker
And it was like, holy smokes. Like, i just did that. I just did that. You know, now then it had to go through all the editing and all of that. sure but But, you know, just saying, you know, putting that period at the end and just, yeah, it was it was amazing. So every part of the process has just been, you know, one step closer to.
00:57:56
Speaker
you know, to getting it into my hands. So, you know, you've got the digital versions and then all the editing and placing all the photos and, you know, just all of those kinds of things and just step by step by step by step by step. And so, you know, when people say that they've poured their heart into her heart and soul into, it you know, these projects, they truly have.
00:58:16
Speaker
They truly have. I mean, I gave every piece of me that I possibly could to this book. And I'm really proud of it.
00:58:27
Speaker
So I can't wait for you to read it. I'm so excited. i cannot wait to get a copy of it um and have your signature on it. I purchased from your website, so I get your signature. um can say, i I know this lady. Thank you. And I'm so proud of you.
00:58:43
Speaker
oh thank you. ah You said something there. You said that the process went so quickly. What seemed really daunting went really quickly. And I think that's so true of so many things. Like we're always so focused on getting to the finish line, but there's this journey ah along the way. And I think that's one of the things that's so beautiful about flowers is they're fleeting and they're here for a moment.
00:59:09
Speaker
Especially sweet peas. Sweet peas are one of those really fleeting flowers. So Knowing that sweet peas only last for a short while, how do you handle that fleeting nature of what you're growing?
Appreciating Fleeting Beauty
00:59:27
Speaker
And what does it teach you? Or what has it taught you about appreciating the moment? So when I started flower farming, i mean, there was so much to do, right? So much infrastructure to get established. You know, you've got all of the beds that need to be, you know, put together. I mean, just all the things that need to be done.
00:59:46
Speaker
And I've just been go go go go go go, go, go, go for the last shoot, six years, you know? And so this year, I actually gave myself the gift of time.
01:00:02
Speaker
And i allowed my, this was my most, this was by far the most emotional that I have ever been during the season.
01:00:13
Speaker
And it was because I allowed myself that gift of time to just really soak it all in. Right. You know, when you work so hard to achieve something and then you stop and you turn around and you look and you're like, I did that.
01:00:29
Speaker
you know, and walking through the flowers and, um you know, not just running from one thing to the next, you know, and, you know, the beds are established now.
01:00:40
Speaker
um You know, everything was, everything was planted. um You know, there wasn't a greenhouse to put up. There wasn't a well to dig. There wasn't, you know, just all of these projects.
01:00:50
Speaker
And it was just me and my family and the flowers. And, it just really, really brought into focus just slowing down a little bit and giving myself the time to enjoy it um because it is And honestly, and looking back, like, you know, I lost my grandma in February of 23 and 2023 was a really hard year for me. That was actually the year that I wrote the book.
01:01:21
Speaker
And Um, it was just a really hard season for me. Um, just emotionally, mentally, physically, you you know, just going from one huge project to the next.
01:01:32
Speaker
And so in 2024, you know, I finally feel like I grieved her loss, if that makes any sense and allowed myself a space to do that.
01:01:48
Speaker
Um, And so I would just go out there and just like, you know, especially growing her sweet bee, right? You know, standing in the row with her sweet bee and, you know, just allowing myself to feel that, you know, that emotion and and um just how how beautiful everything is.
01:02:08
Speaker
You know, how important it is to really stop and take a look around and just soak in things. There's so much... beauty just in nature in general, right? And it's so good for the soul.
01:02:22
Speaker
It's so good in any aspect of life, whether you're a flower farmer or not, or you know whatever you do for a living, just allowing yourself the gift of time to slow down and really just savor those moments.
01:02:35
Speaker
um you know That was the lesson that I took away from 2024. you know twenty twenty four it was the first time that i'd really just allowed myself that time. And it was so important and it was so precious and it made me fall in love with things even more. Um, it made me more, it made me more appreciative of what we've accomplished.
01:03:03
Speaker
And, um
01:03:07
Speaker
You know, it's not just about checking off the to-do list. You know, those are important, yes, but it's not just about checking off the to-do list. You know, allowing yourself, you know, taking care of yourself, um allowing yourself the space that you need.
01:03:22
Speaker
And, you know, I get to do this. You know, I get to do this um every day. I think to myself, I get to do this, even on the hard days.
01:03:33
Speaker
It's such a gift. It's such a gift. So, um, yeah, so 2024 was a really, ah really good year, ah really good year for me, um, to, you know, rest and recover and, um, rejoice and, um, yeah, so I'm looking forward to what lessons we learn in 2025.
01:03:54
Speaker
I love that. One thing that my coach has been talking to me a lot about lately is really valuing time and the journey, but being present.
01:04:06
Speaker
And one of the things we were talking about is how the thing that's so neat about flowers is to truly experience the beauty of the flowers. You have to be present in the moment.
01:04:17
Speaker
Like you literally have to stop and look at those flowers and make yourself present. And that beauty is fleeting. It's not going to stick around. So if you don't stop in that moment, you're not going to get to enjoy that. So I think that's so beautiful that you gave yourself that gift last year. And I hope you can find a little bit of time this year too.
01:04:35
Speaker
Well, it's so funny because I was looking back at, you know, all the, you know, content, you know, that we, you know, have to create and, you know, share and all those kinds of things. And I actually, this, this year I took the least amount of photos.
01:04:52
Speaker
Really? Yep. Yep. And i was i was just like, wow. It was because I was in that, like you said, i was present in the moment. I mean, there were so many times that I actually didn't even take my phone out into the field with me, which I usually do.
01:05:08
Speaker
But I was just like, no, this is for me. this, you know, this is, this is for me, this is this is my time in, you know, this is my, this is my morning with my coffee, yeah you know, and, um you know, wanting to share and wanting to share the, you know, the beauty of what we're doing and,
01:05:26
Speaker
you know, share the farm and all those kinds of things. Um, but also, you know, just really kind of taking a little bit of a, li my foot off the gas, just a little bit.
01:05:37
Speaker
And just, you know, those special moments for me and for us as our family. And, um, yeah, it is, it's fleeting and I'm watching my kids and they're just shooting up like weeds, you know, and,
01:05:51
Speaker
Uh, yeah, I mean, i look at so yeah it happened so fast. I'm like, I'm looking at my age and I'm like, holy smokes, when did we get, when did we get here?
01:06:02
Speaker
You know, it just goes so fast. It goes so fast. And this is the one life you have. And, you know, I just want to enjoy it. um just want to enjoy it. So, so that's, that's the, you know, trying to enjoy it and share it and savor it.
01:06:18
Speaker
And, you know, just all of the things. Yes. Oh, that's so lovely. And I'm so glad to hear that you're taking that time because you have so much going on with this book launch and so many people that you are talking to and appearances that you're showing up at with different book events.
01:06:36
Speaker
So I know we've talked to well over an hour already, but I do have to ask you real fast, what is the one thing you hope people take away from your book?
Inspiring Future Sweet Pea Enthusiasts
01:06:47
Speaker
Oh, wow.
01:06:49
Speaker
um
01:06:54
Speaker
the only thing that I want from my book is for more sweet peas to get out into the world. That's the only thing. And I want to inspire people.
01:07:06
Speaker
um i want them to feel like it's relatable, not just beautiful, but relatable. and want to be able to teach them, um you know, teach them to grow.
01:07:19
Speaker
And, you know, I just look at it from the perspective of, you know, me sharing this book with the world, how many lives that's going to, you know, just that ripple effects and, you know, teaching somebody to grow or sharing just, you know, some few tips, tips and tricks that, you know, might change the way that somebody grows to be more successful so that they can share those flowers so that, you know, that person can receive that bouquet.
01:07:50
Speaker
um you know, and whether it's, you know, taking somebody back to, you know, their grandma's garden or, you know, just making them feel better, you know, on a bad day or, you know, no matter what it is, just thinking about, you know, it's like when you cast a stone out into a lake, right? And you see that all those waves that are coming, you know, that's kind of, you know, how I feel about the book.
01:08:17
Speaker
And, um,
01:08:23
Speaker
The biggest bouquet that I've ever made. well I just, um you know, if in a flower reference, you know, when you give a bouquet to somebody, it's it's the biggest. um Yeah, I just wanted to share my love of sweet peas with everyone. And that was the whole thought behind the book.
01:08:42
Speaker
And I was just like seeing all these gardening books of, you know, dahlias and garden roses and ranunculus and peonies and you're seeing all these, you know, flower books. And I'm like, why are people not talking more about sweet peas?
01:08:57
Speaker
Where's the sweet peas? and so You know, everybody that i I mean, most people that I talk to, they have a story with sweet peas. Why are we not seeing more sweet peas? So I got pretty determined. Yeah.
01:09:11
Speaker
but to, um, you know, it's like somebody lit a fire under me and, um, yeah. So if there's, if there's one person out there that, you know, this, this changes, you know, they start growing sweet peas or,
01:09:30
Speaker
um you know, they're more successful with them. Um, that's my goal. That's my goal is just to get more sweet peas out into the world. Um, you know, whether that's,
01:09:44
Speaker
ah teaching people to harvest their own seeds and getting more you know seed growers out there, um getting more flowers out there, and or just something beautiful to put on your coffee table.
01:09:57
Speaker
um Hopefully we check all those boxes. so I love that. You're creating, you're helping ah new generation create those memories like we had as children.
01:10:09
Speaker
hope so. We'll be that next generation that are telling our grandchildren about the sweet peas that grew in our garden someday. Well, and I feel like, you know, they used to be more prevalent years ago. And like you said, there's been an uptick in them lately.
01:10:24
Speaker
But I'm just like, come on, guys. This is like, you know, let's create this movement, right? Like, but's let's get more sweet peas. I would love to see sweet peas in every garden, you know. um But, yeah, I just...
01:10:38
Speaker
They're just such a beautiful flower that deserves so much more love and attention than I think they' they've been given. And you know they're they're not they're not just this common flower that have been grown in gardens for years. They're this extraordinary flower that's been grown in gardens for years, and they deserve to be celebrated.
01:10:59
Speaker
And so this book is my love letter to the sweet pea. I love it. So tell our listeners, where can they find your book?
Book Release Details
01:11:08
Speaker
So Sweet Pea School is available for pre-order now.
01:11:12
Speaker
It comes out or wherever books are sold. It comes out February 25th from Chronicle Books. And um I can't wait to share it with you. Awesome. And for those, I'm sure most of our listeners already know how to find you, but in case they don't, they can find you at?
01:11:29
Speaker
Thefarmhouseflowerfarm.com. perfect. And on Instagram, same handle, correct? Yeah. The farmhouse flower farm. And we will include show links for all of those for your book and your web website and Instagram there as well. And you also sell seeds on your website as well.
01:11:45
Speaker
We do. We do. ah This was our biggest seed sale that we just had in January by far. So let's keep the sweet pea craze rolling. Awesome. And those in those warmer growing zones can put those in the freezer till next year.
01:11:59
Speaker
Put them in the freezer till next fall or till this fall and then start your seats. Perfect. Well, Marin, it's always such an honor to get to chat with you. Thank you for joining us on the podcast. And like always, the door is always open.
01:12:14
Speaker
Thank you so much, Jen, for having me. It was really a pleasure to be here with you today. Thanks for
Conclusion and Call to Action
01:12:19
Speaker
joining us. We'll talk to you again soon. but bye Bye-bye.
01:12:24
Speaker
Thank you, flower friends, for joining us on another episode of the Backyard Bouquet. I hope you've enjoyed the inspiring stories and valuable gardening insights we've shared today.
01:12:35
Speaker
Whether you're cultivating your own backyard blooms or supporting your local flower farmer, you're contributing to the local flower movement. And we're so happy to have you growing with us. If you'd like to stay connected and continue this blossoming journey with local flowers, don't forget to subscribe to the Backyard Bouquet podcast.
01:12:54
Speaker
I'd be so grateful if you would take a moment to leave us a review of this episode. And finally, please share this episode with your garden friends. Until next time, keep growing, keep blooming, and remember that every bouquet starts right here in the backyard.