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Sarah Collier of Taken by Sarah captured this adorable photo of Jill Redman at Flowerstock (I’m on the right)
I’m so excited today to share my recent conversation with floral artist Jill Redman of Forage Florals, which is based in Santa Ynez, California.
Jill and I reconnected at the Flowerstock gathering hosted by Holly Chapple last month. Jill has been on my podcast guest wish list for quite a while, so we took full advantage of recording an episode in person. You’re in for a treat!
The Flower Power Design Team, from left: Laura Cogan, JIll Redman, Kathleen Williford, Margaret Lloyd and Rebecca Raymond. All that talent in one place!
I originally met Jill in March 2015 at the first official Field to Vase Dinner held in a Santa Barbara orchid greenhouse. Margaret Lloyd of Margaret Joan Florals was the event’s featured floral designer and as it turned out, a number of Slow Flowers members and Chapel Designers volunteered to Margaret create a gorgeous installation for more than 100 dinner guests.
Forage Florals’ Jill Redman (c) Mike Larson
Jill’s studio, Forage Florals, is located nearby, and her presence at the installation was a fantastic addition to Margaret’s design team, which also included Laura Cogan, formerly of Passionflowers Design (who now works with Jill at Forage Florals) and Rebecca Raymond of Rebecca Raymond Floral.
The first floral bouquet designed by Jill Redman for a Twigs & Honey photo shoot, photographed by Elizabeth Messina.
Jill has been a longtime Slow Flowers member and a practitioner of seasonal and local floral design.
She says:
“I have always worked in various areas of creative visual expression- from interior space planning and design to metalsmithing and jewelry fabrication. Art has been a common thread in how i operate but it wasn’t until four years ago that floral design serendipitously found its way into my life. I recall arriving home after my first photo shoot, crying tears of joy- I’d found my calling.
With no time to waste, I jumped in with two feet. I was learning as I went and found immense support and guidance through the chapel design network. My business has been growing gracefully ever since and i feel most incredibly blessed to have the support of my good friend and talented designer Laura Cogan with me every step of the way.”
Bouquet (left) and Custom Wreath installation (right) by Jill Redman of Forage Florals.
Find and follow Jill Redman at these social places:
Beautiful Bridal: bouquet by Jill Redman of Forage Florals
Thanks so much for joining me today! Two comments Jill made resonate with me. First, she says we have to “pay attention” and be open to opportunities as we listen to our hearts. The second, which I love, is her declaration that flowers found her.
I feel the same way, actually. I think a love of flowers was staring me in the face for far too long before I stepped into this world. I take great inspiration from Jill’s personal narrative about her life with flowers.
Join me! Slow Flowers Podcast (c) Missy Palacol Photography
Please come back next week where you’ll hear another amazing episode featuring the leading voices in our Slow Flowers Community.
I want to encourage you to visit the Slowflowerssummit.com site to learn more about the amazing program, people and flowers you’ll engage with next summer.
It’s not too early to save the date and secure your seat! Slow Flowers members receive special discount pricing and everyone receives $100 off with the Early Bird rate, on sale now!
We have a vital and vibrant community of flower farmers and floral designers who together define the Slow Flowers Movement.
As our cause gains more supporters and more passionate participants who believe in the importance of the American cut flower industry, the momentum is contagious.
I know you feel it, too. I value your support and invite you to show your thanks and with a donation to support my ongoing advocacy, education and outreach activities.
You can find the donate button in the column to the right.
The Slow Flowers Podcast has been downloaded more than 378,000 times by listeners like you. Thank you for listening, commenting and sharing – it means so much.
We wrapped up the month of October with our highest listenership ever — more than 11,400 downloads in a single month. Thank you all!
Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the Slow Flowers Podcast.
Arctic Alaska Peonies, a cooperative of passionate family farms in the heart of Alaska providing bigger, better peony flowers during the months of July and August. Visit them today at arcticalaskapeonies.com
Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, a farmer-owned cooperative committed to providing the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer in cut flowers, foliage and plants. The Growers Market’s mission is to foster a vibrant marketplace that sustains local flower farms and provides top-quality products and service to the local floral industry. Find them at seattlewholesalegrowersmarket.com
Longfield Gardens provides home gardeners with high quality flower bulbs and perennials. Their online store offers plants for every region and every season, from tulips and daffodils to dahlias, caladiums and amaryllis. Visit them at longfield-gardens.com.
Syndicate Sales, an American manufacturer of vases and accessories for the professional florist. Look for the American Flag Icon to find Syndicate’s USA-made products and join the Syndicate Stars loyalty program at syndicatesales.com.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds, an employee-owned company that provides our industry the best flower, herb and vegetable seeds — supplied to farms large and small and even backyard cutting gardens like mine. Check them out at johnnysseeds.com.
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. Formed in 1988, ASCFG was created to educate, unite, and support commercial cut flower growers. It mission is to help growers produce high-quality floral material, and to foster and promote the local availability of that product. Learn more at ascfg.org
Mayesh Wholesale Florist. Family-owned since 1978, Mayesh is the premier wedding and event supplier in the U.S. and we’re thrilled to partner with Mayesh to promote local and domestic flowers, which they source from farms large and small around the U.S. Learn more at mayesh.com.
Certified American Grown Flowers. The Certified American-Grown program and label provide a guarantee for designers and consumers on the source of their flowers. Take pride in your flowers and buy with confidence, ask for Certified American Grown Flowers. To learn more visit americangrownflowers.org.
And the Team Flower Conference – a professional floral event where flower lovers from all over the world gather for networking, learning, and celebration. It’s a special time for the floral industry to come together and whether you’re a farmer, designer, wholesaler, or just love flowers, you’re invited to attend as Team Flowers dreams big for the industry’s future. Head to teamflower.org/slowflowers to learn more about the 2019 conference in Waco, Texas!
(c) Nicole Clarey Photography for Mayesh Design Star Workshop
I’m Debra Prinzing, host and producer of the Slow Flowers Podcast.
Next week, you’re invited to join me in putting more American grown flowers on the table, one vase at a time. And If you like what you hear, please consider logging onto iTunes and posting a listener review.
The content and opinions expressed here are either mine alone or those of my guests alone, independent of any podcast sponsor or other person, company or organization.
The Slow Flowers Podcast is engineered and edited by Andrew Brenlan. Learn more about his work at soundbodymovement.com.