Some of my happiest childhood memories are of my mom's garden bursting with homegrown flower bouquets. Whenever we had visitors, she'd snip whatever was in bloom, bundle it up with herbs from her kitchen garden, wrap it in a wet paper towel and tinfoil, and gift it to our guests. I just thought it was the simplest, kindest way to grow joy for herself and for her friends—and that's the beauty of growing cut flowers.Speaking of beauty, I couldn’t get enough of this episode’s guest and her amazing book! Lisa Ziegler is the founder of The Gardener's Workshop and the author of the book I just devoured, ‘The Cut Flower Handbook.’ We had a high-level overview of what you need to know if you want to delve into cut flower gardening!In this episode, we learn:[04:13] What sparked Lisa's desire to grow cut flowers?[07:32] How did Lisa's hobby bloom into a flower farm?[10:23] Are spacing guidelines for cutting gardens important?[13:07] What is the best place for a cutting garden, and why is it different from where you usually plant flowers?[17:00] Where to get hassle-free self-watering planters[18:42] The best indoor and outdoor gardening products for you[21:08] What is Lisa’s garden zone?[21:47] Which cut flowers are best for beginners?[27:10] What are the recommended filler flowers to grow with Zinnias?[28:13] What are the benefits of starting seeds indoors versus direct sowing in the garden?[31:46] Annuals vs perennials[34:10] What are magnet plants?[37:17] Tps for setting up a low-maintenance cutting garden for beginners[45:49] How and when should you pinch plants in a cutting garden?[50:38] Is there a rule of thumb for how many leaves to leave when pinching or cutting back annuals in a cutting garden?[51:25] What are the biggest mistakes people make during harvesting?[55:59] Why are Bells of Ireland a coveted flower (and what is the secret to growing them)?[57:11] How can zone six growers use large grow bags to create a cutting garden with transplants and direct-sown seeds?[01:02:57] Poppy vs cosmos: which is easier to grow?[01:04:22] Where can you find Lisa on the internet?Mentioned in our conversation:Lisa Ziegler’s books:The Cut Flower HandbookCool FlowersVegetables Love FlowersSunflower, ProCut Orange ExcelBenary’s Giant Zinnia Seed, Mixed ColorsBasil, Mrs. Burns' LemonFor Lisa's expert flower gardening tips,check out the full show notes and blog here!Follow Lisa:WebsiteCoursesBooksFacebookInstagramYouTubeThank you to our episode sponsors:Crescent GardenFor a limited time only, head to growingjoywithmaria.com/crescentgarden and use code GROWJOY15 to curate your dream garden today.Espoma OrganicVisit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.Follow Maria and Growing Joy:Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha LeungJoin the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!Instagram: @growingjoywithmariaTiktok: @growingjoywithmariaSubscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmariaWebsite: www.growingjoywithmaria.comPinterest: @growingjoywithmaria