Episode 766: Adding a flower farm and floral shop to a retail nursery center with Delisa Hiel of Gardenwerks in Helena, Montana

In this episode of the Slow Flowers Podcast, host Debra Prinzing interviews Delisa Hiel, head flower farmer and manager of GardenWorks in Helena, Montana, a family-owned retail nursery and landscape design business that has successfully integrated a flower farm and floral design studio into its operations. Delisa shares how she leveraged her horticulture background and passion for flowers to launch a 100+ variety cut flower farm on a shared 30x60 greenhouse and half-acre field, using high tunnels for season extension. The model creates a powerful symbiosis between horticulture and floriculture, allowing customers to buy tomato plants alongside tulip bouquets and participate in seasonal workshops like tea and tulip classes. Delisa emphasizes the importance of local, seasonal, and sustainable practices, growing 100% of her floral designs with in-house blooms and offering community-driven initiatives like 'Flower Friday' pop-ups and the 'Works Market'—a farmer’s market-style event that supports local producers and educates the public. Despite challenges like harsh Montana winters and limited wholesale opportunities, Delisa’s business thrives through direct-to-consumer sales, education, and community engagement. The episode highlights a replicable, sustainable business model that blends flower farming with retail nursery services, offering a blueprint for other garden centers seeking to diversify. Delisa’s journey—from intern to family business partner, inspired by a failed dahlia shipment—took her from floristry to farming, proving that passion and local expertise can drive innovation. Her focus on education, seasonal design, and community-building demonstrates how small-scale flower farming can be both economically viable and culturally enriching. The episode closes with Debra’s encouragement for listeners to visit Helena and support local flower systems, reinforcing the Slow Flowers movement’s mission to strengthen domestic flower farms and sustainable floral design.