Fostering Blooms (Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum)

Want to grow your own pressed flower collection on a budget—without needing expert skills or a giant garden?

In this solo episode, Shannon answers a question from Instagram follower, Dee at the Fairy Door Project, and breaks down exactly how to create a simple, budget-friendly garden for growing flowers ideal for pressing. From building a no-dig raised bed to choosing the right blooms for sun and shade, Shannon shares beginner-friendly, low-cost ways to get started right now.

You'll learn:

• The easiest no-dig method to build a 4x4 raised bed (without wood!)

• When and how to plant seeds for pressing success

• Which sun-loving and shade-loving flowers press beautifully

• Why some popular flowers like Queen Anne’s Lace aren’t the best choice—and what to grow instead

This episode is jam-packed with planting tips, beginner wins, and beautiful flower ideas that are both affordable and easy to grow—even if you’re new to gardening.

Whether you're dreaming of a lush cutting garden or just want a few blooms to press in books, this guide has you covered. Let’s grow, baby! 🌸

🌼 Plants Mentioned:
For Sun:

• Poppies: Mother of Pearl, Pandora, Flemish, California poppies

• Daisies

• Echinacea 

• Cosmos (Apricotta)

• Ammi Majus (False Queen Anne’s Lace)

• Ammi Visnaga (Bishop’s Flower)

• Pansies

• Hardy Geranium (Geranium Rozanne)

• Phlox drummondii (Creme Brulee)

• Wallflower (Erysimum, variety ‘Vulcan’)

For Shade:

• Columbine (Aquilegia)

• Hellebores (Wedding Series)

• Ferns (Autumn Fern, Cinnamon Fern)

• Hydrangea (BloomStruck, Endless Summer series)

• Solomon’s Seal (Variegated Polygonatum)

🎧 Listen in and get inspired to start your own beautiful, blooming flower bed for pressing—without breaking the bank.

Soil Blocking 101: The Secret to Stronger, Healthier Seedlings! 🌱

In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon Foster-Boline & Caitlyn Blum dive into soil blocking—a game-changing method for starting seeds without plastic trays! 🌍✨

💡 What You’ll Learn:
✔️ The benefits of soil blocking (stronger roots, less transplant shock!)
✔️ The exact soil mix recipe for perfect blocks
✔️ The best tools for beginners (& where to get them!)
✔️ Seeding, watering, & maintenance hacks to get the best germination rates
✔️ Common mistakes & how to avoid them

Whether you're a first-time seed starter or a seasoned gardener, this episode will help you grow stronger seedlings with less waste and more success! 🌸

📢 Resources & Tools Mentioned:
🛒 Soil Blocker → Swift Blocker
🛒 Cocoa Coir → Coco Coir Blocks
🛒 Widger → Johnnys Seeds Widger

💬 Got gardening questions? We love hearing from you! Email us at tips@fosteringblooms.com or DM us on Instagram @FosteringBlooms

⭐ Love this episode? Don’t forget to follow & leave a review to help us grow!

Join Shannon Foster Boline and Caitlyn Blum on Fostering Blooms as they reveal their top ten plants perfect for any lazy gardener.

These are hassle-free, low-maintenance plants that thrive even with minimal care. From hardy perennials like Salvia and Yew, to vibrant annuals such as Zinnias and Marigolds, these selections not only beautify your garden but also demand little in return.

Shannon and Caitlyn share personal experiences, tips, and tricks for each plant, ensuring you have a bountiful yet low-effort garden. Tune in to discover beginner-friendly options and some surprises along the way!

00:00 Introduction to Lazy Gardener Plants

00:52 Defining Lazy Gardener Plants

02:04 Honorable Mentions: Salvia and Dahlias

04:29 Top 10 Lazy Gardener Plants: Numbers 10 to 7

07:46 Top 10 Lazy Gardener Plants: Numbers 6 to 3

16:14 Top 10 Lazy Gardener Plants: Numbers 2 and 1

18:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

18:39 Follow Us for More Gardening Tips

Plants discussed in this episode: Salvia, Dahlias, Hardy Geraniums, Zinnias, Yew, Hydrangeas, Thyme, Chives and Green Onions, Catmint, Marigolds, Swiss Chard, and Hellebores (Lenten Rose).

Think all plants are lovable? Think again. In this spicy episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon and Caitlyn share their most hated plants—the ones they’ve ripped out, sworn off, or watched take over their gardens like villains in a garden drama.

💔 From Nandina to Monkey Grass to the ever-tricky Black-Eyed Susan Vine, they spill the dirt on which plants just aren’t worth the trouble—and offer better alternatives you can grow instead.

🎙️ In this episode you’ll learn:

• Which popular plants are secretly garden nightmares 😬

• Why some “low maintenance” plants actually cause more problems

• What to plant instead (yes, they have suggestions!)

• Personal stories of invasive chaos and hard-earned lessons

🚫 Want to save yourself from garden regret? This is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

✨ Follow, review, and send us your most-hated plant picks—we might feature them in a future episode!

Got a porch, patio, or balcony and want to grow your own food? You’re in luck! In this listener Q&A episode, Shannon and Caitlyn answer a question from Shannon’s sister, Gracie, who lives in an apartment in Wilmington, NC, and wants to start growing some vegetables this year.

Whether you’re working with limited space or dreaming of your first patio garden, this episode has everything you need to get started!

They cover:

• The best pot sizes and materials for veggies and herbs

• What to plant (including tomatoes, herbs, and even tea blends!)

• Companion planting tips for flavor and pollinators

• Watering tips and timing for southern zones

• Bonus: a tropical container garden for fragrance and mosquito defense!

This episode proves that you don’t need a yard to grow something beautiful. 🌿

👉 Don’t forget to follow and rate the podcast! It helps more gardeners and plant lovers find us.

📩 Send your questions to: tips@fosteringblooms.com

Let’s go grow, baby!

March is here, and so is your official garden prep checklist! 🌱 In this episode, Shannon and Caitlyn are marching (literally) into spring with a jam-packed to-do list to get your garden thriving. From chitting potatoes (aka prepping them to sprout) to sowing tomatoes, peppers, and flowers, they’re covering everything you need to do right now to stay ahead of the season.

But they’re not stopping there — they’re also sharing smart bed prep strategies (hello, cardboard hoarding) and talking about their own garden experiments so you can learn what works (and what flops) without doing all the trial and error yourself. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, this episode is full of practical tips, a lot of laughs, and the friendly encouragement you need to make March your most productive garden month yet.

Plus, get a sneak peek of their upcoming guest, Anne of All Trades (@anneofalltrades), and the game-changing composting method they’re testing this month. If you’re ready to kick winter to the curb and get growing, this episode is for you.

Highlights:
🌱 The truth about chitting potatoes (and why you’re probably already doing it).
🌱 What you can sow and transplant this month (spoiler: a lot).
🌱 Clever bed prep hacks (your Amazon boxes finally have a purpose).
🌱 Why direct sowing is about to become your new favorite task.
🌱 Our favorite pepper varieties (and why bell peppers are kinda boring).
🌱 Hardening off 101 (because your baby plants deserve a soft launch into the real world).
🌱 Garden experiments we’re running — so you don’t have to.

Let’s go grow, baby! 🌸

Welcome back to Fostering Blooms, the podcast where we dig deep into gardening and all the ways it can enrich your home and life. In this episode, Shannon is flying solo to share the unsung heroes of a well-designed garden—catmint and hardy geraniums. These powerhouse plants may not always steal the show, but they are the quiet backbone of stunning, effortless garden design. 🌸

From creating lush, romantic borders to attracting pollinators and thriving on almost zero maintenance (hello, lazy gardener dream plants!), these perennials deserve a spot in your garden. Shannon shares:

🌿 How she planted 50+ catmint plants to create a breathtaking garden moment
🌿 Why catmint and hardy geraniums are must-haves for structure, movement, and long-lasting color
🌿 The Hampton Hack pruning trick that guarantees a second flush of blooms
🌿 The best varieties to plant (including her new UK-inspired obsession)
🌿 How to pair these garden staples with other perennials for an effortlessly layered look

If you want plants that do the hard work for you while looking gorgeous from spring through fall, this episode is for you.

✨ Connect with us:
🌿 Follow along on Instagram @FosteringBlooms for behind-the-scenes garden updates.
📩 Got a question? Email us at tips@fosteringblooms.com—we’d love to hear from you!

Love the show? Leave us a review—it helps fellow garden lovers find us!

Until next time… let’s go grow, baby! 🌱🎙

In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum reflect on their gardening successes and failures as the year 2024 comes to an end. 

Shannon discusses the successful expansion of her vegetable garden and the establishment of a cut flower garden, while Caitlyn shares her achievements with climbing roses and her passion for seed collecting. 

They also highlight their challenges, including Shannon's struggles with relocating hostas during a drought,mysterious plant deaths and Caitlyn's battle with persistent weeds, and overgrown volunteer plants. 

Throughout the conversation, the duo shares practical tips and personal anecdotes, making this episode a relatable and insightful listen for both novice and experienced gardeners.

00:00 Welcome to Fostering Blooms

00:18 Reflecting on 2024: Successes and Failures

01:17 Garden Success Stories

02:48 Garden Expansions and Climbing Roses 

04:35 Cut Flower Garden and Solarizing Soil

07:01 Seed Collecting Adventures

08:39 The Hosta Debacle

10:44 Weeds and Volunteer Plants

14:11 Conclusion and Farewell

Join Shannon and Caitlyn of Fostering Blooms in this January episode as they share a detailed list of gardening tasks for both vegetables and flowers. 

From organizing and ordering seeds, soil testing, and creating garden maps to pruning fruit trees and shrubs, preparing beds for early spring planting, and starting seeds indoors, they cover all the essential activities to keep your garden thriving during the winter months. 

The hosts share these jobs in the context of their own gardens and experiences, providing practical tips and relatable insights. 

Whether you're a novice gardener or have years of experience, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you kickstart the new year in the garden.

00:00 Introduction to Fostering Blooms

00:09 January Gardening Tasks Overview

00:25 Organizing and Ordering Seeds

02:09 Soil Testing 

03:08 Creating a Garden Map

04:16 Pruning 

05:59 Preparing Beds for Early Spring Planting

07:09 Seed Starting & Garden Cleanup

10:06 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

In this episode of Fostering Blooms, hosts Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum ignite their passion for gardening in a fun and fiery conversation.

Caitlyn shares gripping tales of her favorite plants, including a resilient Bathsheba rose, and delves into her long-standing love of gardening that traces back to her teenage years.

Listeners will also be treated to Caitlyn's dream garden inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Italy and her eclectic garden style.

As the conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of gardening, Caitlyn shares her journey—from founding her family’s first farm in her youth to raising miniature donkeys and goats with her own family today.

The hosts emphasize their mission to inspire both novice and experienced gardeners alike, making it clear that gardening is not just about plants but about sharing joy and knowledge. Tune in for an episode that promises to be as informative as it is heartwarming.

00:00 Introduction to Fostering Blooms

00:20 Choosing the One Plant to Save

01:35 The Story Behind a Love for Gardening

03:05 Dream Garden Design

04:41 Describing Garden Style in Three Words

06:00 Life on the Farm

08:08 Why We Started This Podcast

10:36 Conclusion and Farewell

It’s finally here — the spring bloom bonanza! 🌷 In this episode, we’re sharing five flowers and five vegetables we’re most excited about in our early spring gardens. From stunning David Austin roses and clematis to sweet peas, tulips, kale, and the best crunchy radishes you’ll ever taste, we walk through what’s blooming (and what’s almost there) in our Zones 7B gardens.

These are the plants we believe in, whether they’re tried-and-true or brand-new-to-us varieties. If you’re planning your next succession planting or wondering which flowers will make your garden shine, this episode is packed with inspiration and laughs.

🌸 Featured flowers: Bathsheba rose, Clematis Duchess of Edinburgh, peonies Sarah Bernhardt, Karl Rosenfield and Bartzella, Snapdragon Potomac Royal, Artist Viridiflora tulip, Mollie Rillstone, Matcucana, Cupani, Windsor, High Scent, and Nimbus sweet peas, Narcissus Gay Tabor, Lambada Fringed Tulip, perennial phlox, and Vulcan wallflower. 

🥬 Veggies we love: Red Russian kale, Dark Side spinach, Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce, French breakfast radish, Watermelon Radish, Nairobi snap peas, asparagus, spring onions, and Arugula (Shannon's still can't find the variety but it is Botanical Interests seed).

Subscribe so you never miss a new episode every Wednesday — and let us know what’s blooming in your garden right now!

🎧 Listen now and let’s go grow, baby.

In this episode, Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum hosts of Fostering Blooms, discuss their comprehensive February gardening to-do list, ensuring you're garden ready with them. They emphasize the importance of ordering seed potatoes from a trusted supplier like Wood Prairie Farm, and introduce the concept of 'chitting'. 

The conversation includes tips on sowing a variety of vegetables both indoors and directly into the garden, with insights on soil preparation, composting, and the benefits of using family-run businesses for quality, organic seeds. 

Caitlyn & Shannon also share personal experiments with succession planting and soil amendments, ending with a lighthearted discussion on composting with 'pluffy' manure.

00:00 Introduction and February To-Do List

00:10 Getting Garden Ready: Seed Potatoes

05:13 Sowing Seeds Indoors

08:02 Direct Sowing in the Garden

11:52 Transplanting and Hardening Off Seedlings

15:41 Composting and Weeding

18:37 Conclusion and Final Tips

Soil is the foundation of every thriving garden, but what if we told you it could also be the key to effortless, abundant growth? In this episode of Fostering Blooms, we sit down with the legendary Anne Briggs, also known as Anne of All Trades, to talk about all things lazy gardening, soil health, and sustainable homesteading.

Anne shares her science-backed, no-fuss approach to gardening, revealing how anyone—whether on acres of farmland or a tiny apartment balcony—can create a thriving ecosystem that works for you, not against you. She walks us through the biggest mistakes new gardeners make, debunks common soil myths, and shares her game-changing composting secrets (including how to make rich, fertile soil in just 18 days!).

But that’s not all—we also dive into:

✅ Why soil is the real secret to a low-maintenance garden
✅ How to mimic nature for an effortless growing system
✅ The truth about crop rotation & why you might not need it
✅ Why "waiting for the perfect homestead" is a mistake—start where you are!
✅ How Anne turned hard-packed Tennessee clay into fertile, thriving soil

And of course, there's plenty of laughs, tangents, and even some unexpected goat sounds along the way. Whether you're a first-time gardener or a seasoned grower looking to do more with less, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

In this episode of Fostering Blooms, Shannon Foster-Boline and Caitlyn Blum kick off the new year with their top garden goals for 2025. They discuss New Year's resolutions specifically for gardening, including composting, intentional garden design, propagation, and succession planning. 

Shannon shares her aspiration to master composting, while Caitlyn emphasizes the importance of intentional garden design. Tune in to get inspired, learn new tips, and set your own garden goals for a flourishing 2025!

00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings

00:11 Garden Goals for 2025

00:36 Composting Aspirations

03:17 Designing the Garden

04:40 Propagation Plans

05:56 Succession Planning

08:22 Conclusion and Wrap-Up