The Beauty of Waiting for the First Bloom There is something magical about the anticipation that comes with growing dahlias. After carefully planting tubers in spring, watering tender shoots, and watching green stems slowly stretch toward the sun, every dahlia grower begins looking for the same thing—the first bloom.

Some of the most exciting flowers growing at Flaming Acres this year aren't varieties we purchased—they're varieties that began as tiny seeds and have become something entirely their own. This week, I transplanted our greenhouse-grown Flaming Originals into the garden, and as I worked among the plants, I found myself reflecting on the remarkable journey these dahlias have already taken.

May 29th, 2026. Today marks a remarkable milestone in our family as my parents, Stanley and Elisabeth Ilin, celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary. Sixty-six years.

Delivering the May Subscriber Perk. There is something beautiful about this stage of the season. The waiting of spring slowly gives way to the quiet rhythms of early summer. Tiny dahlia sprouts begin stretching toward the sunlight. Young plants gain strength with each passing day. Gardens start to feel alive again.

One of the most encouraging things for beginner dahlia growers to discover is this: You do not need a large garden to grow beautiful dahlias. In fact, dahlias can thrive wonderfully in containers and pots when given the right conditions. Whether you garden on a small patio, front porch, balcony, or simply want blooms close to your home, container growing can be a simple and rewarding way to enjoy dahlias all season long.

One of the biggest surprises for many new dahlia growers is discovering that freshly planted tubers usually do not need much water right away. In fact, during these early weeks beneath the soil, less water is often better. Your dahlia tuber already contains stored energy and moisture inside the tuber itself. After planting, it quietly begins forming roots beneath the soil long before you ever see green growth above ground.

Planting dahlias is one of the most exciting parts of the growing season. Beneath the soil, something beautiful is quietly beginning to unfold. And while planting is simple, taking a few thoughtful steps at the beginning can make a tremendous difference in the health, strength, and blooming potential of your plants later in the season. The good news? Dahlias are wonderfully resilient plants. You do not need to plant them perfectly to grow something beautiful.

This past week was one of those weeks here at Flaming Acres Dahlias. Dion and I stepped into the week carrying equal parts excitement and uncertainty as we prepared to plant our dahlia tubers for the 2026 growing season. The biggest question hanging over us was simple: Would the modified potato planter actually work for planting dahlias?

There are days that feel full in all the right ways. Today was one of those days. On this Mother’s Day, my heart feels especially grateful.

Today, Flaming Acres Dahlias had the honor of joining so many dahlia lovers, growers, hybridizers, and friends who gathered at Franz Witte to support the Goncalves family and celebrate the beauty and meaning behind the Kaylee Jade dahlia.

Announcing Kaylee Jade Dahlia Day — May 9, 2026, 10 am- 2 pm. There are some flowers that become more than blooms. They become symbols of love.Of remembrance.Of lives that continue to leave beauty behind long after they are gone.

There’s something hopeful about choosing where your dahlias will grow…like picking the stage where their beauty will unfold. And the good news? You don’t need the perfect garden to grow something beautiful. You just need a good spot.

There’s something tender and hopeful about this stage of the journey…You haven’t planted yet.Your hands may still be clean.Your garden beds are waiting. And yet—this moment matters more than you might think. Because before a single tuber touches the soil, you’re already setting the stage for success. Starting something new can feel overwhelming… but this part? It’s gentler than it seems. A few simple understandings will carry you forward with confidence.

There is something sacred about the beginning of a garden season. Not the full bloom.Not the harvest.But this quiet, in-between moment…when the soil is still waking up and your hands are just beginning to dream again. If you’re new to dahlias—or even trying again after a season that didn’t go quite as planned—you’re not alone.

Jodi Frederick set out to create something that could hold both beauty and meaning. Inspired by the Kaylee Jade dahlia—a flower named in Kaylee’s honor by Rosie Cooper-Vert—the quilt mirrors the bloom’s vibrant colors and layered elegance. Each block tells a story.

A gathering of local artisans and contributors came together at Quilt Crossing to view the Kaylee Jade Quilt, now on public display. This heartfelt piece will remain available for visitors to experience before it is formally presented to the Goncalves family at the Kaylee Jade remembrance event hosted at Franz Witte on May 9th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

On April 10th at 2:50 PM Mountain Time, we carried the final packages of our dahlia tubers into our little post office—marking the official close of our very first full shipping season here at Flaming Acres Dahlias.

We are so excited to begin with a moment of celebration…Our March Giveaway Winner has been selected! The “Sips of Spring” Dahlia Trio—featuring Mai Tai, Ice Tea, and Giggles—is heading to a beautiful garden in the South.

There are certain weeks that feel like a gentle turning of the page—and this week has been one of them. Here in Idaho, we’ve been soaking in the kind of weather that lifts your spirit the moment you step outside. Blue skies stretch wide overhead, the sun lingers just a little longer, and the air carries that unmistakable promise… spring is waking up.

A Week of Dahlias, Gratitude, and Birthday Blessings Today, March 14th, I celebrate 65 years young. Birthdays have a way of inviting reflection, and this one feels especially meaningful because it arrives at the end of an incredibly full and joyful week here at Flaming Acres Dahlias. Earlier this week, on March 9th, something very special began — the first shipments of our dahlia tubers started making their way across the country. Packages headed out to California and Florida