This morning I’ll be spending a few joyful hours surrounded by fellow gardeners at the Seed Swap & Social Gathering at Franz Witte Garden Center in Nampa, trading dahlia tubers and celebrating the beginning of another growing season.

Understanding the 60° Soil Rule. Every spring, gardeners begin to feel it. The sun lingers a little longer in the evening. The soil softens. Garden centers begin filling with flowers, seeds, and hopeful anticipation. It becomes almost impossible not to want to start planting everything at once.

Early spring is an honest season. The garden beds reveal what winter has left behind — brittle stems, matted leaves, hidden debris. Before dahlias can flourish, we clear the ground. We prepare it. We make room. Peace works the same way.

There is something especially sweet about announcing a giveaway winner at the turn of a new season. It feels a bit like watching one bloom close while another begins to unfurl. Our February Love in Bloom Dahlia Trio winner is from Whitewood, South Dakota!

When the earth begins to whisper “wake up.” There is a subtle shift that happens before spring ever officially arrives. It isn’t loud.It isn’t dramatic. It doesn’t ask permission. It simply begins. And if you’re paying attention — you see it.

February has been unusually quiet here on the blog. But quiet on the page does not mean quiet on the farm. Winter is never idle at Flaming Acres. It is the season of clearing, sorting, planning, hauling, and preparing — the unseen work that makes spring possible. Behind the scenes, there has been a steady rhythm of decluttering. Old materials moved out. Equipment reorganized. Decisions made about what stays and what no longer serves the future we are building.

We are delighted to announce our January Dreaming in White Dahlia Trio Giveaway Winner, who hails from Anchorage, Alaska. The Dreaming in White Dahlia Trio—featuring Brookside Snowball, Gitts Attention, and White Nettie—was chosen for its elegance, balance, and peaceful presence in the garden.

This last Sunday we celebrated 91 years of my dad’s life—and there are not enough words to express the gratitude I feel. My dad has always been my hero. He was the best father—steady, attentive, and deeply present. All my life, he made me feel important, safe, and profoundly cared for. His love was never loud, but it was constant. He showed up. He noticed. He protected. And in doing so, he shaped who I am more than he will ever know.

If you’ve noticed a bit of quiet here on the blog lately, there’s a good reason. For the past few weeks, my hands—and my heart—have been fully immersed in the unseen winter work of Flaming Acres.

This time of year, we hear a lot about resolutions. Goals. Ambitions. Bucket lists filled with things to conquer, fix, or finally accomplish. While there is nothing wrong with dreaming or planning, I’ve found that lasting, meaningful change rarely comes from pressure alone. From a Christian perspective, true growth begins somewhere deeper.

January has a way of clearing the noise. After the rich colors of summer and the fullness of fall, the world seems to soften. The garden rests. The palette quiets. And in that simplicity, we begin to notice beauty differently. This week at Flaming Acres, we’re leaning into white—white dahlias that carry elegance, calm, and quiet strength. White is never empty. It reflects light. It creates space. It invites intention.

As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on a season that was far more complex than any highlight reel could ever capture. From a distance, this year may look like success—beautiful blooms, a thriving online presence, and a growing community around Flaming Acres Dahlias. But as anyone who works the land knows, the true story of a season is always layered. Beauty and struggle grow side by side.

We are delighted to announce our December Silent Night Tuber Trio Giveaway winner:is from Chichester, New Hampshire.

There are certain moments during the Christmas season that quietly settle into the heart and refuse to leave. This year, one of those moments came through a song—Mary, Did You Know?—and through the voice of my granddaughter.

Tomorrow, December 26 at noon Pacific Time, a very special dahlia will be released into the world—one that carries far more meaning than its breathtaking beauty alone. The Kaylee Jade Dahlia was lovingly created in memory of Kaylee Jade Goncalves, a beloved young woman whose life was tragically taken in 2022. Kaylee was a student at the University of Idaho, a daughter, a sister, a friend—and someone remembered by many for her warmth, joy, and vibrant spirit.

Christmas Eve arrives quietly here at Flaming Acres. The fields are bare. The dahlias sleep beneath layers of winter care. The tools are laid down early tonight. There is a stillness that settles over the farm—one that feels almost sacred. It is in this quiet that we are reminded why this night matters so deeply. On Christmas Eve, we pause to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Not with grandeur or noise, but with reverence.

December settles in gently here at Flaming Acres, and while the fields rest under gray skies and winter rain, life is still quietly unfolding beneath the surface. This season, our dahlias are sleeping—not in the ground, but tucked safely away for winter in a carefully monitored storage space. Overwintering tubers is always a season of watchfulness, and this year feels especially significant as we are trying a new storage method for the very first time.

December 10th will always hold special meaning for us. This year, Dion and I quietly celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary, and in many ways, it felt like a perfect reflection of the life we’ve built—simple, rich, full of laughter, conversation, and grace.

Tomorrow, Dion and I will celebrate our 42nd wedding anniversary—how is that even possible? As I look at our wedding photo from that snowy December afternoon in 1983, I can’t help but smile at the story God wrote long before we ever stood together at that altar. Today feels like the perfect day to reminisce about how it all began.

We just wrapped up our Thanksgiving/Christmas family weekend at Flaming Acres, and my heart feels wonderfully full. These gatherings always remind me what a precious gift it is to have a big, growing family—each one with their own stories, milestones, and personalities—and to bring them all under one roof for a few sweet days before the holiday season sweeps us along.