All Posts

Harvesting Dahlias Day Two. Donuts, Rain, and the Wonder of Friendship: This morning dawned brisk and bright—40 degrees with a promise of rain in the forecast. Our friends Steve and Cathy arrived bearing donuts (a farmer’s breakfast of champions) and cheerful spirits, ready for day two of dahlia digging. All four of us, now seasoned dahlia diggers, exchanged good-natured groans as we stretched our backs and geared up for another round.

The hum of the tractor broke the morning stillness as Dion made the final adjustments to the potato digger—a machine that’s about to earn its keep for the next several weeks. Our friends Steve and Cathy Hill joined us for the very first day of dahlia tuber harvest, and together, we dug into the season’s next chapter—literally. One row down, eleven to go.

The fields are beginning to quiet, but the real work—the kind that sets next year’s beauty in motion—is just beginning.This week, we’ll be carefully lifting the dahlias from their beds, washing and labeling each clump, and preparing the tubers for their long winter rest. It’s a task that takes many hands, much laughter, and a shared love for these flowers that have filled our fields with color all season long.

Today was Gus’s moment of glory. He had finally found his inner cow dog. That sweet, nervous, thunder-hiding dog strutted into the yard like he’d just won “Best in Show: Eau de Cow.” His chest was puffed out, his tail held high, and every breeze that passed carried his new… shall we say, signature scent.

After days of frustration, countless retakes, and learning from my earlier filming mistake, something shifted today. I slowed down. I looked closer. And suddenly, I began to see again—the way water droplets cling to the edges of petals, how the late-season blooms lean a little heavier with wisdom, how even the fading ones still hold beauty.

Have you ever poured hours—or days—into a project, only to realize you have to start all over again? That was me this week. I discovered that every single video I had painstakingly filmed of our dahlias was shot in HDR, and while that may sound impressive, it turned out to be the wrong setting for my camera. The result? Washed-out color and poor quality when uploaded to our website.

Today, Dion and I are traveling five hours to watch our grandson Jett’s football game. We’ll also get to see his little brother, our pint-sized cowboy, Westy. I savor every minute with my grandsons — visits are rare since they live farther away, but distance makes the moments even sweeter.

Have you ever done a huge project only to discover a tiny mistake that managed to ruin everything? Oh, friend… I have. After spending...

It was one of those slow, golden afternoons that felt more like summer than fall. Ashley came over with the girls, and we set out to pick flowers—leisurely, as if we had all the time in the world. The plan was simple: gather some of the prettiest blooms for Ashley to photograph in handheld bouquets. Simple, of course, until you add two little girls, their flower-loving grandma, and a whole lot of petal temptation into the mix. Let’s just say, the girls and I were of absolutel

What a glorious time at church today! We arrived fifteen minutes before the service started, and once again the parking lot was filled to capacity. Our church has been so packed lately that if you don’t arrive at least 30 minutes early to one of the five services, you might not get a seat—or even a parking spot! The numbers keep growing, the excitement is building, and the atmosphere feels charged with something far beyond human enthusiasm.

One of the peahens has decided to become my dear friend. Right now, she’s perched on the deck railing, peering through the window as I write this post. Every few minutes, she gives a gentle tap-tap-tap with her beak, just to make sure I’m still paying attention. Humans must be quite the curiosity to these creatures.

Yesterday, our hearts grew a little fuller as we welcomed our fifth grandbaby into the world. Today we were able to drive to the hospital, hold her tiny frame, and congratulate our son and daughter-in-law. There’s something indescribable about cradling a newborn—like watching a miracle unfold right before your eyes. Baby and momma are both happy and healthy, and soon they’ll be heading home to begin this next beautiful chapter.

Guess what, friends? The dahlias have done their dazzling work in the fields, and now it’s our turn to dig in. Quite literally. Here at Flaming Acres, we’re rolling up our sleeves for one of the most exciting times of the year—tuber harvest! This is when we carefully dig up those magical clumps hiding beneath the soil and prepare them for next spring’s blooms. But here’s the twist: we can’t (and don’t want to) do it alone. We’re inviting YOU to join in the fun!

We are excited to announce that the winner of our September Subscriber Giveaway is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! When we reached out, she shared that her favorite garden colors were purples and yellows—a cheerful palette that’s both elegant and playful. We can already imagine how her garden will glow with these blooms come spring 2026!

There’s something about a good rain that changes everything. Yesterday’s showers carried into the night, and this morning when I stepped...

This morning I woke up to the gentle patter of rain against the windows. The cooler air and soft gray skies reminded me that autumn is truly here. There’s something about rainy mornings that slows everything down—encouraging us to breathe deeper, wrap our hands around a warm cup of coffee, and let the day unfold at a gentler pace.

Yesterday was one of those days that fills my heart to overflowing. Ashley brought the girls over for some farm time, and before long shoes were kicked off, clothes half shed, and the living room pantry had been “planted” with potatoes under the pillows. Their giggles echoed everywhere. By dinnertime, the spaghetti was flying as freely as the laughter—it was messy, chaotic, and absolutely perfect.

Today was one of those full and satisfying farm days—the kind where the list is long, the sun is warm, and the blooms keep surprising me. I’ve been out in the dahlia rows with my notebook, jotting down field notes, numbering plants, and making sure our photos and videos match what is actually growing. A few mystery blooms are keeping me guessing, but I love the detective work of tracking them down and cataloging them properly.

This morning I walked the rows at Flaming Acres Dahlias, checking in on the dahlias as they push out their late-September flush of blooms. Each plant seems to have its own rhythm this time of year—some still bursting with new buds, others stretching tall and proud with full blossoms catching the light just right.

In August, we launched our brand-new Flaming Acres Dahlias website and officially opened our online dahlia tuber shop on August 10th. What a joy this new season has already been! We’ve been humbled and delighted by the response—new subscribers are joining us daily, and orders keep rolling in. The outpouring of encouragement and support has truly blessed us, and we are so grateful for each one of you who has come alongside us on this journey.