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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.

If you’ve ever wondered how a dahlia farm in the heart of Idaho keeps all its wheels turning, you’ll enjoy this little behind-the-scenes tour with Dion. I made a video recently where he narrated some of the projects and equipment that keep Flaming Acres humming along, and today I thought I’d share the highlights with you.

As we move deeper into September, dahlias are still giving us their best — but they also need a little extra attention this time of year. Cooler nights, shorter days, and the hint of fall in the air signal a shift in how we care for them. Here are a few ways to keep your dahlias happy and blooming strong as the season winds down:

Today, as I watched the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, I was struck by the thread of hope that ran through the grief, and the central truth that forgiveness is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. Tucker Carlson reminded all of us that true change in a culture does not begin in governments, programs, or movements—it begins with the individual. Each of us must look honestly at our own lives, repent, and deal with our own offenses before God. Only then can forgiveness flow

Every farm has its piles. Some are neat stacks of hay bales or tidy rows of equipment. Ours? Well, let’s just say we’ve perfected the art of creative chaos. If you wander through Flaming Acres, you’ll see the evidence of years of “We might need this someday” thinking. Old wood from sheds we took down? Check. Fence posts? We’ve got plenty. Rolls of wire, buckets of nails, pallets, hop poles, old play structures, three lawnmowers...

Transforming Flaming Acres from an Ag-Tourism Destination to Dahlia Tuber Farm. If you had visited Flaming Acres a few years ago, your memories might include navigating a corn maze, sipping apple cider, or bouncing along on a hayride. Our farm was built on experiences—fall festivals, school tours, and family weekends celebrating the beauty of the harvest season. We loved those days. The laughter of children echoing across the fields, the smell of kettle corn drifting across t

Dahlias are the bridge between summer and fall—bursting in full color just as the garden begins to quiet. Where sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias are fading, dahlias keep the party alive. Their fiery hues blend seamlessly with pumpkins on the porch, the glow of turning leaves, and the warmth of autumn light.

I love this project not only for the beauty it captures but also for the heart behind it. It’s another way of extending the life of our gardens, savoring the glory of dahlias beyond their season, and crafting heirlooms that remind us of sunshine and joy when winter comes.

If you’ve ever visited Flaming Acres Dahlias, you know our farm doesn’t just bloom with flowers—it struts with feathers too. Meet our feathered fan club: one majestic white peacock named Lightning (with a shimmer of blue and purple in his train) and his entourage of three peahens. This year, two of those peahens decided to raise families… and let’s just say the stork was generous. We now have at least 13 peachicks running underfoot. Yes, you read that right. Over a dozen!

This morning at church was unlike anything I’ve seen before. Dion and I attended the 8 a.m. service, and by the time we left, the parking lot was overflowing. Friends who came to the service following ours told us that cars were parked in every possible space—even the islands—as we left cars were pouring in to an already filled parking lot. It was a vivid picture of hunger for truth in a world that feels like it is spinning out of control, where evil is attempting to destroy

Saturday, September 13th, was a day full of color, creativity, and community as my daughter Ashley and I loaded up her bouquets and made the 30-mile trip from Caldwell to downtown Boise for the Southwest Idaho Dahlia Show at JUMP.

Today, September 13th, is a special day for flower lovers in Boise. My 12 dahlia photographs are on display at the Southwest Idaho Dahlia Show at JUMP, alongside many other breathtaking entries. The Boise Camera Club is also sharing their incredible work, so there is no shortage of beauty for visitors to enjoy.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 13th, the Southwest Idaho Dahlia Society will host its annual Dahlia Show at JUMP in downtown Boise from 10 am–5 pm. This is one of my favorite events of the year—a time when growers, arrangers, and photographers gather to celebrate the dazzling diversity of this flower we all love.

Our hearts are heavy today. On September 10th, the day before our nation pauses to remember the sorrow of September 11th, we lost a young patriot, Charlie Kirk, whose life was cut short in Utah by an assassin’s bullet. He was only in his early thirties, full of promise and courage. His death, followed immediately by a day of national mourning, presses the weight of life, death, and eternity onto all of us.

Today I was out in the field, taking photographs and videos of the dahlias in bloom. The light was just right, the colors were radiant—and then a thunderstorm rolled in. Raindrops began to fall, disrupting my plans. At first, I felt the interruption. But as I hurried indoors, I realized God was offering me a gentle reminder: I am not the one in control. I make my lists, set my goals, and work hard to accomplish them, but ultimately it is His plans that matter most.

There is nothing more precious than time spent alone with the Lord in prayer, praise, and in His Word. Not because it is a duty or a box to check off, but because of a grateful heart toward the One who gives us the very air we breathe. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

Every September, dahlia growers from across the Treasure Valley gather together for one of the most colorful events of the season—the Southwest Idaho Dahlia Society Show at JUMP in Boise. This year’s show will be held Saturday, September 13th, and for the very first time, we’ll be stepping into the excitement not just as visitors, but as participants!