🍂 Falling for Dahlias
- Debra Flaming
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Yesterday, when my dear new friend Brynda Fauth came out to the farm to teach a group of us her techniques for preserving dahlias. Without even planning it, every bloom I reached for seemed to echo the season we’re stepping into—rich oranges, golden yellows, deep reds, and moody wines. By the time my buckets were full, they looked like autumn sunsets gathered into stems. It struck me then that my collection wasn’t just random—it was a celebration of fall’s arrival, with the dahlias themselves leading the way.
Dahlias: Autumn’s Showstoppers
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.
Fall Favorites from the Field
Here are the Flaming Acres field dahlias that have me swooning, each one a fiery spark in the season’s grand finale:
Swans Sunset – A blazing farewell to the day, with enormous 6”-10 blooms" orange-red tipped in golden yellow, glowing like a horizon at dusk.
Steve Meggos – A molten curtain call of orange and peach, its grand 9" blooms billow like windblown silk at the close of summer.
Maarn – Pure bottled sunshine, this compact variety beams unapologetic orange perfection in every tidy 4" bloom.
Lowrider – A border-hugging dynamo, splashing garden paths with glowing ember-like blossoms in radiant orange and gold.
Linna – A golden-hour muse, her yellow-to-rose-kissed blooms rise tall and luminous, like dawn painted in petals.
Hollyhill Black Beauty – Smoldering wine-red and near-black drama, perfect for moody elegance in autumn bouquets.
Groovy – Funky, fresh, and fabulously floral—retro rust, red, and orange blooms dancing against dark foliage.
Awe Shucks – Whimsical waterlily blooms in peach streaked with bold red splashes—every flower a surprise party on a stem.
AC Ben – Big, bold, unforgettable—a 10" giant in velvety deep red, perfect for stealing the spotlight in garden or show.
Steven David – Smoldering 6" blooms in fiery orange kissed with golden yellow tips, glowing like embers in the autumn light.
Jowey Chantal – Bright and bold, her ball-shaped blooms blend sunshine yellow and deep orange blush—like a flame frozen in bloom.
French Can Can – Legs kicking, petals twirling! Fiery tangerine blooms with flirty copper-red undersides, this Moulin Rouge star brings nonstop blooms with a wink and a twirl.
Together, these beauties paint a palette of harvest skies, cozy firesides, and crisp fall evenings—a reminder that when other flowers fade, dahlias take center stage.
Bouquet & Garden Inspiration
Pair Maarn or Lowrider with sunflowers and zinnias for a cheerful harvest centerpiece.
Let Hollyhill Black Beauty or Groovy bring moody drama alongside pale pastels.
Showcase Swans Sunset or Steve Meggos solo in the garden—flowers this bold need no company.
Create a “sunset bouquet” by combining Steven David, Jowey Chantal, and French Can Can for layers of fiery brilliance.
A Season to Savor
As the days shorten and evenings grow cool, I’m reminded that endings can be radiant too. Just as dahlias burst brightest at the close of the season, there’s beauty in transition. Each bloom whispers that change, though bittersweet, is also full of glory.
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1
So as we gather flowers, pumpkins, and memories this fall, let’s pause to savor the gifts of the season—knowing that like dahlias, we too can shine most brightly in the in-between.
With autumn hues and dahlia joy,
Debra Flaming
