Looking back at the 2025 Season

Last year’s growing season was a whirlwind! As it always goes with gardening there is lots of anticipation during the spring and early summer…then the hot summer weather hits and the fields are in full swing until frost! My growing season here in north central Alberta is quite short, but the days are long with sunshine until 10pm at night during the summer months. This summer was notably windy and dry.

‘Yvonne’ glowing in the morning sunshine.

I grew numerous new to me dahlia varieties this season, and gained quite a few new favorites! Shown below left to right: ‘Bride to Be’, ‘Copper Boy’, ‘Edinburgh’, ‘Peaches ‘N Cream’, ‘Snoho Dorris’, ‘Ferncliff Spice’, ‘K-Pop’, and ‘Linda’s Baby’.

We planted over 1300 individual dahlia tubers this season and also trialed many speciality cut flowers and foliages. (I’m planning a blog series on the cutting flowers and will share more in the near future!) I fell in love with yarrow and many of the zinnia varieties! A new furry friend also joined the farm - Timmy the farm cat (yes named after the beloved Timmy from Floret Farm).

Celebration of life table arrangement.

This season we had the honor of having many dahlias and cut flowers be part of wedding celebrations, bouquets, and remembrances. Flowers are such an important part of our lives, from the beginning to end. It brings me such joy to be able to grow and share these blooms.

And after a windy summer, frost kissed the garden around Thanksgiving. Harvest was quick this season (only 3 days to lift both fields) and thankfully the weather cooperated and I was able to wash and divide all the tubers before the snow started.

Currently I’m spending my time getting the website ready for the dahlia tuber sale (goes live January 29th!), making lists, ordering more seeds, and counting down the days to the last frost date! Meanwhile the gardens quietly await spring’s return.

The back garden October 2025.

Here’s to the upcoming growing season! Talk soon,