Whistling Bee Farm & Florals

10/03/2025

For our last dahlia appreciation pick, I’m featuring Sandia Bertha. This is my first season growing this variety and I’m completely smitten. Sandia Bertha is a waterlily-form dahlia with gorgeous deep burgundy coloration with brilliant purple undertones. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Steve and Sandy Boley, the hybridizers of this gorgeous dahlia, at my recent visit to . Sandy told me that Sandia Bertha is an excellent seed parent, so I’ve been using her in my hybridization work this season and can’t wait to see the results! There’s always been a special place in my heart for waterlily-form dahlias. What do you think of this variety?

10/02/2025

In today’s dahlia appreciation post I’m featuring the variety Ferncliff Rusty. This is a relatively new variety for us, but she has impressed me with her bumper crop of beautiful multi-toned blooms with long, strong stems. Her color is a wonderfully moody, dusky rose and the smaller bloom size is perfect to tuck into bouquets and arrangements. What do you think of this variety?

10/01/2025

Today’s dahlia appreciation pick is Peaches and Dreams! This dahlia is one of the first varieties I ever grew, and is a peachy yellow Formal Decorative beauty. She’s an excellent cut flower and sends up loads of blooms all season. Her colors deepen as the temperature drops in the fall making her stand out both in the field and in arrangements. I’ve been growing this variety for five years now and she never disappoints. What do you think of Peaches and Dreams?

09/30/2025

Today’s dahlia appreciation pick is Cornel Bronze. This variety is a workhorse and pumps out the blooms all season. She is another flower farm staple due to her tall, strong stems and long vase life. Her bronze petals look beautiful in fall arrangements and complement all the fall colors. What do you think of this variety?

09/29/2025

Our dahlia appreciation week was well received, so I thought we’d extend the dahlia love into this week. After all, there are so many dahlias we appreciate!

Today’s pick is Jowey Winnie, a cut flower farm staple. There’s so much to love about her: beautiful, prolific blooms, strong stems, great vase life, and a good tuber producer. She’ll always have a place here on the farm!

Plus, my grandmother was named Winnie, so this variety will always have a special place in my heart. ❤️

09/26/2025

Our late summer farm recap is here!

The warmer temperatures this week make it seem like summer is holding on here in the Hudson Valley. For me, September is always a bittersweet month. I can see the flowers transitioning and know we …

09/26/2025

Today in our dahlia appreciation week I’m featuring Ivanetti! This variety is a prolific bloomer and the berry-hued flowers with a purple undertone are simply stunning. They add a beautiful complement to fall arrangements or look gorgeous in a vase on their own. What do you think of this variety?

09/25/2025

The next variety I’m featuring in our dahlia appreciation week is Kelgai Ann. This waterlily-form dahlia is one of my all-time favorites. There’s something about her pale pink petals and peony-like blooms that takes my breath away. Her blooms are elegant and sophisticated, reminding me of a bygone Victorian era. And her gorgeous blooms close at night, making them all the more endearing. What do you think? Would you grow her in your garden?

09/24/2025

On day three of dahlia appreciation week, I’m featuring Peaches-N-Cream. This formal decorative-form dahlia is an absolute delight. She’s productive, long-lasting, and oh so beautiful. Just look at those colors!

09/23/2025

For day two of our dahlia appreciation week, I’m featuring the variety Isabel. She is a prolific bloomer with long, strong, straight stems and lasts beautifully in a vase. Her color is incredible, almost chameleon-like, with lavender to dusty rose blooms with orange/bronze undertones. And her 3-4 inch bloom size is perfect for mixed bouquets. She is a must-grow on Whistling Bee Farm!

09/22/2025

We’ve had a slow start to our dahlia season due to months of challenging weather. But, in September they are hitting their stride. With cooler temperatures moving in and threats of early frost a possibility, we’ve already let many of our dahlias go to seed. I will collect all the seed for our dahlia hybridization work and it will be planted next season. Unfortunately, this makes our dahlia season seem extra short this year. So, I’m spending as much time as possible in the dahlia patch, soaking in their beauty.

Since it’s dahlia season, I thought I would highlight some of our favorite varieties this week. This is Copper Boy, a beautiful, coppery addition to fall arrangements. I adore its color, which almost glows in metallic highlights. Do you have Copper Boy in your dahlia garden?