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Dreamland Flower Farm Small Flower Farm. Flower share (csa), DIY flowers for weddings and events, and serving floral desig
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Jowey Joshua dahlia is one of those special dahlias I can never seem to let go of. She came to me by accident- as a mis ...
14/03/2023

Jowey Joshua dahlia is one of those special dahlias I can never seem to let go of. She came to me by accident- as a mis labeled tuber from another farm. It took me years to figure out who she was.
I haven’t grown very many of her over the years because I want sure how I would use her in arrangements.

After years of debating and wondering…. I’ve decided I simply love her and I’m keeping her. Sometimes I don’t have the best rational as to why I keep dahlias.

Usually I have strict criterial in order for me to keep a variety. Jowey Joshua falls into all the right categories for the technical sides of growing… her coloring is more unusual for me. I don’t normally grow bi colored dahlias but she is sooooo good for the fall.

Anyone else grow a dahlia just because she emotionally catches you? I would love to hear your thoughts.

There are numerous shapes and sizes to dahlia blooms. There are also numerous traits that a dahlia must have for me to k...
02/03/2023

There are numerous shapes and sizes to dahlia blooms. There are also numerous traits that a dahlia must have for me to keep it in my collection. I’ve been growing dahlias for almost 20 years and I have kept detailed notes on hundreds of dahlias. There are so many to fall in love with. Like many addictions we have- we tend to fall in and out of love with different aspects of obsessions 😍.

This time of the year I think back on the dahlias that stood out in my mind. I go over hundreds of photos. I dream about what the field will look like this year.

Peaches N cream, “Julie’s peaches which is a true sport of Peaches N Cream and KA Rosie Jo are all stand outs.
All three of them have:
Strong stems
Bump out the blooms all season long
Aren’t bothered by the weather
Are fairly disease resistant
Have excellent growing habits
Make great tubers that store well
Blooms last once they are cut
Play well with other colors in bouquets
Are a highly desirable color
The bloom size is easy to work with
The blooms travel well
The petal count is high
Uniformity of the blooms

The list goes on and on.
Every year I add new varieties and I cull ones that don’t make the cut. I would rather grow less varieties and love the ones I have than grow ones that I’m not in love with.
Sometimes more is less… as long as you have tons of those that you have less of 😍😍

Like so many flowers I grow -they take months and even years of planning and research. Learning how to grow certain flow...
16/02/2023

Like so many flowers I grow -they take months and even years of planning and research.
Learning how to grow certain flowers in your climate and in your soil takes time, knowledge and experimentation.

I fell head over heals in love ranunculuses a few years ago. I did not have any room to plant them and I decided I would figure out a location for them. Well, I figured out a solution but it wasn’t exactly ideal. My lawn, in bulb crates under a caterpillar tunnel… in February with two feet of snow. Not exactly I great solution. But I made it worked with lots of sleepless nights and tons of worry. Last year we had less snow but I did not have a new solution for their location so I grew them the same way.
This year with the new farm I figured - go big!! You have the room. Nope!!!
I’ll be planting the ranunculuses in bulb crates under a caterpillar tunnel. Right now if you click on stories you can see what they look like right now.
I am not advocating for growing this way in zone 6 without a high tunnel but for me I have made it work with lots of pampering for the ranunculuses. This year I have tons of new babies- I can’t wait.

Even in the middle of the winter there are tons of things to do on the farm. The ranunculuses are going to be amazing th...
13/02/2023

Even in the middle of the winter there are tons of things to do on the farm. The ranunculuses are going to be amazing this year! Why you ask… because I am planting a bazillion of them. Loads of pinks, peaches, salmons and whites! I can’t wait. It is going to be my biggest year for ranunculuses.

I am in zone 6 in CT and I don’t have the optimum going environment for them. I go against the rules and I have figured out what works for me.

I soak them for 3-4 hours
I pre sprout them in trays with dirt and a plastic lid in a very cool dark place for at least 2 weeks. I slightly dampen the soil and water a bit if the soil dries out. Usually this doesn’t happen.

Then I preplant the corms in flats and put them under lights in a 55-60 degree basement for three weeks. The lights are on from 5am to 10 pm

Then I plant them in bulb crates outdoors under frost cloth and in a caterpillar.

It takes tons of work and it’s waaay more work than it needs to be but for now I am addicted to ranunculuses and this is what I need to do to have these amazing flowers.

Ranunculuses are absolutely amazing flowers that bloom from late April until mid June.

I’ll share more… for now, I’m dreaming of thousands and thousands of ranunculuses

We all know by now I love working with pink flowers. When a bride comes to me and says they love all shades of pink and ...
06/02/2023

We all know by now I love working with pink flowers. When a bride comes to me and says they love all shades of pink and they are open to a variety of flowers….. ooooh laaa laa my brain goes nuts! Of course in a good way 😍

The combination of texture, color, shape and tone makes my heart sign. Adding the pastel yellows and light lavender were her requests and I love the playfulness of all the spring -early summer colors together.

On these cold winter days I am going through my special wedding floral moments. I’m busy selecting my images that best r...
04/02/2023

On these cold winter days I am going through my special wedding floral moments. I’m busy selecting my images that best represent the florals I love to create and the direction I am headed. I have created amazing florals for my couples over the past four years and I want to hone in on what makes my florals extra special and why I create what I do within the vision of my couples.
I am a flower farmer who grows flowers for weddings, events and special occasions. I love the flower farmer florist aspect of my business and I am intentionally moving in a direction that speaks to a specific customer. I am seeking customers who value locally grown, who support small businesses, that love the artistic side of flower arrangements, who are willing to trust the process and understand that flower farming is a combination of passion, hard work, communication, science and art.

The customers I have worked with over the years have been superb and the florals I am most proud of are ones where we have worked together to create a true vision and I’m not bound to particular flowers- but rather a color palette and mood for the day.

I adore flowers and I love creating. I will updating my website with more wedding florals soon.


It’s been a crazy few days since our dahlia tuber shop opened. I wanted to let you know I have returned all the emails I...
01/02/2023

It’s been a crazy few days since our dahlia tuber shop opened. I wanted to let you know I have returned all the emails I have received. If you have not heard back from me, please check your spam box or resend your original email. I am doing my very best to answer any questions you have.
On a side note I am busy doing my research and searching for new dahlias to trial at the farm. I am also planning my seedling bed which is going to an awesome new area for more trials.

Thank you everyone who ordered dahlia tubers yesterday. I opened my dahlia shop and you were all graciously waiting on y...
29/01/2023

Thank you everyone who ordered dahlia tubers yesterday. I opened my dahlia shop and you were all graciously waiting on your computers for the opening to begin. I appreciate your support and all the wonderful emails you sent. I can’t wait to start packing up my babies and sending them your way when the weather warms up. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I love sharing my dahlias and educating you along the way. There are still fantastic dahlias on the website if you are looking to add a few more or you know of friend who needs a “new addiction”. I will leave my shop open….. and if I have the opportunity to add some more back online you will be notified by email.

That you again for making Dreamland Flower Farm the success it is. As we say on the farm… “team work makes the Dream work all that much better” 😍

Photo of Caitlyn’s Joy dahlia

It’s been awhile since I have introduced myself. Hello, I’m Merrie the creator, flower farmer, chief decision maker and ...
26/01/2023

It’s been awhile since I have introduced myself.

Hello, I’m Merrie the creator, flower farmer, chief decision maker and director of the nuttiness at Dreamland Flower Farm in CT. As you might have noticed I love flowers!! I have always loved flowers since I was a little girl. I used to go out and cut daffodils as soon as they were ready…. And I was the kid who was begging for flowers for the fall holidays. Having fresh flowers in my room as a kid was the “best ever”.
Roll forward 50+ years and I still feel the same way. Growing flowers, tending flowers, teaching about flowers is part of my soul. I’ve learned about gardening and flower farming from a large variety of resources. I have been growing flowers for over 30 years and I launched Dreamland Flower Farm during the early part of the pandemic. Recently my husband and I bought a parcel of land to expand the farm and to include facilities for teaching.
I can’t wait for the farm land to come together. We spent a great deal of time, energy and money putting together our new location. It’s amazing right now even though it’s not complete . I can’t wait to show you. We started from woods and a small single story home.
When I am not working on the farm, making future plans, being a mom, taking care of our furry beasts, cooking, working on building the new house ….. I’m sleeping! Yup! Sounds crazy but the day is so jammed packed that when “all of IT” is done for the day- I fall asleep on the couch. Don’t get me wrong- I wouldn’t trade this for the world. My husband and I are building a place like no other and we are so excited.
On a fun note- I love to white water kayak even in the winter, I love to bake cookies, I love to bike ride, I love to travel and I love to create. I have loads of hobbies and I am in the mist of combing them all on the farm. Wait to you see the farm bike !!! What to you see all the goodness.
For the next few days I will be focusing on my dahlia tuber shop which opens on January 28th. Link is in the bio. I am also working with the lucky couples who have chosen me to create florals for them for their wedding for 2023.
It’s going to be another gorgeous year of flowers and fun.

Valley Rust Bucket dahlia…. You don’t hear about her often, I’m not sure why. She is a 2.5”-3” bloom and nice sturdy ste...
25/01/2023

Valley Rust Bucket dahlia…. You don’t hear about her often, I’m not sure why.
She is a 2.5”-3” bloom and nice sturdy stems. The orange blooms are just the right size to tuck into bouquets. She is a prolific bloomer and is a great tuber maker.

If you are looking to add a smaller size orange bloom to your collection- I highly recommend her.

Who else loves Valley Rust Bucket?

Reminder - Tuber sale starts January 28th at 4:00 pm eastern time

Dahlia Tuber shop opens…. January 28th at 4:00 pm eastern time Please click on the link and sign up for the newsletter t...
22/01/2023

Dahlia Tuber shop opens….
January 28th at 4:00 pm eastern time

Please click on the link and sign up for the newsletter to get all the up to date information about the sale.
If you are on the mailing list you should have received two emails this past week from Dreamland Flower Farm providing you with some great tips and info about the up coming tuber sale.

All of the varieties are on the site and prices are up to date. I will be making some small changes to the site between now and Saturday when the shop opens.

If you have questions please let me know here or email me directly. I will be answering questions between now and Thursday night.

I have 40% more tubers this year than last year but there is never enough for everyone.
I most likely will have a second store opening in late winter but most of the tubers will go on sale this Saturday.

As a small flower farm I am doing the very best I know how. I have heard from so many of you who were thrilled with your tubers from years past and are looking forward to the sale again. I thank you for your support!!

Dahlia featured: wine eyed Jill

The Fancy Four dahlia collection. This is the last of the four collections I created for 2023 for the online tuber sale....
21/01/2023

The Fancy Four dahlia collection.
This is the last of the four collections I created for 2023 for the online tuber sale.

I love this collection because not only are these dahlias amazing bloomers but they are ones that not everyone will have in their garden.

So set yourself a part from everyone else and grow these fluffy-wavy-whimsical ladies.

This collection contains four dahlias, one each of the following:
Korbs Summer Gala, Bahama Mama, Just Peachy and Hollyhill Black Beauty.

I am thrilled that I put this collection together. This curated collection allows you to shop with ease and at the same time provides you with confidence that the tubers you chose will be fantastic bloomers. These ladies will give you blooms from mid summer until frost!!!

The dahlia shop opens January 28th at 4:00 eastern time.
Please make sure to sign up for the newsletter so you get all the juicy details for the sale. Link in the bio.

Keep ‘Em Coming dahlia collection. This is the third collection of dahlias that I have created for the website. This col...
20/01/2023

Keep ‘Em Coming dahlia collection.

This is the third collection of dahlias that I have created for the website.

This collection contains one tuber of : Caitlyn’s Joy, Ivanetti, Cornel and Snoho Doris.

This collection is exactly what it says… Keep “them coming”. Yup!!! These dahlias will keep on blooming and blooming and blooming. These ladies are workers. I count on these ladies every day to do “their thing”. I wish all dahlias were as reliable as these four.

If you want dahlia to cut from consistently, then buy this collection. You have almost all the colors covered: pinky-purple, burgundy, red and orangey-yellow.

I highly recommend this collection if you want tons of blooms.

Reminder to sign up for my newsletter before Wednesday of next week to get all the details for the sale.
Link in bio above

The Dream Team Collection.This is the second collection I am featuring. It contains four tubers. One each of the followi...
19/01/2023

The Dream Team Collection.

This is the second collection I am featuring. It contains four tubers. One each of the following: Cafe Au Lait, Valley Porcupine, Peaches N cream and White Nettie.

These four dahlias are excellent addition to your cutting garden. Each of these dahlias were selected for a variety of reasons. Click on the link above for details “dahlia tuber” on the website.

I adore all four of these dahlias. You know I have a special place in my heart for Valley Porcupine as well as Peaches N cream.

I made these collections for you so it’s easier to shop and for you to have a curated collection for your own garden. I highly recommend this collection.

Please sign up for the newsletter for all the up to date details on the tuber sale. Only those on the mailing list will have the opportunity to learn everything before the shop opens. The link for the newsletter is in the bio above.

Hot Shots Dahlia Collection. For the next four days I will feature each of the dahlia collections that are on my website...
18/01/2023

Hot Shots Dahlia Collection.

For the next four days I will feature each of the dahlia collections that are on my website.

This is Hot Shots: one tuber of each of the following varieties
Ice Tea
Blizzard
Skipley spot of gold
Maroon Fox

I make collections to help customers choose outstanding dahlias to grow. All four of these dahlias are so worth growing for numerous reasons. Read online for more details.

The collections also offer you the convenience of clicking once and adding four different amazing dahlias into your cart- no surfing the site. One click and your done.

Last year I introduced collections to my site and customers truly enjoyed the selections I created and the ease it gave them in shopping.

What collection is on your wishlist ?

The tuber shop opens January 28th at 4pm eastern time.

Sign up for the newsletter in the link above for all the details.

Congratulations to Autumn and Matt. I am honored that My florals could be part of your special day. You both look amazin...
17/01/2023

Congratulations to Autumn and Matt. I am honored that My florals could be part of your special day. You both look amazingly happy and utterly spectacular.

Thank you for giving me the creative space to work within your vision. Your photographer captured your moments beautifully.

The dahlias and all the shades of peaches, soft pinks and light yellow are a perfect blend for you and Matt.



The dahlia tuber shop is opening soon!!!Save the dateSaturday, January 28th at 4:00pm EST.  I’m thrilled to be opening m...
15/01/2023

The dahlia tuber shop is opening soon!!!
Save the date
Saturday, January 28th at 4:00pm EST.

I’m thrilled to be opening my shop in two weeks. Please sign up for the newsletter to get all the updates!! I have exciting things happening at my sale and only those signed up will receive ALL the announcements and special information.

Click the link in the bio 👆

I’m so excited I finally found a fantastic copy of the Encyclopedia of Dahlias by Bill McClaren. I have been searching f...
12/01/2023

I’m so excited I finally found a fantastic copy of the Encyclopedia of Dahlias by Bill McClaren. I have been searching for a copy in excellent condition. It finally arrived today and when I opened it up to my surprised it is signed by Bill McClaren !!!
Yipppeeee!!!!!!!

I’m such a dahlia geek and I’m loving my new book.

Maroon Fox dahlia Maroon Fox dahlia is one of those colors that is difficult to describe but easy to fall in love with. ...
10/01/2023

Maroon Fox dahlia

Maroon Fox dahlia is one of those colors that is difficult to describe but easy to fall in love with.
The color is the perfect blend of burgundy and deep merlot. She is definitely not red and she is not purply like Ivanetti.

She is a shorter plant- 3.5’ and her bloom size is 2.5-3”. She blooms like crazy and love to push more stems.

The first photo shows her with larger blooms like- KA Rosie Jo, Peaches N cream, Zebrano.

I love growing Maroon Fox because she is incredibly reliable and easy to use in floral work.

As I cull varieties I always make a list of “must grow”…. And maroon fox is most definitely on it.

I am going to be sending out newsletter update tomorrow or Wednesday. Keep an eye out for it. I’ll have some good info about the dahlia sale and what is going on at the farm.

Zebrano dahlia is a more unknown variety. She is fantastic ! Her pointy decorative bloom is about 4”. The bloom is upwar...
05/01/2023

Zebrano dahlia is a more unknown variety.

She is fantastic ! Her pointy decorative bloom is about 4”. The bloom is upward and outward facing which makes her easy to use in floral work.
Her coloring is pinky to lilac depending on the timing in the season. I love the formality of her petals and the fact that she consistently blooms once she starts.

Her tubers are great and I love that she is always there when I need her in the field.

I know everyone’s must have list is getting longer and longer …. I know the feeling all too well. I say give Zebrano a second look. She how she will fit in for you. I know you will fall in love with her.

2022 has been a year to remember for numerous reasons….. I can’t even begin to count the ways. These two images are repr...
02/01/2023

2022 has been a year to remember for numerous reasons….. I can’t even begin to count the ways.

These two images are representative of years of work in the making but the physical work an actual progress to be measured to show you all came down to four-five months of killer hard months of working non stop.
Countless hours and consults went into making a wooded area and junk yard into a beautiful flower farm with viable soil.
I can’t tell you how many times I told myself I was nuts for taking this project on.
I walked the wooded 5.5 acre property over a year and a half ago. I envisioned a farm and house that would work for us as a family and for a prosperous farm.

I knew it would take everything I had to create magic and success.

I am not complaining and I simply want the community to know that flowers don’t just appear… many years of hard work go into creating the absolutely beautiful flowers that I grow.

I love what I do!!! I love my flowers. I love my family.
This new location which is still in massive transition will be amazing by the end of 2023!!!

I can’t wait!!
Thank you for coming along on my journey.

Please sign up for the newsletter to learn more details about the farm.

Caitlyn’s Joy dahlia She is one of those dahlias I can never get enough of….. why you ask…. The list is longShe is proli...
28/12/2022

Caitlyn’s Joy dahlia

She is one of those dahlias I can never get enough of….. why you ask…. The list is long

She is prolific bloomer

She is consistent all season long

Her coloring is like no other dahlia- pinky- purpley, kisses of salmon

Her 2.5”-3” ball size is perfect for bouquets and arrangements

She blends well with numerous other dahlias

Her stems are long and strong

Her tubers are amazing

She always greets me in the field with cheer.

Who else is totally hooked on Caitlyn’s Joy? Is she on your list ?

I’m still working on dividing the dahlias.
The good news is I have less than 100 bulb crates to go!! Yippppeee! I’m aiming to be done by the middle of January.

On behalf of the holidays I wanted to share two dahlias that are not only representative in color for this time of year ...
23/12/2022

On behalf of the holidays I wanted to share two dahlias that are not only representative in color for this time of year but they are also “must haves” for those who are making a list.

Cornel is the first dahlia.
Ivanetti is the second dahlia.

Both a simply must haves. Cornel is a rich red 3” ball that was introduced in 1994. Honestly she is so good that she is the only red dahlia I grow. She spoils me all season long with prolific blooms on long stems.

Ivanetti has my heart all the time. She is 3” purple-burgundy ball that was introduced in 1999. She is classified as a purple but she is more deep burgundy with a cool shades that give her the purple hue.

Both Cornell and Ivanetti have the same growing habits. They are about 4 feet tall and have average to small thick dark leaves. Both of them were Hybridized by Geerlings. The tubers are usually average to small size.

I adore both of these dahlias. If they aren’t on your must grow list, please consider them! No garden for me is complete without them.

I want to hear who grows them and loves them as much as me.

I will have both in the dahlia shop when I open in late January - early February. Sign up for the newsletter to be notified.

Camano Buzz Dahlia Camano Buzz is one of those dahlias that you rarely hear about. Why I have no idea. She is awesome or...
19/12/2022

Camano Buzz Dahlia

Camano Buzz is one of those dahlias that you rarely hear about. Why I have no idea. She is awesome orange bloom with high petal count and is considered a formal decorative dahlia. The bloom size is 3-4” and blooms earlier than Maarn. She is a tall prolific bloomer and is a clear winner when it comes to a bright orange color. She makes great tubers too.

If you need a fantastic orange dahlia for your garden or market bouquets I highly recommend her.

I will have her available in my tuber shop when I open in 4-6 weeks.

I’m sending a newsletter out soon about details about the online tuber sale. So if you haven’t signed up yet, please do so now so you can get the inside scoop.

Ice Tea Dahlia She is definitely going to be in my tuber shop in late January or early February.I highly suggest adding ...
17/12/2022

Ice Tea Dahlia

She is definitely going to be in my tuber shop in late January or early February.

I highly suggest adding Ice Tea to your dahlia collection.

She is a fantastic peachy- tawny decorative dahlia that is 3” in size. She is a shorter and bushier plant than other dahlias. She is a prolific bloomer and makes some of the best tubers!!

What I love about her is her slight color shift. Not a lot, but enough that she is a great fall color for blending with different dahlias in arrangements, in the garden or simply in a vase with three blooms.

She is fairly tolerant of pests and inconsistent weather.

She is taking up some serious real estate in the field next year and I can’t wait.

She doesn’t get the fan fair she deserves from other growers but I believe she is a strong contender for the foundation for Fall coloring in the field.

Are you a fan yet??

Ooohhh laaa La ! This is Verkist Glacier. She came to me partially labeled and it took me quite some time to figure out ...
12/12/2022

Ooohhh laaa La !
This is Verkist Glacier.

She came to me partially labeled and it took me quite some time to figure out her true name.

I have spent three years studying her and figuring out her habits.

The bottom line- I love her for being who she is!
She is a very tall plant with long strong stems. Her blooms are creamy white and her petals are informal decorative family. The bloom size is about 4-5” . She makes strong tubers. I have just a hand full last year in my tuber sale. This year I will have more to share.
If you are looking to grow a more unusual white dahlia that is consistent then give her a try. I love adding her to bouquets.

A little reminder …Gift certificates are available online on the website.Gift certificates make great gifts for those wh...
09/12/2022

A little reminder …
Gift certificates are available online on the website.

Gift certificates make great gifts for those who would like to buy dahlia tubers when the shop opens in late January-early February.

Buy a gift certificate now. Support small businesses and farms.

Garden theme weddingWhen the bride asks for dahlias, hydrangeas and texture for the table centerpieces. I love designing...
06/12/2022

Garden theme wedding

When the bride asks for dahlias, hydrangeas and texture for the table centerpieces.

I love designing and creating unexpected- gorgeous-lush combinations from the fresh flowers I grow on the farm.

Check out my website for wedding florals. I have availability for 2023. Contact me to inquire if your date is still open.

Korbs Summer Gala dahlia has been a wonderful addition to my dahlia collective. She arrived by accident as a mis labeled...
04/12/2022

Korbs Summer Gala dahlia has been a wonderful addition to my dahlia collective.

She arrived by accident as a mis labeled cultivar. She is stunning. She bloomed her head off all season and wasn’t fussy about the hot dry summer we had.

She grew to be 6 feet tall and covered with blooms every week.

She made excellent tubers and I can’t wait to share them with you.

If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, please do so on my website. The newsletter will keep you informed about my tuber sale coming in late January or early February.

I’m still adjusting selections on my site. I will be adding some new cultivars and removing others. I will let you know when everything is up to date for the sale.

Congratulations to Christi and Tyler!! Their late September wedding was simply spectacular. They chose “select your own”...
02/12/2022

Congratulations to Christi and Tyler!!

Their late September wedding was simply spectacular.

They chose “select your own” style wedding florals and added many of their own touches throughout the day!

Location:

Photographer:tianna.photos
Florals:


Peachy- soft yellows-blush with loads of texture!! Dahlias, Lisianthus, strawflowers, celosias, Veronica’s, greens and a...
01/12/2022

Peachy- soft yellows-blush with loads of texture!!

Dahlias, Lisianthus, strawflowers, celosias, Veronica’s, greens and a few sunflowers make this bridal bouquet simply romantic and stunning at the same time. My bride was thrilled with her bridal bouquet and the rest of the flowers.

Click on the link in my bio and learn more about Dreamland’s farm fresh sustainable organically grown flowers for weddings.

All the flowers in this bouquet were grown right here in CT on our
farm.

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