This spring marks a significant endeavor with the planting of 13,000 dahlia seeds, meticulously collected from the previous autumn's harvest. The primary goal is to innovate and hybridize novel varieties that cater to the aesthetic demands of floral designers, flower farmers, and garden enthusiasts alike. Unlike dahlias propagated from tubers or cuttings, which yield exact replicas, seed-grown dahlias present a fascinating unpredictability, offering a diverse palette of forms and hues. The complete methodology for this dahlia breeding process will soon be unveiled, inviting aspiring horticulturists to delve into this rewarding pursuit.
A substantial portion of this current period is dedicated to the creation of an exhaustive book focused entirely on dahlias. This publication serves as a vessel to distill and share over 15 years of accumulated knowledge and passion for these remarkable flowers. The intensity of this project was recently showcased through a massive undertaking: the harvesting, sorting by color, detailed documentation, grading, and photographic capture of 650 distinct dahlia varieties. This monumental effort, requiring the collective dedication of Team Floret, yielded considerable progress, illustrating the profound commitment to presenting a rich visual and informational resource. The collaborative spirit is evident in moments captured, such as Jill meticulously writing about the flowers while Chris expertly photographs them in the background, all destined for the pages of this eagerly anticipated book.
The ongoing '#AYearInFlowers' initiative seeks to spotlight and celebrate the diverse floral tapestry blooming worldwide each week. Participation is streamlined into three easy steps: 'Capture' involves photographing seasonal flowers from one's garden or local market. 'Post' requires uploading these images to Instagram with the hashtag #AYearInFlowers or as a comment on the weekly Facebook post. Lastly, 'Share' encourages participants to include flower details, location, date, and optionally, their USDA hardiness zone and week number (e.g., #week33flowers) in their captions. This community-driven project fosters a global appreciation for seasonal blooms, allowing individuals to connect and share their unique floral discoveries.
Examples of global participation include vibrant Cosmos Daydream from Sioux Center, Iowa, playful scenes of children amidst sunflowers in Nutana Saskatoon, bountiful Kevin Floodgate dahlias from Seabeck, Washington, cheerful starflowers from Alton Bay, New Hampshire, and a charming impromptu arrangement for a new mother from Archbold, Ohio. These contributions exemplify the diverse beauty shared across different regions, highlighting the broad appeal and engagement with the #AYearInFlowers project. The use of standardized week numbers, common in the floriculture industry, facilitates the global sorting of these images and enables year-on-year comparisons of blooming cycles in individual gardens. This strategic tagging system ensures that next week's contributions, marked with #week34flowers and #AYearInFlowers, continue to enrich this growing floral archive.
This initiative not only documents the seasonal beauty of flowers but also fosters a vibrant, interconnected community of flower enthusiasts. Through shared images and stories, it paints a vivid picture of nature's cyclical artistry, reinforcing the simple joy and profound beauty that flowers bring to our lives. The project invites continued engagement, promising further weekly updates and a selection of participant photos, encouraging everyone to join in this global celebration of blooms.