Seed-Starting 101 Mini Course
BEST OF SKAGIT VALLEY
Home Blog Day 2 // Café au Lait dahlia giveaway!
December 20th 2014

Day 2 // Café au Lait dahlia giveaway!

Written by
Floret

Erin Floret Cafe au Lait dahlia
Welcome to day two of our “Five Days of Giveaways” party to celebrate the launch of our brand new online Shop.

A big congratulations to yesterday’s winner of the Farmer-Florist Toolkit  was Amber from Delta, B.C. who shared: “Besides the impossible: an early release of your upcoming book, an easy way to ship tubers and bulbs to British Columbia… On the list for me is your earlier book: Fresh from the Field Wedding Flowers as I will be helping my sister-in-law for her Orcas Island wedding this August. On my giving list: a box set of Alan Titchmarch’s garden tours in England for my mum. Happy Holidays to everyone at Floret!”

To continue the celebration, I’m giving away another great gift from the shop. This time it’s a Café au Lait Dahlia Collection!

The Café au Lait Dahlia doesn’t really need much of an introduction but if you don’t already know her personally, then you’re in for a treat. This ultra-romantic blush beauty is highly prized and coveted by floral designers and gardeners worldwide. You’ve likely seen them splashed across wedding Pinterest boards for the past few seasons now. The Cafe is a frequent star in photo shoots and a regular guest in high end design magazines. Virtually every late summer and early fall bridal bouquet that leaves our studio includes at least one of these exquisite blooms.

IMG_6146
If you’ve ever tried to track down tubers for this particular variety then you know how tricky they can be to find! I’m so excited to announce that there is now a limited quantity of Café au Lait Dahlia Collections available in the Floret Shop.

If you’d like to add them to your garden next season, be sure to get your order in soon because I have a feeling our small stockpile will be gone in a flash! Tubers will ship out in the spring once the chance of frost is over (late April-early May). If you plan to give them as a gift this holiday season, we have a gorgeous printable gift certificate that you can personalize and share with your loved one.

Cafe au Lait dahlia tuber collection
To enter to win a Café au Lait Dahlia Collection, simply leave a comment below and share what new flower varieties you hope to grow in the coming year.

*Please note, this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. (So sorry international friends —they can only be shipped domestically.)

The winner will be announced here tomorrow along with our next exciting giveaway. Good luck!

226 Comments

  1. Yolanda on

    The cafe au lait dahlia is a beautiful peaceful gift that gives an abundance of happiness and smiles. Thank you for everything you do and always know it’s sincerely appreciated 🧡

    Reply
  2. Lisa Childs on

    Hello
    I love my floret books especially growing a cutting garden! I am so excited to be growing monk’s hood , Solomon seal Jacobs ladder and verbena for the first time. Every year I try to explore growing something new. Please keep sharing. I learn so much from you. You help me feel confident as an ever learning gardener!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer Geary on

    Grew my first dahlias last summer in the community garden and now I’m hooked! I swap flowers for veggies. Would love to try the Cafe Au Lait in 2018.

    Reply
  4. kontol on

    Hi, I desire to subscribe for this webpage
    to obtain latest updates, so where can i do it please help.

    Reply
  5. Val Jalava on

    Just love the Cafe Au Lait Dahlias ,can you please tell me where I can order them from
    I leave in BC Canada and I do have a U.S. Post office mail box I would really love to order a few of these bulbs please help
    Thanks Val

    Reply
  6. Clinton Eshelman on

    We are growing Cafe Au Lait for our wedding!! They are going to be gorgeous!! I want to start our own Cafe Au Lait Dahlia garden!!!! Would love to win this!

    Can’t wait to see my beautiful bride, Kelli Keuning walking down the aisle in a month!!

    Reply
  7. Gracie P on

    Can I just say..I think I’m in blog-love. You are living a dream of mine, thank you SO much for sharing! Cafe au lait dahlias are some of my favorites ..this blog. Can’t believe I just found it!

    Reply
  8. Tere Smith on

    What a beautiful dahlia to complement the colors of early dawn in my garden….what a photograph and a lovely addition to my morning cup of tea on the deck

    Reply
  9. Heather S on

    I hope to grow more varieties of dahlias! :)

    Reply
  10. Jenny on

    Dahlias and more dahlias!

    Reply
  11. Addison Wilhite on

    I would definitely love to plant some Cafe au Lait Dahlias this next year!

    Reply
  12. sarah c on

    I plan on planting many more dahlias, zinnias and sunflower this year!

    Reply
  13. Sarah on

    Trying some new dahlia varieties this year, but especially excited to try growing some cute “Strawberry Fields” gomphrena ;)

    Reply
  14. Bonnie on

    I will be growing lots of Calendula varieties, I’d like to try some dahlias, rananculus, sunflowers, and daisy.

    Reply
  15. Leslie Emanuels on

    Since I am not in the Northwest and I live in such a different climate (Kansas), I wondered how dahlias would grow. They are glorious! Sweet Erin sent me some last year and I had huge bouquets weekly for months. It makes me all happy inside just thinking about it! So all y’all who are in different areas, go for dahlias. You will be so blessed.

    Reply
  16. wasabi honey bee on

    Oooh so lovely!!! I love Dahlias, but have never grown them. This year I plan on trying more bulbs. I’ve never planted a bed of tulips, but think this will me the year : )

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!!

    Reply
  17. Kim Stearns on

    When I first saw how big and beautiful they are how could you not be inspired to at least try growing Cafe au Lait dahlia’s. Simply beautiful…

    Reply
  18. Jamie Sammons on

    Well first off, these beautiful Cafe au Lait dahlias is my first new variety I wish to grow this year!!!! Breathtaking! Also, I fell in love with the look of the scabiosa variety of zinnia. Here’s a few others on my plant list for 2015… Chrichton Honey Dahlia, Shiloh Noelle Dahlia, and Ice Cube Dahlia. I was also be attempting some Iceland Poppies for the first time. Good luck to all you growers out there and I hope that the 2015 season will bring you bounties of blooms!

    Reply
  19. shelley on

    I would like to try any kind of peony, I’m in love with all your flowers, and I live in a unique climate. I would also like to plant a few more rose bushes, not sure which kind.

    Reply
  20. Ros on

    I remember growing dahlias as a girl growing up. It’d be fun to have my own now!!

    Reply
  21. Yelena Shumakova on

    Oh my goodness! This is such an amazing giveaway!

    I’m trying a few different varieties of peonies and gladiolus this year!

    Reply
  22. Rachel on

    I got a big pile of dahlia tubers from a local grower who is moving on from flower farming. I am so excited to see them in bloom!

    Reply
  23. Dru on

    Who WOULDN’T love Cafe au Lait dahlias?!?!?!??? I grow about 100 dahlias for my gardening clients,,,, the elusive Cafe au Lait,,,,,,,, ooooohhh wouldn’t THAT be funnnn!!!!

    Reply
  24. Lauren on

    I found sweet Zinderella zinnias! So cute and amazing colors! I also can’t wait to grow the double click cosmos again:)

    Reply
  25. Kim Anspach on

    Because of the beautiful results you shared with your sweet pea trials I will be giving sweet peas a try this year. I am going to start them in an unheated hoop house in January and hope for a cool Kansas spring.

    Reply
  26. Michelle H. on

    Those are just gorgeous! I’m hoping my buddelia and lilac cuttings will be vigorous young plants next spring, and I can’t wait to try some Hopi Dye sunflowers.

    Reply
  27. Julia on

    I would love, love to grow more peonies. I live in Ellensburg, WA where the wind and drought conditions make flowers a hard crop sometimes. But, peonies love it here and with a wind break, they are lovely!

    Reply
  28. Christine Brown on

    These are stunning! Congrats on your new venture!! I have my heart set on growing lavender and David Austin roses. Would love to add these to my garden!!

    Reply
  29. Tobey nelson on

    Holy comment list, batgirl! This year I am adding several Epimedium, Thalictrum, Heuchera, clematis and Astilbe to my garden, along with Sanguisorba and some bushes like varied Weigela. I would love to add some cherished Cafes to my Whidbey Island garden! Perhaps if I am not chosen there will be a few shriveled tubers left in your shop for me to pray over! Thanks so much for rockin the locally grown movement and taking it all the way to Martha!

    Reply
  30. Rachel on

    Zinnias! These dahlias would be amazing to grow; they look lush indeed! My brother recently got engaged and my future sister-in-law’s favorite thing in the world is flowers. She is planning on arranging her own bouquets for the wedding, and I think this would be such a gorgeous addition.

    Reply
  31. Carol on

    I would love to watch these beautiful dahlias bloom in my garden. I am going to try ranunculus and sweet peas this year too.

    Reply
  32. Laura on

    I want to try planting the Gessekai tree peony and some clematis, along with the sorbet colored dahlias from your collection!

    Reply
  33. Lindsey on

    I’ve been scanning through the heirloom seed catalog and hope to plant a few new flowers, although space and money is tight for us! I ended up planting dahlias at my parents’ last year. I’d love to see a vine over our porch railing – clematis, sweet pea (Old Spice? Some nice fragrant variety) or morning glory, along with the climbing rose I started from a cutting last year … and some dahlias of course, blooming happily on the other side!

    Reply
  34. Kari on

    I’m going to add bupleurum, japanese anenome, and astilbe to my garden next year!

    Reply
  35. Colleen W. on

    I would be just over the moon…

    Next season, I am hoping to grow… more bulbs!! Also pining after Fritillaria… Fritillaria persica ‘Ivory Bells’ is perfect. Plus as many Hellebore as I can manage.

    Reply
  36. Emily on

    Well, dahlias thanks to your certified organic tubers!! And lisianthus thanks to another organic farmer’s plugs. This little organic farmer is excited to up her game in 2015!

    Reply
  37. Heather Olsen on

    If I had a place to garden, I’d like to try anemones…maybe I’ll have to try them in a container.

    Reply
  38. Monika McNair on

    We recently moved into a 1970’s ranch that was completely remodeled like on HGTV, but the outside needs a LOT of work. Making plans for a veggie garden and lots of flowers. Dahlias were my Grandmother’s favorite in her garden in Berlin/Germany, so they will get a special place. Would love to add your beautiful Café auLait.
    Thank you for sharing your flower passion with us. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  39. Chelle on

    Amazing giveaway ! Thank you for everything you do, over the past year you have helped give me confidence to pursue my dreams in agriculture seriously.
    We finally were able to move into a house and have a yard last year. One thing I plan to grow next year is Milkweed for the declining monarch population as NE is in their direct migration route. They hit their peak of 1 billion in my childhood and I think I saw 5 or 6 only last summer.
    Thanks again!

    Reply
  40. Erica on

    This year I will be growing gladiolus for the first time. I have fond memories of my grandfather taking me into his garden to pick my very own bouquet of his precious flowers as a little girl. I can’t wait to show him my own gladiolus this summer!

    Reply
  41. Shelley R on

    Love dahlias and Cafe au lait is especially stunning!!! I’m still trying to find the best place to overwinter my collection in zone 7 where I live. We don’t have a basement, so it gets a little tricky. Each year we add more perennials, bulbs, shrubs, & ornamental grasses to our landscape to reduce turf & therefore maintenance.

    Reply
  42. Sierra on

    The floret family has been so inspiring this past couple years! Last year we grew sweet peas with the help of your blog and they were amazing. This year we’re excited to add oak leaf hydrangeas, viburnums, nicotina sylvestres, philadelphus, alliums, peaches, larkspur, more berries and pods, edible and medicinal flowers and heirloom mums (to name a few). Cheers to the new year and may we all be surrounded by beautiful flowers!

    Reply
  43. Jane on

    I tried sweet peas and had success after following your method. Thank you! I am go to grow more this year.

    Reply
  44. Julie on

    We grew Dahlias last year and those darn spider mites got them so we will put better processes in place so that we can get ahead of them. This year we are adding more heirloom roses (David Austins and Bucks) and of course we are going to try some of those gorgeous Scabiosa flowered Zinnias.

    Reply
  45. Cara on

    Scabiosa zinnas and cone flowers are on my list to add to my garden this year! Cafe au laits would be a fancy addition!

    Reply
  46. Mary Anne LeRoy on

    This is truly an exquisite and spectacular Dahlia that simply must be part of my garden. I lost my entire Dahlia collection due to improper storage-my fault. It was such a painful lesson, it’s taken me a full year to grieve my tragic loss. Seeing your beautiful Instagram account I recognize and am inspired by your deep love of flowers which in turn has released me from my self imposed exile and inspired me to have Dahlias back into my garden. I have learned the hard lessons. I will be a careful shepherd of these beauties. You are inspiring!

    Reply
  47. Kelly G. on

    Helebores…all different varieties. Can’t wait to see what comes up!!!

    Reply
  48. heather on

    I would love to win this one for my mom. I am unable to grow anything in the coming year due to where I live so sure would love to win this one. Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  49. Rose Martinson on

    I remember a garden of long ago,….. Filled with Varieties of Roses,. Foxgloves,. Lilies,. As well as poppies,… I saw a young man cut my flowers as I was tucking my children into bed,…. I hushed,. Said a little prayer,.and tucked the babies to sleep in the light of a full moon,….. Days later,.. A woman passed away,. And it was reviewed to me that the vase of flowers that was given to her was from me????? I suppose the community recognized my signature combination…. I only stared into the young boys eyes and agreeded,… A secret garden was his gift to his mother,.. A secret garden was the goal I had planned ,not knowing its goal…… 10 years later,…. I still plant for Edith and her son,… Whom I don’t know his name………………..

    Reply
  50. Morgan on

    Snaps, Dahlias, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Scabiosa, Celosia, Sweet Peas…Ahhh the list goes on. So excited for this new adventure in flower farming! Also so happy for you Erin and the opening of your shop! You inspire so many!!

    Reply
  51. Liv on

    After joining Take Root Farm CSA this past summer I am completely hooked on farmer’s market flowers. Now my potager is turning into a cutting garden and I’ve also planted 1000 daffodils to naturalize on our two acres. I’m planning to start a tiny flower stand in front of our house this spring and summer selling little bouqets and baskets of berries!

    Reply
  52. Casey on

    What better flower to start growing with than the Cafe au Lait Dahlia? Such a versatile stunner!

    Reply
  53. Lia on

    Cafe au lait, how we love thee… I grew my first batch this past summer and now have them overwintering in my basement. The suspense is killing me, and plan to order more tubers just in case they don’t make it! Another variety that caught my eye is Ka Bloom. Gearing up to start a CSA next year, so my list is pretty endless. Erin, glad for all your success!!

    Reply
  54. caroline radice on

    madame butterfly snapdragons, lots of new sweet pea varieties from the baker creek catalogue and renee’s garden, and much more…

    Reply
  55. Caitlin on

    As a long-time vegetable farmer, I’m only in my third year of growing flowers for market and flower CSA shares, which have been a huge hit in my Connecticut community. I feel as though I’m still finding new layers of my love for growing flowers – I thank every single bloom for being who it is.

    My current favorite is black knight scabiosa – I’m partial to black flowers and anything with an unexpected texture. That said, I had one succession of snapdragons that was the most mysterious and luminous coral pink and orange, it took my breath away. Each flower was a sunset in and of itself.

    This will be my second season growing dahlias, and adding some cafe au lait to my growing collection of 300+ tubers would be a dream come true! What luscious beauties!

    Reply
  56. glenda on

    After recently moving back to the U.S. from Germany I am excited to replicate the self cut Blumen Fields close to our home abroad which included sunflowers, gladiolus, and Dahlias!

    Reply
  57. Carolyn Camp on

    This year I want to add various clematis vines to my garden and have been seeking out a retailer who stocks David Austen rose bushes. I had them at my previous home and fell in love with the fragrance and endless blooms. I also miss my café au lait dahlias. I had an unfortunate loss of tubers due to too much moisture this spring resulting in rot. They are so hard to find around here. A collection to share with my mom, who started me on these amazing plants would be so great.

    Reply
  58. Leslie on

    love to have their beauty surround me.

    Reply
  59. Liz on

    I am going to grow some fillers this year. I do enjoy tromping out back to forage greens, but I’m excited to try my hand at intenional plantings! I’m also looking forward to growing Nigella and hopefully some heirloom mums!

    Reply
  60. LeeAnn on

    I will be growing a vine-ing nastursium up my new cedar split rail fence. I’ve only ever grown the shorter bush variety, so I’m excited to see how well it will work in arrangements.

    Reply
  61. Stefanie H on

    Loved the March 25th, 2014 post on the”Favorite Foliages & Fillers.” New greens were brought to light……..flax, cress & scented geranium. I’m so looking forward to planting these new foliages next season.

    Reply
  62. Jackson Mahaney on

    I got some dorcas “dara” seed to try in our bouquets, and we’ve boxed dozens of dahlia tubers to get in the ground early this year. We also have about 7 different sunflower varieties to try – it’s going to be a really busy year (can’t wait!!). Thanks for the inspiration… Jackson @ Villa Fiore Botanicals

    Reply
  63. lucy ruth wright rivers on

    I’m planting anything that I can find that is clay friendly, drought tolerant and self sowing. (or perennial) Extra points for edibility and length of blooming season.

    Reply
  64. VillageKid on

    Oh my, what a leading question!! Having been a flower grower for years in the lower 48, but a mainly veggie grower these past 10 years in Alaska, I have reconnected with my soul building flower side this past year.
    David Austin roses, along with some other great varieties, Sweet Williams (one of my favs from childhood), some great foundation things like lilac, honeysuckle, willow and then comes the long list of seed like love in a puff, a dark poppy, some sages and some great cosmos…..I have not only been totally smitten but am totally in love, again!!
    Veggies will still be grown as we are building local sustainability for an area that is hardly there, but flowers will definitely bring smiles here too

    Reply
  65. Amy on

    Trying many new seeds this year! Lambada, Earl Grey larkspur, Elka poppy pods. Maybe some of the from-seed clematis, recta and another one I can’t recall the name of but it sounded right up our alley, cutting-wise. Maybe Korean? First timer on ranunculus this season, too. Fingers crossed. I’ve tried CALs for the last 2 seasons and got zilch despite great bloomage from other varieties from the same source. Sad face. I try so hard. Magic Floret tubers, yes!!! In the tunnel for sure. Want to say yes to a few brides this year :)

    Reply
  66. Laura on

    2015 planning started 5 minutes after the first snow storm of the year started here in western NY. The epic 4 day storm here left me desperate for spring before winter officially started. By day three of the storm I’d chosen the new beauties to join my garden party…Charlotte, Mary Rose, and Gertrude (Jekyll), the lovely ladies of David Austin Roses will be welcome additions. Snoho Doris, Shiloh Noelle, Stillwater Becky, and Elma Elizabeth are the newest varieties to join the colorful cast of dahlias.
    The accompaning new castmates will be hops, lisanthus, ammi, and zinnias of every color I can find.

    Happy holidays to everyone at Floret! And thank you for being a constant sourse inspiration to me and so many others!

    Reply
  67. Jenny on

    We will be trailing some native pollinator mixes. Im interested to see what happens with the Rocky Mountain bee plant. :-)

    Reply
  68. Jessica on

    Hoping to grow these beauties and to keep the peony growing in the yard of my first home going strong!

    Reply
  69. Kim on

    I’m going to grow Phacelia this year for a cut flower accent, it’s great for bee forage and is super productive !

    Reply
  70. Jillian (Fruition Flowers) on

    Gomphrena; with the short growing season we have here in NH, I’m often looking for these little clovers that dry true to their original color. BUT I would certainly prefer to have a show stopper like C au L… Even working for a wholesaler, I haven’t come across any that have survived the flight to the east coast.

    My admiration for your work to spotlight the farmer florist movement has moved me….right into a new career (I hope!). But isn’t that how the best things start; with seed and hope?!

    Reply
  71. Bobby on

    Hello Erin and Floret Flowers staff! Congratulations on the launch of your online gift shop! It’s exciting to see your business grow in leaps and bounds. With great passion comes great success :) I’m a younger gardener – gradually developing my green thumb season to season. I’ve fallen in love with Dahlias (How could you not?!) and zinnias and sunflowers are some of my favorites. This year though, I’m trying some new and exciting plants to add more of a structural element to my bouquets! I’m most excited about growing eryngium leavenworthii – the small purple ‘pineapple’ flowers are stunning! New adventures this summer will also include purple artichokes and craspedia. Thank you for this opportunity to win Cafe au Lait dahlias! Like others who read your blog – I have never seen these beauties outside of a photograph. I’m so excited to see what new and exciting things happen on your farm this season. Best,

    Bobby

    Reply
  72. Michael on

    I’ll be growing lavender and different colors of parrot tulips, a few dahlias, and roses, but given my location in warm California, most of the flowers I grow are a bit unconventional: kangaroo paw, leucospermums, leucadendrons, tuberose, aloha lily, billbergia, eucalyptus, kniphofia, salvia, euphorbia, cymbidiums, sedums, lots of flowering succulents, orchids, and others in my yard and greenhouse.

    Reply
  73. Marsha on

    First time growing anemones, trying to overwinter a few dahlias (from last year’s Floret bonus to SBP participants!). Fingers crossed.

    Reply
  74. Haley Olson-Wailand on

    wooooo doggie!!! Those are so beautiful. As for the new flower variety…I would like to grow some passionflower in my greenhouse this year.

    Reply
  75. Julia on

    So excited for the dahlia lottery! Next season I cant wait for a long row of hyacinth beans and love in a puff on the fences! And tuberoses!

    Reply
  76. Tracy on

    I love dahlias so much. I’m hoping to expand my collection this year. I’m hoping to grow heirloom chrysanthemums!

    Reply
  77. Tonya on

    This is the year that I’m diving completely in. I made the move to my own farm and my dream is becoming a reality. With my first batch of ranunculus and anemone safely tucked away in the hoophouse, my goal for production this season has increased almost 500%. Newcomers to my garden include: snapdragons, sweet peas, stock, and a few other early bloomers. Heck yeaaaaa! God bless!

    Reply
  78. Shari Cribbs on

    As much as possible!
    Merry Christmas to you & your darling family!

    Reply
  79. Robert Wallace on

    I grew dahlias for the first time last year on my little farm. We had an early subzero cold snap here in early November after an extended late fall, so I lost almost half of my dahlias. I would love to grow these beauties if selected. I am growing Anemones for the first time year and I can hardly wait to see them in bloom this spring. I peer under their little hoops and speak to them softly, “soon winter will end, and the warmth of spring will be yours.”

    Reply
  80. kriszn on

    I am trying ranunculus for the first time and I am excited to try Irish poet tassel seeds. Scabosia and Orlaya were my favorites from last year.

    Reply
  81. Amanda on

    We are branching out on our snapdragon production and adding opus and overture varieties.

    Reply
  82. Inna Olimpiyuk on

    I live in southwest Florida and would like to plant these dahlias or at least try it for sure

    Reply
  83. Jamie Rex on

    I would love to win these tubers! I grew them for years and this year all of the tubers were in a friends garden and she failed to get them out before freeze.
    I’m hoping to add some large peachy dahlias to my Minnesota garden this year. Nutley Surprise, and Honeymoon.

    Reply
  84. Kim on

    I’m adding green texture plants this coming year. From following y’all I realize beautiful blooms are only part of an unforgettable arrangement. That being said, I am blown away by those Cafe blooms. They are exceptional and will be the very first dahlia in what I hope will be a beautiful collection. Being an old granddaughter of an old southern gardener I am pleased to say I’ve past the gardening gene along and part of our heritage is tried and true plants that continue to be cut, cultivated and shared. I want to add these beauties to our family. Thank you for inspiration and renewal.

    Reply
  85. nikki on

    Iris, iris, more iris

    Reply
  86. Mindy on

    I recently decided to become a stay at home mom after 16 years working as a floral designer/ event manager. Flowers are my love– my passion! I miss them so very much. We moved across country for my husbands new job. And now I am starting a new garden. I worked for a large special events company and had the opportunity to always use the best product! Dinner plate cafe au lait dahlias is one of my favorites!! I would love to have them in my growing garden!

    Reply
  87. Jessica Jacobson on

    Cafe au lait! I would love to win some! My fiance and I have been growing dahlias for the last 3 years and have been really successful wintering them over (we live in eastern WA)! This year we got a deep freeze before they had frosted down and we lost ALL of our dahlias :( It was totally heart breaking not only because they are our babies but we have been collecting for our wedding next August! So we start over! Winning my FAVORITE dahlia to restart our collection would be amazing!

    Reply
  88. Paige patterson on

    I grew brown owl dahlias this year and they were incredible. Never seen them before. Need to have more. Copper shoot through with pink. Amazing. I’m trying to save the bulbs but I really don’t have the right storage conditions. I would love to grow langsdorffii and mutabilis nicotiana as a cut flower. I’ve gathered seed from my one plant to reseed in the spring. Happy Holidays to everyone at Floret.

    Reply
  89. emi love on

    I’m pleased to have discovered Gomphrena and am looking forward to planting it this coming year. Seems to be an easy pop of color for the garden and very likable flower for bouquets.

    Reply
  90. MRS WOLMA on

    oh Erin! what i wouldn’t give for some of your gorgeous flowers growing on our property… so excited for you and your new shop!! what an adventure my friend! congratulations!!!

    Reply
  91. Stephanie on

    I would love to try growing dahlias next spring, I’ve never grown them before, but my Dad did grow them years ago. Those look spectacular!

    Reply
  92. Ashley Wilson on

    I’m planning on planting lots of dahlias and sweet peas. I worked for a florist in college and fell in love with dahlias! I can’t wait to have some of my own.

    Reply
  93. Cassidy on

    These dahlias are gorgeous! It would be a dream to see these lovlies blooming in my garden.

    Reply
  94. Claire on

    This summer I want to grow as many varieties of dahlias funds & spaces will allow plus some green coneflowers and MOAR sunflowers. I want absolute armfuls of cut flowers.

    Reply
  95. Cassidy Demkov on

    Dahlias are my very favorite. It would be a dream to see these lovlies blooming in my garden.

    Reply
  96. Phoebe on

    I am very excited to try growing two new scabiosa varieties this year, “Black Night” and “Paper Moon”. Also “Rouge de Algier” cardoon, and a new variety of artichoke, “Imperial Star”. A dark purple variety of ammi, “Dara”. And Solomon’s seal! mystery variety…Thanks for the give-away!

    Reply
  97. Kelley Bowman on

    I’m hoping to add a new dahlia to my collection each year… we are also attempting peonies for the first time! Can’t wait til spring!

    Reply
  98. Jane Smith on

    After reading all of your blogs, postings, and newsletters am hopefully ready to pursue a bit of Flower farming this spring. Cafe au Laits are top on the list as are heirloom mums. Thank you for all of your inspiration.

    Reply
  99. KaCee Shepherd on

    I’ve pined over the cafe au last the entire season! This year I plan on starting a passion flower vine, expand my dahlia variety and add some gladiolus.

    Reply
  100. Laura on

    Because of you…I’m planting dahia’s for the first time this spring.

    Reply
  101. Carolyn Thompson on

    I am going to expand my dahlia collection, plant some zenia, sweet peas, cosmos…….in fact the list is endless – but also I need to persuade my husband to help me build a fence around my garden to keep out deer, chickens, goats and stray soccer balls – all of which can do immense damage to my beautiful flowers!

    Reply
  102. Shari D on

    Would love to grow e some cafe au lait for my dad! I’m planting of poppy anemones for spring.

    Reply
  103. Greta on

    I’ll be adding Karma dahlias, lisianthus, larkspur and antique mums. Plus, plenty more! I can’t wait til summer!

    Reply
  104. Amy Frye on

    I was just looking up Café au Lait Dahlias last night and hoping to grow them! How serendipitous. Also, sunflowers. And whatever else I can manage!

    Reply
  105. aubrey on

    with 1.8 newly acquired acres in the woods, we’re excited to plant some hellebore, ranunculus, scabiosa, cosmos, dahlias, sweet peas, hollyhock, nigella, tulips, lupin, anemones, muscari, craspedia, queen annes lace and of course, some dahlias :)

    Reply
  106. Monica on

    I’m hoping to get dahlias back in the ground and do another round of dwarf sunflowers. We planted our walkway with them last year and it was awesome! :)

    Reply
  107. Cindy on

    This past season I trialed and absolutely loved the Cynoglossum you wrote about in your blog and also Orlaya White Lace, both will be staples each year going forward. I grew a few of the Café Au Laits last season also – amazing! Next season I will be growing Stock for the first time, in my hoop house. I am also trialing several new Dahlias, a couple of new Zinnia colors, a few new Lisianthus, and a new Aster. I planted some Hydrangeas last fall, along with some Viburnum, and two varieties of Columbine to give me Spring blooms. Yes! I am serious about this flower farmer / florist stuff. It is so exciting to move forward and gain confidence in both my growing and designing abilities.

    Reply
  108. Lillian Kuo on

    I grew Cafe Au Lait for the first time this year and it was the best of my dahlias.Next year i want to try a sweet william from johnny’s seed that seem to have a ridiculously short crop time!

    Reply
  109. Evangeline Mahler on

    I am excited to grow paper moon scabiosa! Baker Creek had home gardener sized packets in their catalog this year.

    Reply
  110. emily on

    I am getting married in September and would LOvE a chance to grow some cafe ah lair dahlias!!

    Reply
  111. Diane VanAcker-Hopp on

    I tried dalhias this summer. Huge success. People were ordering bucket loads. I’ll definitely get more varieties for next year. We are also going big into hellobores this year. Love all your posts. Always encouraging for new growers!

    Reply
  112. Karen on

    I’d like to give lavatera a try this year – love that dusty mauve pink. Johnny’s new nigella offering looks interesting, and of course we just can’t seem to grow enough dahlias. Thanks for so much inspiration.

    Reply
  113. Marlys on

    I am hoping to try my hand at some dahlias this year and add to my peony collection! I love your work!

    Reply
  114. Winnie Pitrone on

    My husband and I have been growing cut flowers in Mendocino, Ca since 1992 and selling at farmers market up until 2012. We have now downsized our operation and moved growing locations, are now serving private clients, and plan to do events and small weddings. We mostly grow herbaceous perennials, shrubs and a select few annuals. My new exciting flower additions this coming year are heirloom roses. And perhaps some cafe au lait dahlias to add to our somewhat extensive dahlia collection!!

    Reply
  115. Maud on

    I love growing dahlias. They are my absolute favorite but I’d like to grow Verbena bonariensis. I worked for a gardener who loved it and I’d like to grow it in her memory.

    Reply
  116. Janet on

    Growing Dahlias is such a satisfying adventure. So much bounty! They make me grin whenever I see them! Cafe Au Lait would be a most welcome addition to our garden.

    Reply
  117. Melissa // Tanglebloom on

    I must say, I am most excited about growing dahlias for the first time on the east coast – I have a feeling it may be a bit different than growing them in Cali. Your dahlia collection at the farm is super inspiring and just ethereal! Warm winter wishes to you all.

    Reply
    • Suzi on

      I second that!!!

  118. Kelly Jensen on

    Love the Cafe Au Lait’s!!! I planted 2 this year , one didn’t even grow and the other didn’t get any blooms. I will be planting many more til I get a plethora!!! Oh, and probably at least one of every other flower! I would rather have a garden of flowers than jewels around my neck!❤️

    Reply
  119. Elissa on

    Dahlias are oh so lovely! I am excited to work in my garden with
    additional lovelies, hellebores, varieties of ranunculus, grape hyacinth ( my favorite, pink) and white anemones with black centers.

    Reply
  120. Mara on

    Lots of new dahlia varieties, peonies, bleeding hearts, sweet peas, the list is long! Inspired by the visual beauty from your and other flower farmers pictures!

    Reply
  121. Katie on

    I’m hoping to keep my ranunculus alive that I bought this summer. I’m a forgetful person and have a tendency to kill plants but so far so good. I love following you on Instagram and seeing the beauties you are graces with the ability to grow.

    Reply
  122. Jodi on

    These cafe au lait are at the top of my list of new flowers for the season ahead. Fingers crossed!

    Reply
  123. Karen on

    I will try Bridal veil nigella, Lime light hydrangea, Nine bark and Gooseneck strife……. Thank you.

    Reply
  124. Tracy on

    ….dreaming of summer on this cold wintry day, in colors of cafe au Lait! Many thanks for giving us all something to dream about. :)

    Reply
  125. Nicole S. on

    I was introduced to love in a puff vine two summers back. I’ll be trying some from seed this year! It’s great for adding as the “beauty mark” finishing touch on arrangements.

    Reply
  126. Julie Clausen on

    My daughter is here visiting for the holidays from Seattle and all she talks about is your website…. She would be soooo happy if I won the cafe’ au Lait dahlia bulbs!!!! Dahlias Forever!!!

    Reply
  127. GC Keiser on

    Many years ago I tore a page out of a magazine of a beautiful glass vase, with a giant cafe au lait dahlia, and stems of Love-In-A-Puff (Chartreuse) It became my go to wish for a stellar arrangement…. and still is. I also drink my coffee with lots of milk……….! I would love the Dahlia collection.

    Reply
  128. Abby Lee on

    I have a new 30×72 high tunnel this year …so it feel like a first growing many of my old stand bye in there and hopefully getting them earlier in the spring here in northern Maine. I have so many ideas to try in there. I already have kale,spin and lots of greens in. I have loads of alium,tulips,and daffodils in. I moved in some asparagus and planted two different garlic patches. In the spring I’m planning for a 72 foot row of sweet peas. I am also thinking of a grape vine,hops,a peach tree,a sweet cherry tree. I planted nicotania for the first time last year and it did awesome. This year I definitely plan to get the lime green seeds. I love them. They were out of stock last year. Having fun dreaming right now as the snow is up over the windows in my sunroom…

    Reply
  129. Kirsten on

    I received some dahlia seed from Baker Creek as part of a seed grant for our school, as well as some yellow cosmos. Both are new to me.

    Reply
  130. Julie @ Garden Delights on

    Cafe au Lait was the first dahlia I grew this year–and now I’m obsessed! I’m planning to add many more varieties to the cutting garden, but I’m also going to add more cafe au laits, too.

    Reply
  131. Sarah on

    Tracking your floral journey on Instagram has been so inspiring for me and my little flower garden. David Austin roses are some of my favorite flowers but my dahlias and peonies are second favs. I grew Zahara “Starlight Rose” Zinnias this year with great success! I would love to add some cafe au laite dahlias to the garden this year to see how they do here in southern Ca. :)

    Reply
  132. Meagan Claire on

    I’m living in a temporary rental, but I’ve tried to spruce up the yard the last year. Next year, I’m really hoping to grow some robust hostas. Something kept eating my sprouts last year, so I’ll be super vigilant in the coming season!

    Reply
  133. Lynn on

    I am anxiously awaiting Spring to grow Dahlia’s for the first time. I would love to add Cafe’ au Lait to my collection arriving from Swan Island. Thank you for continuing to inspire, and encourage the flower farmer in all of us!

    Reply
  134. Bonnie Ohara on

    Our daughter, Dahlia passed away this summer. We just bought our first home and are hoping to start a dahlia garden in her memory, of every variety we can find.

    Reply
  135. shanon on

    I’m hoping to plant some Persain Carpet zinnias next year. And I’m definitely hoping to win some lovely Café au Late tubers! Cheers!

    Reply
  136. Jenn Henry on

    For new blooms this year I’m trying my hand at some ranunculus in a bed with a mini hoop contraption over top- We’ll see how that goes! Then I’m planning for quite a few foxglove varieties- I’ve never planted them before and can’t wait to arrange with them this spring!

    Reply
  137. Suzi on

    Hi! This was my first growing season for our flower farm. Wanda passed away a year ago now and with her passing on she also passed the growing torch to me. So with the help of her farm partner Jim of 25 years I started my own growing journey this past season with the classics…zinnia, snaps, dahlias, lisianthus, tansy, sunglowerseucalyptus, ageratum, celosia and we had an amazing first year…tons of beautiful Flowers and I didn’t even break anything that couldn’t be fixed!
    This next season I want to add a bit more variety and some modern classics like cafe au lait to the field.
    …Here’s to year two, making Wanda smile…

    Reply
  138. Christina on

    We just planted more Metrosideros polymorpha or O’hia Lehua, a native tree to Hawaii. We grew dahlias for the first time last year and are going to grow a larger amount this year, therefore the prized Cafe Au Lait (especially a Floret Cafe Au Lait :) would be a nice addition to our collection. I would share these beauties with my fellow island designers and friends because they just do not like to make the trip across the pond.

    Reply
  139. Katie waters on

    I would be thrilled to add dahlias to my garden for next year. I have a dear friend in GA that has been successful with them and would love to get his dahlia advice on these!

    Reply
  140. Trachel binnie on

    The café au lait are the dahlias that I want to add to my collection! I ordered three last year from a company and I waited for them to bloom all summer and when they did they were a different variety!! Talk about disappointed! Anyway, thank you for your generosity in giving some of these away! You’re amazing!!

    Reply
  141. Audra Cordell on

    I’m attempting to grow my very first cutting garden next year, and I’m pretty sure I am trying to grow too much! I’ve got about 10 different varieties of dahlias being shipped my way in April and an order of tuberoses as well. I also have upwards of 80 seed packets of flower/filler varieties I’d like to start and grow this spring. It would be such a treat to add some Cafe au Lait’s into the mix. Happy Holidays!!

    Reply
  142. April on

    I am in love with your work! I’ve been following you on Instagram for some time now and I’m sooo inspired by what you do! I jus love it and I love all flowers and anything to do with the beauty of life.

    Reply
  143. Candace Pair on

    These are so lovely! I would love to add dahlias to my cut flower garden. I am planning on expanding to a wider variety of zinnias as well.

    Reply
  144. Diane on

    I’d be so happy to try my hand at dahlias but french marigolds always make my nose so joyful!

    Reply
  145. Katie Nemeth on

    I am a huge dahlia fan! I live in MA. You have inspired me to plant cafe au laits in my dahlia garden next year! Thank you!

    Reply
  146. Sara on

    What a terrific win this would be. This year’s roster includes black parrot tulips, anemones, zinnias, and foxglove (and of course everything I source from my surrounding area). Hearty congrats on the new shop!

    Reply
  147. Jillian McFadyen on

    Fillers and foliage!! This year after having the opportunity to do some freelance on the side I need greens to make it all come full circle!! Not only did I finally invest in some peony bushes, but dahlia tubers also. Ah! A lifetime investment!! :) I’ve finally ordered some green mist & dark night ammi! After discovering mountain mint from a nearby grower and falling in love with it’s beautiful scent and color I have ordered some of that too! I need to read up on some woody perrenials and get them in the ground now that I have graduated and have permanent residence. I am super psyched about scabiosa and zinderella zinnias! The wine, coral and white too! I have a dear friend getting married this year and some café au Laits would match perfectly with all that I am (trying) to grow for her! Not to mention the seashell and burgundy cosmos…so beautifully dainty!

    Reply
  148. Amanda on

    A farm girl, flower loving, garden growing nurse who has recently moved closer to the big city of Seattle, wa to peruse my dream job as a labor nurse. Currently living in a tiny apartment with plans to buy a charming craftsman home with room for a garden this spring! Dahlahs, lavender, hydrangeas are on my flower list. Thanks for the opportunity!

    Reply
  149. Martie Mayer on

    Discovered these beauties through your website last year..they are stunning I would love to have some in my kentucky garden…

    Reply
  150. Renee on

    Cafe Au Lait dahlias are the new flower variety I’ve been pining for. So gorgeous!

    Reply
  151. anne on

    Oooh, what a wonderful giveaway! These dahlias are delicious!

    Congratulations on the new shop; what a wonderful idea!

    I have so many plants on my to-grow list for this coming year. I’m a watercolor artist and flowers from my garden are my favorite thing to paint. Right now I’m dreaming of roses, roses and more roses and looking forward to getting some flowers from the banded roses I planted last spring. I also hope to grow more ranunculus, sweet peas, nasturtiums and zinnias.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for everything you do to make the world a more beautiful place!

    Reply
  152. Jeanne on

    I’ve recently started gardening with my dad the past year. When I was young, he often attempted to get me out there with him, but as a teenager, I had “better” things to do. Oh how our parents wise up as we get older ;) I’ve scheduled multiple dahlia bulbs to be sent to his house in the spring so that we can grow them together. We’ve already gotten the plot underway and have been amending the soil together, and I’ve been helping him out with the vegetable part of the garden as well. We’re finally getting our time out there together! On the list for delivery is Purple Puff dahlia, Ala Mode, Roxena and Fuzzy Wuzzy. I just saw your Sunrise collection and will be adding those as well. We’ve also been “practicing” with some winter bulbs: frittillaria, snowdrops, double tulips. But oh, to have those Cafe Au Laits!!!! Those would be a nice addition to our garden project as well!

    Reply
  153. Bekah on

    This year I am attempting to grow Lily of the Valley and camellia….in a container garden. Would love love love to try Cafe Au Lai dahlias as well!

    Reply
  154. Gaylynn on

    How fun!!!! I have been planting something new in my garden every year for awhile now, although it has been in the form of vegetables. Asparagus, garlic and potatoes are just a few of my experiments. Lucky for me they have all worked out. I’ve got garlic hanging in our basement, enough for the whole year. Asparagus is now my favorite vegetable, and homegrown potatoes are such a treat.
    So I had decided that I needed to start doing the same with flowers. Queen Anne’s lace, nicotiana sylvestris, and poppies. To my surprise, I now have them every year due to them reseeding themselves. So now it’s time for something new………..

    Reply
  155. Linda Q on

    I forgot to mention what new varieties we plan to grow in 2015! They are dahlias (from Swan Island) and chantilly snapdragons (seed mix from Renee’s) Looking forward to Spring!

    Reply
  156. Ashley on

    I’m hoping to grow more peonies to help inspire my wedding planning!

    Reply
  157. Stacey Deutsch on

    Oh my those are heaven! Would love to add the Cafe Au Lai Dahlias with my David Austin Roses.

    Reply
  158. Starlie on

    I would love to find “honeydew” dahlia tubers and grow them in my garden this year. I planted cafe au lait last year and all of my sisters and sister in laws want to try them in their gardens this year so I’m sharing my tubers with them. I am always inspired by your beautiful photos and posts!
    The dahlias I planted produced beautiful blooms that I used in design work for a beautiful farmhouse wedding this past September for my son and his beautiful bride.

    Reply
  159. Mary Jo on

    I’m growing ranunculus and anemone for the first time this year. I built a low tunnel, thanks to the directions and demo by Jennie Love at the ASCFG conference this fall. Thanks for sharing your wealth of flower knowledge!

    Reply
  160. Dani on

    Hi! I am a new/aspiring farmer florist. While I have always had a garden, and I have helped to grow many types of flowers for other flower farms, I have not yet gone through the seed catalogs for my own farming purposes. I am excited beyond belief to start this journey. While I would like to plant EVERYTHING, I have been an apprentice and a student for the last two years; my head is very full of ideas, but my bank account is very empty. I am going to have to start the heartbreaking task of narrowing down my super long list to just several types of flowers, that I think will be the most profitable, and will grow the best in my climate/soil type. To be able to add Café au Laits would be a dream!

    Reply
  161. Kalin Sheick on

    Drooling over these beauties and have been for years! This year we are having our first Christmas in a new home and anxiously awaiting snow to melt so we can spruce up the yard with our favorites. From sunflowers and Queen Anne’s lace to our peony obsession and hydrangeas! We would love to add these in! xo

    Reply
  162. Andrew on

    I am so excited for the rows of Allium schubertii I planted. Once dried, the flower heads look like atomic sun bursts, a fantastic complement with cafe au laits. Fingers crossed!

    Reply
  163. Norma on

    Looking to grow new types of sweet peas…my favorite!!

    Reply
  164. Alexandra Jusino on

    Although I grow dahlias I’m still on the hunt to up my CAL tubers count, they are quite difficult to find. Other varieties that I plsnt to grow sno Ho doris and shilo Noel are on my list but as with the CAL tubers they are hard to find. I’m really hoping to get better at growing sweet peas, just as dahlias they keep blooming and when it’s done you have seeds and vines galore.

    Reply
  165. Dori Troutman on

    I’m thinking the Cafe Au Lait Dahlia! Thank you for the great give-away opportunity! – Dori –

    Reply
  166. Linda Q on

    My venture into cut flower growing started when my husband had our granddaughter plant a hundred foot row of zinnias on land we had recently purchased. He expected her to sell bouquets on the side of the road and that is when I stepped in and took over. Well you can’t make bouquets with just zinnias so I went around to garden centers and purchased some flats of flowers that could be put in bouquets with the zinnias. We found a local farmers’s market and she sold our petite (short) bouquets that summer along with 3 of her friends (ages 10 to 18). They are now hooked and would love to add DAHLIAS to the list of flowers we now grow! Thanks so much for sharing all of your knowledge and expertise-you truly are an inspiration to us all!

    Reply
  167. sonrie on

    I hope to grow more lavender, and new yarrow, foxglove, and portulaca.

    Reply
  168. Cat Young on

    Hmm new varieties? not sure yet… So many to choose from but if I win I’ll surely be planting dahlias!

    Reply
  169. Leah Winetz on

    I finally have a yard of my own! It’s a clean slate (clean if you ignore the weeds), and I can’t wait to fill it. Succulents, grevilleas, and proteas, are all on my must list.
    I would love to have some CALs to call my own.

    Reply
  170. erin on

    i’m completely redoing my garden in 2015. adding dahlias (Cafe au Lait are at the top of my list) and new roses and penstemon and daisies of all shapes and sizes. more hellebores and cyclamen from the “offspring” they continually produce for me and all my gardening friends. japanese anemones, alostromeria and agapanthus need thinning. zinnias and sunflowers in the vacant lot across the street. hydrangeas in the now shady spots that used to be sunny. i will run out of room before i run out of plants…..

    Reply
  171. Jane on

    I want to plant dahlias this year, and some new varieties of sweet peas. We farm at 8000′, so some things are a challenge! (In a good way!). Also, I’d like to try forget me nots again (last year I lost all of them in germination). Happy holidays to all of you!

    Reply
  172. Sabrina Brown on

    As I mentioned in yesterday’s comment. I have the very optimistic and unreasonable goal of placing an entire potted garden onto my Catwalks, (very narrow 3’x30′(long). These past several months I’ve become completely addicted to garden flowers, which I want to photograph and paint into a neo-Dutch Master. I want to include Cafe au lait Dahlias, frilly parrot tulips, sweet peas, anemones, poppies, Old garden roses, David Austin roses, miniature roses, hydrangeas, lily of the valley, calla lillies, daffodils, passionflower, morning glory varieties, fushia, hellebores, and a few other things I can’t recall at the moment…but I favor a pale color palatte: the palest of pinks, blushes, lilacs, lavendars, with a few bonny yellows, whites and deep burgandy reds, (cause it’ll cause a heartstopping contrast).
    A bit of trivia and my relationship with Dahlias:

    In the years I lived in San Francisco I worked on Pier 39 as a waitress. One of the bartenders was an avid gardener and would bring in flowers for the waitstaff, which I took to wearing in my long, strawberry blonde curls, (they bounced). The bartender liked the look of his flowers in my hair as I bounced around the restaurant serving up seafood and cocktails. So when Dahlia season started I was the sole beneficiary of the dinner plate dahlias. He gave me a new one every day until the season finished. It looked like I was wearing a hat along the lines of those British jobbies when the horse races start each year. It was great fun, and I came to be known as “Flower Head” among the restaurant staff.

    Thank you for the fabulous giveaway!
    Warm regards,
    Sabrina

    Reply
  173. Abbie on

    Coffee in the garden with cafe au lait dahlias equals one amazing morning relaxation session!!

    Reply
  174. Grace | eTilth on

    I’m a brand new flower-farmer focusing on just four crops (and fillers) – Dahlias, Sweet Peas, Snapdragons, and Zinnias. I’ve been drowning in the selections, and dreaming of more space, but I’ve narrowed it down to a manageable size. The dahlias I’ve ordered are on my pinterest site: http://www.pinterest.com/eTilth/dahlias-2015/ but I’m really looking forward to Ice Tea and Crazy Legs.

    Reply
  175. Julie on

    I would love to try growing dahlias. I have never noticed them being grown in Arizona, but looking it up online, gardeners here do grown them. Your photos of them are lovely.

    Reply
  176. Kari on

    Flowers are my passion I am my happiest in the garden. On this cold dreary day, I close my eyes and see the beauty of my flowers. Hurry spring!

    Reply
  177. Lucy on

    It’s my second year gardening. Last year my Blue Boy Dahlias were my favorite, would love to try these! I’m also starting out with many tulips and was inspired to grow anemones by your photos last year.

    Reply
  178. Marci B. on

    I have new parrot tulips growing this year.

    Reply
  179. Amy on

    Ranuculos. ..im in love with this fleeting beauty.

    Reply
  180. cindy on

    we had just one cafe au lait dahlia this year and it was so pretty. i hope we can track down chocolate cosmo plants next year.

    Reply
  181. Susan wright on

    Congrats on the new expansion. Would love to add cafe. CAL to the mix

    Reply
  182. Jocelyn Meadows on

    I am so happy for you about your online shop! I’ve been eagerly awaiting for it to open. I’m planning a wedding and I’m sure there will be lots of things to order soon enough. :) This coming season, I’m excited to try to grow roses for the first time, and I want to double the amount of peonies we have.

    Reply
  183. Terri of Coulee Creek Florals on

    ‘Cafe Au Lait’ are gorgeous, but definitely tough to find! It’s been years since I’ve grown more than a plant or two of Sweet Peas—those are what I’ll grow next season!

    Reply
  184. Sharika Kim on

    Last spring/summer I dove head first into flower farming not really having a clue other than any bit of info I could gather from your blog and the blogs of others I found through yours.. I grew over 100 dahlias, hundreds of zinnias and sunflowers and fell in love! This year I hope to grow anything and everything I can get my hands on.. Over 800 tulips and narcissus are in.. And this year I’m hoping for anemones, ranunculus and I MUST have sweet peas!

    Reply
  185. Violet on

    Would love some to plant for my first garden in 2015! A Very Merry Christmas everyone @ Floret!!!

    Reply
  186. Michelle W on

    I just fall-planted my first 300 peony roots. Can’t wait for them to sprout!

    Reply
  187. Anne Anderson on

    I am going to grow Daliahs in my garden. To have Cafe at Laits would be a dream! Daliahs are my favorite for obvious reasons! Looking forward to expanding my garden this year.

    Reply
  188. Sunday on

    Mostly sweet peas and nasturtiums – it’s silly, but they are my favorite and I’m an adult so I figure I can grow mountains of them if I want to.

    Reply
  189. Ainsley on

    I’ve been so inspired to try sweet peas and dahlias, especially the cafe au lait because of your blog! Finally hoping to get the change to try this spring. Dreaming of spring days outside with our new baby (due in March) while planting and planningour new garden.

    Reply
  190. Kristen on

    Trying for some ranunculus and a few anemones (would love some Floret growing guides for these!) And some peony flowering poppies…and another year of beautiful dahlias! Hoping my tubers from this year make it through winter storage!

    Reply
  191. Linda on

    This year I am planning to try more varieties that can be dried to help carry summer through the grey days of winter. Celosias, helichrysum, gomphrena, statice and maybe even play around with a dahlia or two! I’ve never grown celosia before but I like that they are a, what I consider, a “funky flower”. I’m also curious to try drying dahlias they are such a beautiful flower, it’s such a shame they fade so soon.

    Reply
  192. Lisa Stevenson on

    This fall I planted some anemone bulbs for the first time. It is difficult to find high quality anemones at the Boston Flower Market. Trying them out as a spring bulb to see how they do in my yard.

    Reply
  193. Renee Arcand on

    New zinnia varieties this year : A gorgeous orange ‘Inca’ and the lime/pink combo!

    Reply
  194. Melissa Brown on

    I’m really looking forward to expanding my dahlia varieties, including the gorgeous Café! But I’m also excited about growing Ice Cube and Snowbound!

    Reply
  195. Marla on

    New Year – new business……my daughter and I are jumping in this year and starting our much talked about flower business. She went to the the flower growers conference to represent. Everyone kept saying to grow lisanthus…..so lisanthus is on the list. I have become obsessed with dahlias too! Grew 15 individual tubers as a ” test” to see if we could do it. Loved, loved growing them….can’t wait to learn and “grow”.

    Reply
  196. Keith on

    I would love to grow these next year. I grew dahlias this year which did wonderfully, but I kept wishing I had gotten a larger bloomed variety in a color that suited me more. These Cafe au Lait are definitely the ones to have!

    Reply
  197. chantal on

    Definitely some new dahlias and I am hoping for a bumper crop of sweet peas this year. I really am drawn to older “vintage” type flowers. I am hoping carnations will make a come back soon. The super fragrant highly scented ones, not the chemical smelling variety in the flower markets you find today. Merry Christmas :)

    Reply
  198. flora brown on

    Cafe au Laits are on my list for this year! Also poppies, orlaya, scented geranium, and more varieties of snaps. Not sure if I have the guts to try to heirloom mums this season…. I might keep doing my research and wait til 2016!

    Reply
  199. Emily on

    Last year was my first year for growing Dahlias in the Sierras of Northern Ca. I grew one Cafe au Lait and it was my favorite. I would love to grow more because they look so pretty in an arrangement with my David Austin Heritage, Abraham Darby and St. Cecelia roses and pale pink Sweet Peas. I can’t help but think that getting tubers from you would have so much more “love” in them, than those grown in big commercial farms.

    Reply
  200. Lindsay on

    This will be my first year growing! So, in a way they’re all new to me ;) I’m actually excited about every single bloom I’m going to try. I’m really looking forward to dahlias, zinnias and I might even give roses a try too. I’m soooooooo looking forward to this year.

    Reply
  201. Erin Walsh on

    I have never seen a Cafe au Lait Dahlia in the flesh! Just in beautiful pictures. Im ready! This year I plan on growing the scabiosa zinnia variety, rose mallow, and chantilly snapdragons! <3

    Reply
  202. Nicole on

    Lots of Dahlias and new varieties of roses – especially Adobe Sunrise roses.

    Reply
  203. Jordyn on

    I would love to give these beauties a shot in my garden! I just can’t get enough of them.

    Reply
  204. Lauren Brown on

    After being inspired by a few of your blog post, I am excited to announce that we are currently growing Sweet Peas in our hoop house for the first time this year. This coming summer, we are also planning to grow lisianthus and scabiosa along with new varieties of some old favorites (zinnias, celosia, sunflowers)!

    Reply
  205. Katie on

    We are currently starting ranunculus and anemone for the first time… So anxious to see them bloom!! Amazing to see green sprouts in our unheated hoophouse in the winter!

    Reply
  206. Susan on

    I grew dahlias for the first time this summer. I’m hooked on them and the beautiful, inspiring images from your website. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  207. Shannon on

    I’m so excited about this giveaway! I’ve tried to find Cafe au Lait Dahlias for a couple of seasons and you’re right, they’re very difficult to get ahold of. I hope to plant many different dahlia varieties (Cafe au Laits and the other collections listed in your shop), sweet peas, delphinium, snap dragons, hydrangea…. oh, so many things! Writing this comment makes me very excited for the flower season ahead!

    Reply
  208. Brekka Belisle on

    I live in northern ND, so some flowers varieties are seasonal. However I’m always willing to try new flowers and some have surprised me! I now have a very hardy collection of allium christophii that are show stoppers! This fall my family had a health scare with my dad, when things were all said and done, my aunt found a day lily named Sherwood Sweet Olivia, for my dad and daughter (his only granddaughter) that I now have among my flowers. I can’t wait to see it bloom in 2015!

    Reply
  209. Jessica Hall on

    Well since our first high tunnel and greenhouse was just put up this week I have a feeling there will be lots of new additions here on the farm. I am most excited to be adding some specialty mums in the house and sweet peas of course! Café au Lait hold a special place in my flower filled heart and high tunnel too!

    Reply
  210. Kathy on

    Oh, I love these Cafe au Lait Dahlias. I would be honored to grow some in my yard. I would share with my mom’s and brothers garden too. thanks, kathy

    Reply
  211. Kathy Larson on

    I am upgrading my gladiolus collection,just joined the national society to learn more.I got a call from the society welcoming me-very nice!

    Reply
  212. Bethany on

    I have planted for the first time Ornithogallum, Allium cowanii & Allium multibulbosum.

    Reply
    • Madison Aidukaitis on

      These flowers are stunning! I recently found your instagram page and have been so so inspired to start my own garden. A simple flower can speak a thousand words and that’s why I love them so much! I hope you grow some beautiful peonies as they are my favorite!

    • Meadow Wilds on

      Having grown on flower farms in the Hudson Valley & New England, I’m ready to branch out on my own next season and I am so excited!!! I’ll be growing sonic blooms, baptista, cerinthe, larkspur, eucalyptus, chocolate cosmos, calendula, lemon verbena, and lots of other flowers and herbs. I would love to grow your very special Cafe au Lait tubers Erin. This past year the CALs were not the hardiest tuber and we didn’t have extra stock to divide. Would be honored to grow your plants on the East Coast!

    • Shari Cribbs on

      I would LOVE to grow these gorgeous Dahlias!
      I’ll be growing zinnias, celosia, calendula, glads, gomphrena, sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans, salvia, and whatever else I can possibly get to grow!
      Merry Christmas to you & your darling family!

Leave a Comment

Floret Farm's Small Plot: Big Impact

Small Plot: Big Impact

Inspiring stories, profiles & advice from 45 flower growers from around the world

Stay in the loop with our updates

Close

Join Us

Join the Floret newsletter and stay in the loop on all the exciting happenings here on the farm

Close