Looking Back to Grow Forward: My 2025 Season Reflections
As the year winds down and the gardens go quiet, I know many of us start looking ahead—visualizing what’s next, what we’ll grow, what we’ll change, and what beauty we want to bring into the world next season. But before we look forward, I think it’s so important to pause and look back at everything this season held: the successes, the surprises, the setbacks, and the little miracles that bloomed anyway.
This year held all of that for me.
Spring: A Three-Year Dream Finally Bloomed
In the spring, I finally—finally!—got to cut the peonies I planted three years ago when we bought our home.
I get the hype now. They were absolutely magical.
Those peony roots were the very first thing I planted in this soil. It felt like declaring,
“This is where I will lay down my roots,”
both literally and metaphorically.
What started as 10 or so Sarah Bernhardts has slowly multiplied to around 40 plants. That number might seem small to some growers, but to me it feels like incredible progress—slow, steady, deeply personal growth.
And because of that growth, I’m thrilled to say next year’s spring bouquets will feature these beauties. For the first time ever, I’ll be offering a limited, three-week Peony Bouquet Series right in the heart of peony season.
Summer: Chaos, Travel, and Bloom Alerts
June came in fast and hot—school-year endings feel like the holidays but without the Christmas cheer. Then came a four-day conference in Pittsburgh… which turned into five after an overnight airport adventure in D.C. (If you know, you know)
I came home tired, but walked straight into what me and my girls call “bloom alerts!”
Those moments when something new opens for the first time. The joy is instant.
I intentionally held back some of my summer planting because I had a major surgery coming up in mid-July: a hysterectomy that had been in the background of my life for eight years.
Some of you know this part of my story:
At 30, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The initial plan was a hysterectomy, but thanks to my incredible doctor, Dr. Kolev, I was able to preserve my fertility. One round of IVF and one unexpected, miraculous natural pregnancy later, I have the two daughters I never dreamed were possible—Madison, my biggest miracle, and Grace, my biggest blessing.
So this summer, that chapter finally closed.
And while I recovered indoors in the AC… the weeds took over my farm like something out of a fairy tale gone wrong.
But here’s what I learned:
🌿 Even through chaos, things will grow.
My roselilies bloomed right as I had just enough energy to get outside. My amazing husband sold them at the farmers market for me, and they became the stars of late-July bouquets.
What didn’t survive the chaos?
My poor lisianthus. They got swallowed whole—so next year, a new mulch system is definitely on the list.
And yes… I deeply missed my sunflowers. Expect strong succession planting from me in 2026.
Fall: The Dahlias That Carried Me
Oh, my dahlias. The true workhorses of the season.
They carried me through the back half of the year with strong stems, armloads of blooms, and the kind of color that stops you in your tracks. My perennials showed up big-time, too.
For the first time ever, I offered a dahlia-only bouquet, and I heard from so many of you how much joy that giant, colorful burst brought into your homes. That alone made the whole season worth it.
I didn’t make it to as many farmers markets as I’d hoped—heat + lifting restrictions don’t mix—but the customers who found me anyway are the reason I want to pour even more into subscriptions next year.
Looking Ahead: Bigger Bouquets, More Beauty
Now is truly the best time to lock in your 2026 subscriptions. Prices will be increasing next year because I want to offer:
Bigger bouquets
More variety
More premium blooms (peonies! lisianthus—protected this time!)
More intentional succession planting
Growing and arranging is my “why,” and this community has shown me time and time again how much beauty means to you too.
If you’ve been thinking about a subscription—or gifting one—this is the time. Early Bird & Black Friday pricing is the lowest of the whole year.
Thank you for being here, for cheering on my little farm, for supporting sustainable local flowers, and for letting my blooms be part of your homes and celebrations.
This season stretched me, humbled me, and surprised me.
And I cannot wait to grow forward with all of you in 2026.
With gratitude and a heart full of blooms,