Meet My Flower Friend, Natasha

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How did dahlias find their way into your garden and heart?

Floret once said, “Dahlias are a soul contract.” I’ve never resonated with anything more.

I worked in my local garden centre for 14 years, creating custom planters was one of my many tasks. I adored flowers but hadn’t considered cut flowers. I was forever cutting my annuals and sticking them in tiny bud vases wishing they would last longer. In 2019 I purchased 3 dahlias.

And then came the year none of us want to remember, but will never forget. 2020 forced many of us to find joy at home, I was no exception.

On top of all that came with it, I was thrown into a revolving door of grief. In a short period, I lost my uncle, father in law, nephew & my dad. Life would never be the same. My cut flowers were thriving but I couldn’t see past the bombs dropping around me. I had to find a way to survive it all.

And so, I cut my flowers and gave them away. I couldn’t bear to watch them die too. They say giving is selfless, but I don’t agree. It helped me to create tiny glimmers of joy, it pulled me from the dark and slowly helped what felt like open wounds become scar tissue. Forever there, but no longer aching.

Dahlias quite literally became my therapy. In a terrifying world, drowning in grief, doing all I could to find joy for my girls, my husband and in the end myself. Dahlias did that. Soul contract indeed.

What are some of your future garden goals?

Hybridizing! I’ve been fascinated for years. I saved seed in my second year but of course they produced nothing but boring open faced babies.

The following year I tried to be more intentional but still didn’t produce anything worth keeping.

Year 3 I didn’t have the space so hung into my seed. Year 4 was awful and I produced no seeds at all. Last year again, I just couldn’t dedicate the space.

THIS YEAR THOUGH, we expanded the dahlia patch, I planted that seed from year 3 and was gifted seed from two of my sweet dahlia pals. While only a fraction have bloomed, I have at least 6 keepers and couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’m not in it to become rich or IG famous (which, as far as I’m concerned is no different than being rich in monopoly.)

I want more than anything to create something that I can name after those I love, and to put into this world that will be there long after I’m gone.

What has been the hardest challenge growing dahlias?

The time & physical work. Zone 3 isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s short and extreme.

Working full time, being a mom and wife, with precious little time, the process from pre-sprouting to digging/storing is arduous for a one woman show. Luckily, my husband is so encouraging and always there to help (when I’m willing to accept it lol) I couldn’t do it without him.

What has been the most rewarding part of growing dahlias?

Joy.
For me.
For my customers.
For my husband and daughters.
Joy.

Do you have any tips to share that you’ve learned along the way?

Don’t overthink it, we all tend to get in our own way & there is so much information out there. Everyone seems to know best. But every space, environment, micro climate is different, there is no right way. Experiment, trust your instincts and have fun.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

There’s no such thing as too many dahlias.

Natasha

To learn more about Natasha and her flower journey, you can visit : Website | Facebook | Instagram