The Road To RE Originals
I have a video saved from planting my first dahlia seedling—RE 22.01. (You’ll see that here at the end.) Nearly five years ago, when I decided to go all-in on dahlias, I never imagined it would lead here. I didn’t see myself as a specialty flower grower; I stumbled upon beauty and was captivated by the idea that I could partner with the Creator to create.
The road to releasing these new introductions wasn’t easy, but it was beautiful. Hours, months, seasons, years. Five winters of notes and preparation. Springs that smelled like soil and hope. Summers of staking, labeling, heat, relabeling, and challenges. Autumns where the blooms came into their own—and then the harvest. That cycle repeated even as Restoring Eden had four different homes in five seasons. (That’s right—four moves!) And now, we’ve landed in Michigan.
Along the way, I learned to let go of hundreds of seedlings and to keep the few that kept me. I watched as bees choose a flower, how growing zones and seasons shifted the color, and how a garden helps shape a person. I was challenged not to compare my work to others. I see beauty the way I see it. In a world of prize-winning hybridizers doing their thing, I wanted to do mine—with two goals: trust my gut and release more beauty into the world.
Some blooms surprised me with wonder. Some held the memories of dear promises. Some felt like mercy in the morning, bravery to try, redemption for all, the refracted light of a jewel, and confetti where I least expected it. Releasing new varieties into the world is just one piece of my journey. I had no idea what was coming five years ago—only a yes in my hands. A yes, that led me here.
To those who watched from the beginning, or even over the last couple of years. Thank you for being a witness. And to those who are new, but got excited and purchased any one of these new introductions, a heartfelt thank you for your support and for seeing something of what I saw. I hope your gardens and farms are blessed with beauty and inspiration.
If you haven’t tried growing even one dahlia from seed, I encourage you to give it a go. Harvest seed, or purchase some from a small farm in the fall or winter. Without your partnership and stewardship, these new creations never make their way into the world. Bee Brave and try something new—I’m so very glad I did.
