It’s that time of year again when I sit and reflect on the past season and look forward to the next. Goals emerge as I reflect on what I hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. Yup, with a new year comes new resolutions! A few years ago, I learned I need to set goals that make me happy rather than ones that create self-loathing (I’m looking at you, bathroom scale!). So, I started a tradition where I create goals that leave me fulfilled, such as spending more time with family, trying new recipes, and connecting with nature. As my sister, Deanne, put it, “No more resolutions-only revelations!”
Besides setting annual personal goals, I also enjoy setting my gardening goals for the season each new year. Setting these goals helps me envision the season ahead and marks out what I wish to accomplish. It’s good to have goals and aspirations. They give us something to look forward to, focus on, and work towards.
Did you know this will be my fifth year posting my gardening goals here on Thistle Be the Day? It’s hard to believe I have been sharing my growing adventures on this blog for nearly five years! Looking back at all my garden goals from the previous seasons, I’m happy to report that I accomplished most of them, from staying active in my plant community and developing my bouquet skills to becoming a pollinator steward and growing my cut flower business.
Before I can plant that first seed or harvest that first flower, I need to set my gardening goals. Some goals remain the same each year, and others change. So, here they are, my hopes and ambitions for the 2025 growing season:
Annual Goals:
Try New Varieties: With thousands of plant varieties, why wouldn’t I want to try new ones each year? Growing new varieties keeps the garden fun and exciting; you can also gain knowledge. Last season, I grew many new dahlia varieties, about a dozen or more new cut flowers (including heirloom mums!), and new edible varieties. I’m excited to try a few new tulip varieties this season, such as Astronaut Andre Kuipers, Palmyra, and Cabana Parrot. I’ll also be growing five new daffodil varieties and several new veronica, iris, dahlia, and heirloom mum varieties. I’m also excited to grow lisianthus for the very first time! And I’m eager to taste three new tomato varieties I added to our tomato lineup.
Keep Learning: I never want to stop learning as I grow. In the off-season, I take every chance I get to take classes and read through my stockpile of garden books. I’m taking three online cut flower courses and farm business classes and will attend a CSA summit to learn from other growers.
Share Knowledge: I aim to continue sharing knowledge through blog posts, teaching classes, workshops, and volunteering in my gardening community. I’m working on a cut flower class that I will present in February. I love talking and collaborating with others who are enthusiastic about growing!
Advocate for Pollinators: Each year, I aim to better advocate for pollinators and spread the knowledge I’ve learned to educate my community about the importance of these mighty insects (and more!). Whether it’s planting more pollinator habitat here on the farm or organizing community events to promote pollinator education, I never want to stop advocating for pollinators!
Find Clarity in the Future: Our farm and business are constantly evolving, and I have difficult decisions to make annually as I look to the future of our farm. This includes deciding where and how to sell our flowers, whether to focus on specific varieties, changing the length of our growing season, and even expanding and relocating the farm. Each year, I do a lot of thinking and soul-searching to find clarity in Whistling Bee Farm’s future.
New Goals in 2025:
Become a Seed Steward: I’ve noticed lately that some of my favorite varieties of edibles and cut flowers are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Some of them are down to a single seed company carrying them! Rather than risk losing these varieties I love, I’d like to become a seed steward, saving and sharing their seeds to ensure they are not lost in the future.
Make More Arrangements: I made hundreds of bouquets but less than five arrangements last year. I realized that I enjoy the meditative process of arranging larger pieces. I can use more material, play with color palettes, and choose complementary vessels when working on an arrangement. I force myself to slow down and be more thoughtful and creative with each stem. Listening to soothing music while letting my creativity flow on these larger pieces brought me peace, stress relief, and a sense of satisfaction that left me fulfilled. I aim to take more time this upcoming season to work on arrangements that let me express myself.
Hone My Photography Skills: I love to take photographs, and each year, my camera is filled with thousands of photos of flowers from the season. Last year, I made it a personal goal to step in front of the camera more often to document my growing journey. I wanted future generations to remember me for my passion for being in the garden. As a result, I have many cherished photographs of me with the flowers. I want to continue photographing the flowers and myself with them this year, but I also want to try to photograph more candid moments. I hope to capture the rhythm of the farm, from planting and weeding to harvesting and arranging. I am also interested in still-life photography and would love to explore this passion using our flowers.
Expand Our Dahlia Hybridizer Program: After having our dahlia seedling selected for the Novice Hybridizer Program at Triple Wren Farms, I’ve been bitten by the hybridizing bug. I aspire to expand our dahlia hybridizer program here on the farm by growing dahlia seedlings and selecting desirable traits. I aim to create and steward seedlings that are excellent for the pollinators and the vase.
Be Present and Intentional: I never want to lose my passion and joy for growing. So, I aim to slow down and be aware of all the special moments throughout the season. I want my actions to be intentional, which means making deliberate choices that align with what’s important to me. And I aim to keep my actions directed towards my goals.
Well, there you have it, my 2025 gardening goals! This year is about spreading awareness, joy, and education, growing (literally and emotionally), looking towards the future, doing more of what I love, and slowing down to enjoy all that matters. What are your goals for the 2025 growing season?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 