The warmer temperatures this week make it seem like summer is holding on here in the Hudson Valley. For me, September is always a bittersweet month. I can see the flowers transitioning and know we are inching closer to the end of our growing season. While I miss the summer abundance, I also yearn for the slower pace that Fall affords. It’s about this time that I start to look towards the finish line, which will include a much-needed rest for the farm (and me!), although there is still much work to do and more flowers to come this season. In fact, our dahlias are just starting to hit their stride!
This growing season has honestly been a blur, filled with challenges, triumphs, and a whole lot of traveling. It’s been the busiest year ever for our household, and honestly, I’m surprised I was able to grow anything at all. But, somehow, we did, and I was thankful every time I returned to find beautiful flowers welcoming us home! Let’s take a look back at what late summer looked like on our farm.
As I mentioned, traveling was a significant factor in our lives this summer. After visiting Seattle in July, we headed up to Maine in early August, then traveled to bring our son to college (yes, we are now empty-nesters), and have just returned home from a fantastic trip to Triple Wren Farms in Ferndale, Washington! As a novice dahlia hybridizer in their program, I was invited to visit the farm to see my dahlia growing there, as well as meet other novice and legacy hybridizers in the program. It was such an honor to meet so many people whom I admire in the dahlia world and who humbled me with their willingness to share their knowledge. I am deeply grateful to the Triple Wren team for inviting us to experience the incredible beauty of their farm and for welcoming us into the hybridizer family they have nurtured and supported. I’m still processing how magical and inspiring this experience was and how it will shape the future of Whistling Bee Farm. I will share more soon!
Back at the farm, late summer brought a seasonal transition in the flowers. The hydrangeas and dahlias transitioned to their fall colors, and fall crops began to bloom while summer flowers started to fade. I love experiencing all the subtle seasonal changes on the farm.
Late summer marked the end of our CSA season, which looked a little bit different this year, as it has been a particularly challenging season, marked by drought, record temperatures, and intense wildlife pressure. Many of our usual floral offerings were absent this season or bloomed much later, and I appreciated all the kind words, patience, and support our members shared with me, especially when I felt a bit defeated. However, despite the challenges, I am pleased to say that we successfully completed the CSA season and shared a wealth of beautiful blooms (and berries!) with our community.
At this point in the season, most of the plants in our edible garden have started to slow their production. A few cherry tomatoes and peppers remain. Those are the only plants the resident groundhog left us this season. I hope he enjoyed them at least.
One of my favorite features of September is dahlia season. In the cooler temperatures, dahlias really start to shine. Despite their slower start this season due to stress from erratic temperatures and drought, they have bloomed beautifully this month. Dahlias are one of my absolute favorite flowers, and I find great joy in seeing them bloom on the farm each year. I find myself spending extra time among their flowers, soaking them in.
I have been particularly drawn to our dahlia seedling patch, where new possibilities abound. This season, we expanded our dahlia hybridization project and planted dozens of dahlia seedlings for evaluation and assessment. After being accepted into the Novice Hybridizer Program at Triple Wren Farms in 2024, I’ve been following my passion for creating new dahlia varieties. I’ll be collecting lots of dahlia seeds to grow out next season, and can’t wait to see what blooms. It takes four to five years of work to bring a dahlia from seed to sale. Years of extensive trialing and note-taking are necessary before sharing a variety with the world. It is truly a labor of love.
As the first official day of fall has come and gone, it’s time to start making preparations for winter. I’ve been spending my time completing my end-of-season checklist, tidying the beds, pulling weeds, gathering seeds, drying flowers, and labeling all my dahlia plants before a frost ends our growing season. And in between tasks, I make sure to take moments to watch the monarchs flutter and feed before their migration, and the bees busily buzzing to and fro. While there is still much to do, I am relishing the slower pace, as the seasonal transition is also allowing me to change. I am transitioning with the flowers, and it feels right.
That’s what’s been growing on in my garden, what’s been growing on in yours?
THISTLE BE THE DAY 
The love for what you are doing comes across so well in your writing. Thanks for sharing your words and amazing pictures.
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You are so sweet, George! Thank you so much for your kind comment, it means a lot to me.
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