Ep. 80: Growing Dahlias, Letting Go of Perfection, and Finding Joy in the Garden With Anne Long of The Dahlia House
The Backyard Bouquet Podcast: Cut Flower Farming Podcast for Flower Farmers & Backyard Gardeners
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Show Notes
What if growing dahlias wasn’t about doing everything perfectly—but about showing up, finding joy, and learning to flourish right where you are?
In today’s episode of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, we are joined by Anne Long of The Dahlia House, a longtime dahlia grower, educator, and creative who has spent more than two decades growing flowers—and helping others discover that you don’t need a huge farm, endless time, or a picture-perfect life to fill your days with beauty.
This honest, heartfelt conversation weaves together stories of resilience, loss, hope, and humor, as Anne shares how growing dahlias became both her creative outlet and her life’s work. From devastating setbacks with wireworms and disease, to learning how to build a flower business that fits real life, Anne offers wisdom that will resonate deeply with gardeners, flower farmers, and anyone feeling stretched thin.
This episode is a reminder that flowers don’t ask for perfection—only your presence.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How growing dahlias can teach resilience through life’s hardest seasons
- Why perfectionism can hold us back in both the garden and business
- What flowers reveal about presence, hope, and living within our limits
- How to build a dahlia-focused business that aligns with your values and capacity
- Why self-care matters just as much as soil care
- How boundaries, clarity, and joy lead to more sustainable success with flowers
Show Notes: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.com/2025/12/23/ep-80-growing-dahlias-with-anne-long/
Connect With Anne & The Dahlia House:
- Website: https://thedahliahouse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.dahlia.house
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDahliaHouse2020
Mentioned in today’s episode: Veda Austin- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedaaustin_water/
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