Ep. 80: Growing Dahlias, Letting Go of Perfection, and Finding Joy in the Garden With Anne Long of The Dahlia House

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 flowersShow 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/@TheDahliaHouse2020Mentioned in today’s episode: Veda Austin- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vedaaustin_water/***Join Us At The Profitable Dahlia Summit***The first-ever virtual summit focused exclusively on growing dahlias for profit is here!Join us March 3–4, 2026 to learn from experienced dahlia growers who are selling bouquets, tubers, CSA shares, event tickets, and more — and doing it profitably.You’ll walk away with real strategies to turn your passion into income, even if you're just getting started.🎟️ Early bird tickets start at just $49 through January 11, 2026.Save your spot here: https://thefloweringfarmhouse.mykajabi.com/profitabledahiliasummit/ **Function Health** – comprehensive blood testing that helps you understand what your body actually needs. Currently on sale for $365 (normally $499)**👉 https://my.functionhealth.com/signup?code=JGULIZIA10&_saasquatch=JGULIZIA10**This episode may contain affiliate links. If you choose to use them, it helps support the podcast at no additional cost to you.*Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/thefloweringfarmhousenewsletter