Meet Dianne

I have grown hundreds of shade-loving flowers in my backyard over the last fifteen years but I never knew about the sun-loving dahlia until I saw the Cafe au Lait featured in a Martha Stewart magazine. I was completely mesmerized by the buttercream and blush colors as well as the shape of this variety. The magazine article suggested Erin Benzakein's book, Discovering Dahlias, and after watching Erin's series Growing Floret on Magnolia Network, I was inspired to grow this beautiful bloom. You can read my article for the American Dahlia Society here.

During Covid in 2021, I started  with seven tubers / plants on my full-sun plot at my organic neighborhood community garden. Several years later, I leased some land and grew over 100 different varieties and just under two thousand plants for season 2025 (dahlias multiply a lot every season!) After growing commercially for three years, my husband and I retired so now I grow a smaller quantity of dahlias at home for private sales. And I teach classes about dahlias!

I serve on the Education and Outreach committee for the American Dahlia Society and I co-write and publish the monthly E-Newsletter for the American Dahlia Society. I'm also a member of the Kissing Camels Garden Club and I have a goal to become a Master Gardener through the CSU Extension program. I serve on the board of our neighborhood Bear Creek Community Garden. 

In addition, I've been a member of The Woman's Club of Colorado Springs since 2013 and I am honored to be a part of this special group. This is a fantastic chapter of diverse women who get together monthly to support local charities - so come join us! Our local chapter is part of GFWC. 

I've also been a long-time member of Sertoma International and the chapter members help hard of hearing people like myself. I was told that a high fever was the suspected culprit of my high-frequency hearing loss and I've been wearing hearing aids in both ears since I was a small child. I do really well with my powerful digital instruments and I usually don't have too much trouble hearing unless I'm in a big, crowded room. But most people I know have trouble hearing when it's loud and they get envious when they see me 'click' off the noisy world to blissful silence! Another one of my favorite charities is www.hearingloss.org

I enjoy growing organic vegetables at our neighborhood community garden with my hubby, Dave (married fifteen years).  Dave and I usually get a hike in every morning with our two miniature schnauzers, Bart and Atticus - Bart is the kind of dog who NEEDS to start his day exploring nature! As a native of Colorado Springs, I graduated with an AAS in Multimedia Graphic Design from Pikes Peak State College.