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 Container Dahlias 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 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.

"Hey, everyone! I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this team at DD. I'm a native Coloradan who grew up in Littleton and moved to the Springs to attend nursing school. I worked as a nurse for five years after graduation, until my husband unexpectedly deployed, and I took a break from nursing. Once he was home, the opportunity to work with Dianne on her farm fell into my lap, and it somehow felt that it was just meant to be! I grew up gardening and working on a ranch, so getting my hands in the dirt felt familiar and comfortable to me. However, I have also learned many new things! My eyes have been opened to the world of dahlias, and I'm a true addict now (even sporting my own backyard dahlia garden, despite working on a farm where we will see 40,000 blooms this Summer alone!) I will never not love these flowers, and I am so grateful to be here."

"My path to Dianne's Dahlias is a serendipitous one for sure. 

My boyfriend bought me a dahlia bouquet, and I wanted to meet the woman who grew them. When I met Dianne, I fell in love with the farm and her, and uprooted my 35-year life in Denver to move to Colorado Springs. I wanted to slow my life down and work with Dianne and the farm. (Okay, land love had something to do with it as well, because my boyfriend also lives here!)

I am a Colorado native, and I enjoy hanging out with my family, traveling, and exploring my new surroundings. Getting dirty, whether in the soil or doing home renovations, is one of my favorite things. "Laughter, joy, and adventure" is my life motto. At least for now, because my perspective is constantly changing and growing!"