Dahlia Obsession: How One Bloom Took Over My Fall

Sep 15
2 min read

Deb Schaffer (founder of Enchanted Botanicals) in a pink hat holds a blooming peach dahlia in a garden. The scene is soft-focus, with lush greenery and calm ambiance.

It started innocently enough. One dahlia bloom, admired in passing. Didn’t think much of it at the time. But now? I can admit it: I’m hooked.

Deb Schaffer (founder of Enchanted Botanicals) in a pink hat and white blouse smiles while tending vibrant red flowers in a lush garden. Background features green foliage.

The Spiral (in the best way):

If you’ve ever grown (or even just stood near) dahlias, you know the power they have. They aren’t shy little garden fillers. They’re bold, oversized, “look at me” types.

One bloom led me straight down the rabbit hole — flipping through catalogs, circling varieties, wondering if maybe I do have room for a flower farm in the backyard.

(Spoiler: I don’t. But try telling that to my imagination.)

Deb Schaffer (founder of Enchanted Botanicals) in a white blouse and pink hat smiles while standing in a lush garden with orange flowers, surrounded by greenery and trees.

Farm-Girl Fantasy

The truth is, the dahlias I’ve been fawning over lately aren’t even mine. I snapped these photos at a local flower farm. Rows and rows of dahlias, each one showier than the last.

Walking through, I caught myself thinking, “Okay, maybe just one or two of these at home…” A few days later, I went back for a bucket of 50 blooms!

And that’s how plant obsessions begin.

Pink dahlia with raindrops surrounded by lush green leaves, creating a fresh and vibrant garden scene.

Why They Hook Us:

Here’s the thing about dahlias: they embody both patience and payoff. You plant, you wait, and then one day the most dramatic blooms you’ve ever seen appear — like nature’s own fireworks.

There’s a reason flower farmers (and home gardeners) go wild for them.

They’re proof that beauty and abundance can burst out of nowhere if you give it the right conditions.

Hands in silver jewelry trim vibrant pink dahlias with pruning shears in a garden, evoking a tranquil, summery mood.

Where This Fits Into My World of Quiet Magic:

For me, dahlias are more than just flowers. They’re seasonal markers — a little reminder that fall is settling in, that beauty can be bold, and that obsession isn’t always a bad word.

Sometimes it’s just a way of noticing more deeply.

And that’s exactly the kind of everyday magic I try to cultivate, whether through candles, rituals, or yes, even giant flowers.

Deb Schaffer (founder of Enchanted Botanicals) in pink hat gently holds pink dahlia blossoms in a garden. She wears a white blouse, smiling softly, with a blurred green background.

Dreaming of a Dahlia Garden (Someday):

So while I don’t have a dahlia farm (yet), I’ll happily keep visiting the ones nearby, dreaming of what might bloom in my own garden someday.

And in the meantime, I’ll keep building my own kind of seasonal magic right here at Enchanted Botanicals.

Curious about how I bring that same magic into candles, sprays, and seasonal rituals? Visit the shop here →