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Sunshine Blooms Farm Hosts Dahlia Tour
Sunshine Blooms Farm Hosts Dahlia Tour
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Dahlia enthusiasts who experienced Sunshine Blooms Farm field tour Sept. 12 and 13 were not disappointed.
Owner Sarah Laudin was up early harvesting flowers for bouquets on Friday morning before visitors arrived on-site. “Thanks for coming,” said Sarah, who first greeted Belinda Lorenz, who lives near the hamlet of Blackfoot.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” replied Lorenz. Laudin encouraged her to take her time, enjoy the tour and to ask any questions she may have afterwards.
Lorenz, who grows about 300 dahlia plants, was still in awe of Laudin’s dahlias, which number well over 2,200 plants and 250 varieties. This year alone, Laudin brought in 100 different varieties, even driving to Vancouver Island, to purchase tubers. In addition, Laudin has sunflowers and gladiolus on-site.
Sunshine Blooms is a family owned and operated generational farm located northeast of Andrew and specializes in fresh, local blooms for florists, home-grown dahlia tubers and seasonal bouquet subscriptions. Laudin is committed to utilizing sustainable farming practices, and that every petal and leaf is grown with care for the environment and community.
Sunshine Blooms Farm sells through the Cooperative Flower Network, an Edmonton and area grower co-operative. Together, 11 grower members offer seasonal blooms to the local florist community from May to October annually. Laudin says she uses tubers to plant a new crop each and every year.
