In southeast Michigan we are knee-deep in winter—and it’s only the first week of December! We had another cold snap last week. Temperatures didn’t get above freezing for three consecutive days. One night the low was 1F; and ironically, that same night one of our heaters failed. But after farming for nine years I’m getting better at anticipating these problems. We had fuses for the heaters on hand and it was quick and simple fix with no crop damage! The key is catching the problem before it’s too late. Night farm checks are just part of the rhythm of running a greenhouse in the winter. 

 

We have a robust offering of snapdragons and stock for Christmas this year. After two years of dialing it in, we finally got it figured out. But unfortunately, the anemone took a beating during our abnormally warm fall and didn’t rebound in time for holiday sales. But there is always next year!

 

December is a fun time on the farm. Tater and I get to regroup, meet with buyers and plan for 2026. We’re finalizing our plug orders and pouring through seed catalogs. Even after all these years, I still get excited when new catalogs come in the mail. We have high hopes for 2026, and I look forward to putting all of our plans on paper. 
 

In this edition of Bloom Beat, we’re talking about Pantone’s Color of the Year, Tater’s Pantone picks and more.

 

With all that being said, let’s talk shop! 

This week, Pantone announced Cloud Dancer as its 2026 color of the year. Pantone describes Cloud Dancer as a “lofty white whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world.” 

 

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, “At this time of transformation, when we are reimagining our future and our place in the world, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a discrete white hue offering a promise of clarity. The Cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices in our inner selves. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences.”

 

Pantone bases their yearly color selection on extensive research, patterns and observations spanning across many industries, ranging from fashion and technology, to cultural trends and more. In other words, this decision wasn’t made lightly. 
 

All that said, the floral community has mixed feelings about Pantone’s color choice—or lack of color—choice. Some folks are embracing it, others have stronger, less positive sentiments about it. It’s a polarizing choice!

 

Some folks see Cloud Dancer as tone deaf due to social and political conflicts. A “blank slate” doesn’t encompass the current state of affairs. Others reject the “lack of color”—they say selecting a white is a missed opportunity. Personally, I agree with Mellano & Company in California, who said of the choice, “Our industry shows up for every human moment: births, weddings, graduations, celebrations, heart break and grief. Color is there for all of it. Flowers are the messenger.”

HERE is the link to Mellano & Company's Instagram post.
 

You can find the Pantone press release HERE.

What do you think of Cloud Dancer? Tater and I would love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a line!

No matter where you stand on the 2026 Color of the Year debate, we have some pretty great options to bring Cloud Dancer to life. Below are Tater’s picks to consider for your 2026 lineup. 

 

Lisianthus Voyage White

 

It’s no secret that Tater and I love lisianthus. Voyage White from Sakata is a crisp linen-white double-flowered lisianthus. It’s a staple in our lisianthus program and our wedding florists adore the large billowy cloud-like blooms. Pro tip: Now is the time to order your lisianthus plugs. Some suppliers (such as Raker-Roberta's) offer early order discounts. Don’t delay getting your orders in!

 

Snapstar White 

 

      
 

I have a soft spot in my heart for snapdragons, Tater and I strive to have them year round. Our friends at Sakata sent us a sample of their new Snapstar snapdragons and Snapstar White stole my heart. It's my new favorite white snapdragon. According to my sources, Snapstar will be commercial in North America in late 2026. We have Snapstar White available for Christmas this year, and our florists love it! Oh, and her peach cousin Snapstar Champagne is equally stunning. Madame Butterfly White is another great option for a white snapdragon (plus it is already available). 

 

Ranunculus Amadine White

    
 

Ranunculus are a staple crop for us in the spring months. Tater and I have been growing Amadine White for years and it’s the only white ranunculus in our program. The Amadine series is more heat tolerant and responds better to temperature fluctuations than La Belle ranunculus. 

 

Stock Cannetto White 

 

         

 

In addition to the thick, robust stems of white fluffy flowers, Cannetto white has a high percentage of double-flowering plants without having to select for them. This makes it my favorite stock variety to grow. Plus, our florists friends love it!

 

Dahlia Ryecroft Jan

 

                    
 

There are quite a few exceptional white dahlias on the market. But one of my favorite things about Ryecroft Jan is that it doesn’t show an open center later in the season. This is a stark contrast to varieties prone to open centers such as Boom Boom White. The only challenge to this variety is that is gets very tall; there are seasons where Ryecroft Jan was over 5-ft. tall in our fields. Consider staking this variety or planting in a protected spot in the field that gets minimal wind. Other than that, she’s very productive, the stems are slender but sturdy, and the blooms are easy to arrange with. 
 

Dahlia Maarten Zwaan

                    

 

We have been growing Maarten Zwaan since we started the farm nine years ago. It’s nice because not only can you purchase it from a tuber, you can also get cuttings and liners. It’s a great way to have white dahlias early in the season and continue to have quality blooms in the field as well. Our florists value that continuity. Maarten Zwaan is a compact grower and easy to manage. The plants are very productive. The only challenge is that Maarten Zwaan is one of the first dahlias in our field to show open centers in the fall. This is challenging for late-season weddings.

Tater and I would love to hear if you have a work horse white decorative dahlia on your farm? We would love to add some new white decorative dahlias to our crop offering. Drop us a line!

If you are looking for a meaningful, thought-provoking book to add to your reading list, look no further. The Pursuit of Purpose is Lane DeVries’ personal memoir documenting his journey building one of America’s largest cut flower operations, Sun Valley Floral Farm. A fourth-generation flower grower, Lane came to the United States forty years ago with a mere $160 in his pocket. The book recounts his 40-year journey building Sun Valley, which he grew into one of the nation’s largest grower of tulips, iris and lilies before ceasing operations in 2024.

Lane shares the highs and the lows of his journey. Each chapter is chock full of leadership and business advice. But my favorite part is how he shares the vulnerability and emotional weight of being the leader in tumultuous situations. He recounts the countless challenges Sun Valley faced over the years, including staffing, market volatility and the challenges of growing a crop. In spite of the challenges, he created an unshakeable company culture and inspired his employees to buy into the Sun Valley vision. One day I hope to achieve this level of leadership acumen.

If you are a cut flower farmer or grower, this is a must read. There is so much more to your farm than growing the flowers. You have to learn to manage and inspire the people you work with and sell to. Lane is an excellent person to learn from. Tater and I are half way through the book and we have been highlighting our favorite quotes. There are some chapters where I have highlighted sentences on every other page. There are too many quotes to list, but below are a few of my favorites. 
 

“It wasn’t just about selling flowers, it was about finding a way forward, about building something real, one bunch at a time.”
 

“We learned that survival isn’t just about getting the job done. It’s about holding on to your values when everything around you is being tested. Through it all, the pursuit of purpose remained. It became more than just a phrase, because it was our anchor.”
 

“What kept me going month after month was the pursuit of purpose. Staying connected to each farm, each team and each customer was how I stayed grounded in the mission. It reminded me that leadership isn’t found behind a desk. It’s found in walking the farm, listening to the people, and showing up again and again, with conviction.”
 

I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Lane, but he’s on my list of green industry legends I would like to meet, so I could thank him for his transparency and sage advice. It’s not easy to be that vulnerable.

 

HERE is the link to buy the book. I promise you won’t regret it. And it makes a perfect holiday gift!