Two River Merle Dahlias in RM Heaven Garden: RM Smokeshow & RM Riann

There are some dahlias that stop you in your tracks.

And then there are the ones you discover because you happened to slow down and really look.

That is one of the things I enjoy most about RM Heaven, our garden dedicated to growing and experiencing River Merle introductions here at Pedaling Petals. Each week, there seems to be another flower asking for a closer look.

This week, two very different dahlias caught my attention: RM Smokeshow and RM Riann.

They couldn’t be much more different in personality, but both reminded me why growing these varieties in the garden is so much more interesting than simply looking at a photograph.

RM Smokeshow

RM Smokeshow is the kind of dahlia that makes you stop and take another look.

There is something about seeing the flowers growing naturally on the plant that doesn’t quite translate in a catalog photograph. The form, color, and way the blooms interact with the surrounding garden all become part of the experience.

And that’s really what these garden walks are about.

I’m not trying to show you a perfect flower isolated against a perfect background.

I want you to see what these dahlias actually look like growing in a garden.

You can see individual blooms, how they sit on the plant, how the colors work together, and eventually what happens when you bring several flowers together as a cut bunch.

That’s information I can’t get from a photograph.

It’s something I have to grow.

RM Riann

And then there is RM Riann.

RM Riann is almost the opposite of Smokeshow.

At just 2.5 inches, these are relatively small formal decorative blooms. But somehow, every time I see them, they make me happy.

The color is a warm reddish orange with a touch of light apricot toward the outer petals. It’s cheerful without being loud, and the warmth of the color really comes alive when you see several blooms together.

Interestingly, our walk to Riann almost didn’t happen.

The creek running behind RM Heaven was making it one of those evenings when you really didn’t want to leave the garden. So we stayed a little longer.

And that meant I noticed RM Riann.

I’m glad I did.

Because I honestly don’t understand why this one doesn’t get talked about more.

Sometimes the smaller, quieter flowers end up earning the biggest soft spot in your garden.

Why We Grow RM Heaven Garden.

RM Heaven Garden isn’t a traditional display garden.

It’s part of how we’re learning these varieties.

River Merle releases new dahlias with characteristics, colors, and forms that deserve to be experienced in person. We grow them so we can see how they actually perform here in Northern Colorado.

We’re looking at things that don’t show up on a product listing:

Which flowers make us stop as we walk by?

Which colors change as the season progresses?

Which plants produce abundantly?

Which flowers have something genuinely different about them?

And sometimes, just as importantly:

Which ones surprise us?

That’s one of the reasons I don’t want to simply tell you which dahlias are my favorites.

I’d rather take you into the garden and let you discover them with me.

Every Flower Has a Story

One of the things that has become increasingly important to us at Pedaling Petals is provenance.

Every exceptional dahlia has a story, and that story begins with the hybridizer.

River Merle dahlias come from Hailey Sly of River Merle Farm, and we are proud to grow and offer her introductions as a licensed seller. Our RM Heaven garden gives us a place to experience those introductions firsthand.

We’re not simply collecting names.

We’re watching the plants grow.

We’re learning their personalities.

And we’re discovering which ones make us stop.

That’s the fun of a garden.

And, increasingly, that’s what I want to share with you.

Come Walk Through RM Heaven Garden

We’ll continue sharing a new River Merle variety from RM Heaven Garden as the season progresses.

Some will be dramatic.

Some will be subtle.

Some may immediately become favorites.

And some may simply make us curious.

That’s okay.

We’re learning as we go.

And if you want to follow along, come take a walk with us.

🌸 Pedaling Petals
Fort Collins, Colorado

Growing collector-grade dahlias and experiencing them firsthand at 5,000 feet.