144 Dahlia Seeds, 45 Survivors, and One Cross-Country Move

I planted 144 dahlia seeds.

About 45 of them made it.

Which, honestly, tracks—because not everything can survive in this fast-paced environment.

This week they’re getting upgraded from seed trays to 4-inch pots. A promotion, really. A “you’ve proven you can handle the chaos” moment. The rest fell victim to natural selection, my inconsistent watering schedule, and my children “helping” with the seedlings… which mostly involved enthusiastic overhandling and the occasional accidental eviction from their tiny dirt homes.

Now I’m preparing them for a cross-country move in early June, because apparently my life wasn’t complicated enough. Most people pack boxes. I’m over here planning how to safely transport dozens of delicate plants like they’re part of the family.

And here’s the kicker—I might not even see them bloom.

We’ll likely be gone by mid-July, which feels a little rude after all this effort. Like excuse me, I raised you from seed and you’re just going to peak after I leave?

So now I’m debating—do I keep some here so I can actually enjoy them?

But this house is just a rental. Temporary. A brief stop in the chaos.

Arkansas, though—that’s the cabin. The place that doesn’t change every few years. The place that’s been mine since before I even knew what “moving” meant. The place that stays.

So do I leave some dahlias here, hoping they thrive in a place I won’t be…

Or do I send them to the one place that actually lasts?

Either way, they better appreciate the effort. Not everyone gets this level of relocation planning.