4 New Favorite Things I Grew in 2025
Every year in the garden is a completely fresh start - we get to create or recreate not just beauty but an experience. Seeds form into flowers and plants that form into food and memories. It’s never lost on me what a privilege it is to be a part of the growing process, year after year. Here are 4 new favorite things I grew in 2025 that I definitely plan to grow again here on Kindred Farm!
Gomphrena (globe amaranth)
Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) is adorable, hardy, and adds so much to both fresh and dried bouquets. The seeds I grew had a mix of white, light lavender, and magenta flowers, and it was so joyful to see these pom-poms of color in the flower garden outside my back door.
It’s hard to tell in these photos, but on each of those gomphrena pom-poms (the spiky things which are called “bracts”), there is a TEENY TINY precious flower inside. See here…
Gomphrena is perfect for drying - I cut them into bunches and hang them to dry. Last season’s flowers are now stored in airtight plastic bins to use for dried flower arrangements and table decor - like this napkin decoration for a private dinner we did this fall.
I’ve grown several of the “bee” variety of cheerry tomatoes from Johnny’s Seeds, including our favorite Sunrise Bumble Bee, but this was my first time growing the Honey Bee Tomato. Delicious burst of flavor and so pretty with the red and yellow stripes! You can see them above mixed in with a few other varieties.
JOWEY FRAMBO BALL DAHLIas
I’ve grown dahlias for several years now, and some work well in vases, and some do not. This new, super cute variety I got from American Meadows was a great producer and very hardy in vases! I realize perfection isn’t usually possible in life - but that’s why it’s so satisfying to see perfect symmetry like this every once in awhile. 😏
Pictured on the above right with the Cafe au Lait dinner plate dahlia.
tulsi (holy basil)
I’ve wanted to grow Tulsi (Holy Basil) for years now and finally did it! 🌱 It’s very similar to other types of basil as far as starting from seed and how to care for the plant, but Tulsi is unique in its benefits to our bodies. In addition to being one of the main ingredients in the delicious thai dish, Pad Kra Pao, Holy Basil has been used in Ayurveda for 3,000 years and has a host of health benefits, like lowering blood sugar, bad cholesterol, and inflammation. It’s also an adaptogen, which means it helps the body manage stress and anxiety. This summer and fall, I brewed it as a tea both fresh and dried. I added a little local raw honey for the perfect herbal brew that made me feel amazing. I wish I’d taken the time to dry more Tulsi so I could have it all throughout the winter!
