This week marks the last peak Dahlia week in our Southeast region. From here, things will begin to shift as we move through October and approach November. Here’s what that looks like for you, our Floral Creative Community…

Important Note! Be sure to read below about important changes to Priority Advance Ordering in November… 

Dancing Out October with Dahlias

You probably want to know how long the Dahlia season will be cranking! The answer–  availability continues through the first frost, which usually reaches us in late October. However, since our Farm Partners are located across various micro climates in our southeastern region, the decline in availability is typically staggered across October, starting now.

Farm Partners in colder mountain climates, like Virginia and parts of Western North Carolina, will experience frost first. The weather, in fact, currently warns of a temperature dip later this week! So our farmers are watching the forecasts and crossing their fingers for another week of beautiful blooms from that area. The remaining NC and SC farmers with Stemz will likely continue dahlia availability for about 2 more weeks, gradually winding down volume and dancing out October with the season’s last divas…

The Next Flower Diva?

Chrysanthemums! We just received the first harvested bunches of this key regional wholesale flower, and expect to be oo-ing and ah-ing late October through Thanksgiving.

If you’ve never worked with regionally grown Chrysanthemums, let me tell you how special they are! Our farmers grow specialty varieties, including funky heirlooms, as well as work-horse classics. They are the last word on such a beautiful season of regionally grown flowers, providing both bold and muted tones for your dreamy fall palettes.

Late October/ November also brings an array of rich textures, foliage, berries, grasses, a few winter greenhouse grown specialties, and frankly many of the season’s greatest surprises. 

How Ordering Shifts in November | Live Field Inventory Takes the Lead

In November, we shift from offering both PAO and LFI ordering options to only LFI– Live Field Inventory. 

As Dahlias wind down and the overall breadth of varieties naturally simplifies with seasonal changes, it makes the most sense to simplify ordering too. We want to provide the absolute best sourcing support we can as your 100% regional flower wholesaler, and in November, that means cutting off PAOs as harvest predictions weeks in advance becomes much more challenging for our farmers. So if you try to place a PAO in November, you will find that those later fall dates will be closed.

But don’t worry– Stemz is still open and LFI will be well stocked with gorgeous fall and holiday product throughout November until the first week of December!* Things will just look a bit different, without PAO as the initial go-to ordering method. See LFI tips below for a refresher on how to get the most out of it.

*Seasonal Route Note: Asheville and Wilmington NC’s last day of seasonal delivery is Oct 22nd, and Charleston SC’s last day of seasonal pick-up/ delivery is November 12th.

Quick LFI Refreshers

Live Field Inventory, or “LFI” for short, is our online marketplace featuring flowers that farmers list in real-time after walking their fields.

• Order 2–9 days before your upcoming receiving date
• Each Monday at 4pm, the LFI receiving date flips forward one week
• Farmers continue listing new availability daily, so definitely check back in!
• Listed products are not sitting in our cooler now– but rather cut fresh to order by farmers just prior to your receiving date– just like PAOs. 
• Place multiple LFI orders for the same receiving date. Minimum order and delivery/pick-up fee only required for your initial order.

Ready to check out LFI now? Shop our Live Field Inventory here.

Want to prebook for your events in late October? Place your final 2025 Priority Advance Orders here.

Here’s to Fall and the change it brings!