a Bergs Potter Journal post

Dina McMahon

Among trays of tiny seedlings and the scent of fresh soil, spring greenhouse gardening unfolds through rituals of sowing, tending and waiting. In this spring edition of A Postcard From, Dina McMahon invites us into her greenhouse, a light-filled space where the season slowly begins long before it arrives outdoors. Read on for a glimpse into a season shaped by fresh beginnings and the gentle rhythm of nurturing life.

Dina in her greenhouse. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

What is your name and Instagram profile?

My name is Dina McMahon, and my Instagram profile is @dinasdigs, where you will find all things home and garden. I hope to inspire others to create beauty all around them.

Where is home, and who do you share it with?

I live in Port Moody, BC, which is on the West Coast of Canada, with my husband. I have two adult sons, and my youngest is currently still living at home with us.

What role does your greenhouse play in your everyday life, and how do you typically use it throughout the season

My greenhouse provides a quiet place that I retreat to daily, sometimes to work and sometimes just to sit in and relax and enjoy the peaceful, quiet environment. The warmth, humidity, and plants create a calming atmosphere allowing me to disconnect from the outside world.

My greenhouse is a multi-functional space depending on the season. My favourite time of year is winter in the greenhouse, when I am starting all my seeds for the spring/summer garden season ahead. There is nothing better than heading to the greenhouse in the pouring rain with a cup of coffee, turning up the heater and getting my hands dirty and sowing seeds.

In the height of summer, it is the perfect growing environment for my tomatoes and peppers; they thrive in the heat the greenhouse provides.

A space for both stillness and small beginnings. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

Where new growth gently takes hold. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

When did you first start gardening, and what initially drew you to sowing plants?

I have always dabbled in gardening but only started growing my own food and cut flowers a few years ago and am now obsessed with growing both. There is something so magical about planting a tiny seed, caring for it, and watching it grow. From the first sprout to full bloom, you witness the full life cycle up close, building patience and appreciation for nature.

I have memories of my grandfather’s vegetable garden from when I was a child. It wasn’t fancy, but I remember walking through it picking peas and cucumbers. I feel those memories when I’m in my own garden now; growing my own vegetables and flowers is a continuation of something that started long ago.

What does spring mean to you, and how does that feeling show itself in your greenhouse or garden?

Spring, to me, feels like hope and the promise of what’s to come. In my greenhouse, spring shows up before the calendar says it should, in the trays of tiny seedlings pushing through the soil, in the condensation on the windows, and in the constant checking on things so I don’t miss a moment.

Spring is exciting as I organise my seed packets, reorganise my shelves and refresh my supplies. In the garden, spring shows itself in the first tulips pushing through the soil, buds on branches, pollinators returning and soil that is no longer frozen.

Shelves lined with terracotta and tender greens. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

What does spring mean to you, and how does that feeling show itself in your greenhouse or garden?

Spring, to me, feels like hope and the promise of what’s to come. In my greenhouse, spring shows up before the calendar says it should, in the trays of tiny seedlings pushing through the soil, in the condensation on the windows, and in the constant checking on things so I don’t miss a moment.

Spring is exciting as I organise my seed packets, reorganise my shelves and refresh my supplies. In the garden, spring shows itself in the first tulips pushing through the soil, buds on branches, pollinators returning and soil that is no longer frozen.

Shelves lined with terracotta and tender greens. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

Start by growing what you love, your favourite flowers or your most loved vegetables or herbs. Grow what excites you and you will be hooked! 
Dina McMahon

The very beginning of spring. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

Are there any plants you especially associate with spring, or that you always look forward to growing this time of year?

I associate the first bulbs that pop up outside in the garden with spring: muscari, snowdrops, hyacinths and tulips. The first bits of colour pushing through the soil that you wait months for are so exciting to see.

In the greenhouse, the first seeds I sow are sweet peas and greens; they are the first things to head into my raised beds, and I look forward to growing them each year. Sweet peas are so delicate and fragrant, they climb and bloom, bringing a softness to the garden. The cool-season greens like lettuce, kale and spinach are always the first harvest of the year!

What do you enjoy about growing plants in pots as part of your gardening?

Growing plants in pots has a special kind of magic. Pots give you control over the soil, drainage, placement and design. You can curate combinations like trailing vines and upright blooms and each pot becomes its own little expression of your style. I love the flexibility of growing in pots and being able to move them and follow the sun for light, and the instant impact they bring to any space indoors or out.

A greenhouse shaped one pot at a time. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

What do you enjoy about growing plants in pots as part of your gardening?

Growing plants in pots has a special kind of magic. Pots give you control over the soil, drainage, placement and design. You can curate combinations like trailing vines and upright blooms and each pot becomes its own little expression of your style. I love the flexibility of growing in pots and being able to move them and follow the sun for light, and the instant impact they bring to any space indoors or out.

A greenhouse shaped one pot at a time. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

New growth in its earliest form. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

For someone dreaming about getting more into growing or starting a small greenhouse or growing space, is there anything you’ve learned that you’d like to share?

If you are interested in starting a garden, the best advice I can give is to start small: you don’t need a huge garden or greenhouse to be successful! You can start with a few pots and seedlings in your windowsill; you just need to start, and I guarantee once you have a little success your curiosity will grow and you will continue to experiment with growing new things. 

Start by growing what you love, your favourite flowers or your most loved vegetables or herbs. Grow what excites you and you will be hooked! 

 

Does your greenhouse change as spring unfolds?

As spring unfolds my greenhouse is constantly changing it shifts from planning to production and from dormancy to abundance. The light shifts and the sun sits higher and stays longer. The temperatures fluctuate with cool nights and warm afternoons and the greenhouse venting starts to swing into action with air flowing, doors opening and fans humming. With warmth comes moisture condensation beads in the morning and the balance of warmth and circulation becomes part of the daily rhythm. Growth speeds up and suddenly off; seed trays multiply, and eventually most things head outside to the garden beds.

Seed trays filling up fast. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

A space designed to linger in. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

How do you create such a calm and cosy atmosphere in your greenhouse, beyond the plants themselves?

My greenhouse is my sanctuary, and I strive to create a calm, cosy retreat to enjoy throughout the year and not just a workspace. I achieved this by adding pieces that function and add beauty, like my vintage workbench and my 1920s industrial factory rack that I use for seed starting. Adding a stool to my workbench adds comfort while I’m working and makes me linger even longer.

Natural textures add warmth; I love to incorporate terracotta pots, wooden crates and woven baskets. In the evenings, I love to surround myself in candlelight while in the greenhouse. My greenhouse is not cluttered, but it’s also not sterile; I group tools neatly and stack pots intentionally. My greenhouse is much more than a structure and plants; it is my refuge.

Where the garden season begins. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

Muscari in bloom. Photo by @michelle_mollinga.

Feeling inspired by Dina’s world?

Follow her on Instagram @dinasdigs for more glimpses from her greenhouse sanctuary, seasonal seed sowing and the gentle rhythm of growing — and find inspiration to nurture beauty in your own home and garden.

Words: Bergs Potter & Dina McMahon. Photos: Michelle Mollinga.

We are always curious and eager to learn how and what you grow in your corner of the world – and not at least how you  are living with Bergs Potter.
 Please share your experience by tagging us on Instagram or Pinterest; #livingwithBergs, #bergspotter.

Other stories you might like

Sage green Bergs Potter Lily pots with sandstone saucers styled by yellow bathtub

Where Lily Lands

From morning rituals to mindful workspaces, the sculptural Lily pot brings its floating form into the flow of everyday life. This autumn, Lily finds her place. First imagined as a floating bloom—a tribute to H.C. Andersen's Thumbelina—the sculptural Lily Collection has settled into its real-life surroundings, bringing soft form and vivid colour to the spaces of everyday life.

A Postcard From: Viktoria Askerow

In this edition of A Postcard From, we are delighted to feature Viktoria Askerow, the creative force behind the Instagram profile @tthese_beautiful_thingss.
Spring with Bergs Potter terracotta pots. Offering balance of moisture and airflow, help herbs, flowers, and vibrant blooms thrive.

It’s Terracotta Gardening Season

Soon the weather will allow us to grasp the wonders of growing creatures. Explore why terracotta gardening is a wonderful way to make the greenery thrive, and see our guide for choosing terracotta pots.
All Bergs Journal stories