We recently stumbled across the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park, just to the right of the Conservatory of Flowers, in full bloom. You can often get dahlias at the local florist shop, but rarely do they have the bursting colors and architectural varieties on display in this garden right now.
favorite flower, particularly the ball variety. had no idea this was there. thanks for the heads up.
*sigh* - I love dahlias! Why can't dahlia breeders make them smell?
I've been to the gigantic dahlia festival at Swan Island Dahlias in Canby, OR outside of Portland. They're fairly easy to grow, and this place is dahlia ground zero in North America:
http://www.dahlias.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2
How to grow:
http://www.dahlias.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2
The pom pon varieties are a fabulous modern take on a traditional bloom:
http://www.dahlias.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=18
i LOVE the dahlia garden! every year i try and take regular walks over there starting in late july, when the flowers are just starting to bloom. they usually keep going well into september. they are such amazing flowers---it kills me every time i go over there.
apparently there is a dahlia society made up of volunteers that do the planting every year. seems like such a fun thing to do.
I bought some lovely vibrant maroon color dahlia's at the farmer's market last Saturday. I had never seen them in that color before, they are beautiful.
Thanks for the tip on the garden in the park, will have to get up there:)
Wow, what exquisite flowers. And photos! We will have to go check those out.