Dahlia Society's efforts keep Golden Gate Park blooming

by Judith Kahn

Situated east of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park lies a most magnificent flower bed - Delta Dell.

Although it is not as grand as Conservatory of Flowers, Delta Dell it is equally impressive and some consider it "the crown jewel" of Golden Gate Park. It is believed there are at least 19 kinds of dahlias at the dell and hundreds of cultivars.

Dahlias became the official flower of San Francisco in 1925. To then-Mayor Sonny Rolph, it seemed only fitting that the vibrant flower be the official flower of such a spirited city as San Francisco.

The plant is native to Mexico, Central America and Columbia. It was originally discovered by Spanish soldiers in the 16th century in the mountains of Mexico. The dahlia's hollow stems can be up to 20 feet long, and were once used for hauling water. The Aztecs gathered and cultivated the dahlia for food and used them in ceremonies as well. One long stem of a particular variety was used to fashion small pipes.

Dahlias take on lots of different forms, colors and sizes. There are 36 species and 15 color classes, including brilliant reds, bright yellow, and various shades of purple, orange and white. Then there are color blends, such as lavender/white. Dahlia hybrids are commonly grown for decorative purposes. Dahlias have eight sets of chromosomes - most plants have only two - giving them a wide variety of color combinations.

Dahlias grow to various heights, as low as 12 inches or as high as eight feet. The flowers can be as small as two inches in diameter or up to a foot (30 cm) wide. It can grow in almost any soil, as long as it is not too dry.

On Aug. 15 and 16, the Dahlia Society of San Francisco will be sponsoring its annual show at the Hall of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, which is located on Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. On Saturday, the hours will be from noon to five p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The exhibition is being held at the height of the Dahlia blooming season.

The local Dahlia Society is also looking forward to hosting the annual national show of the American Dahlia Society in 2011.

The Dahlia plants that are currently in Delta Dell will be dug up in January and the tubers will be divided, cleaned and named. The tubers will then be stored until April 2010 for the Tuber and Cutting sales, which is held on the first Saturday of April at the same location.

Patricia Hunter, Secretary of the Dahlia Society, remarked that she runs through the Dell every day and watches its progress. She said people that come from all over the Bay Area and beyond are awestruck by the variety of blooms, brilliant colors and different sizes of the flower.

The Dahlia Society of California was founded in 1917, and has 100 members. The six members of the society who are responsible for the upkeep of the dell are Erik and Gerda Juul, Lou Paradise, Deborah Dietz, Tinnee Lee and Frank Schulkin. They are passionate about dahlias and are most appreciative of Golden Gate Park's dedicated gardeners who help maintain the site, including Steve Gersich and Ramon Gonzalez.

The Dahlia Society of San Francisco holds informative meetings the second Tuesday of the month. For more information, visit the Web site at sfdahlia.org or call (415) 994-2448.