The history of the dahlia at Planting Fields dates back to the estate era of the property. Dahlias have been a feature at Planting Fields at least since the 1920s when they appear in profusion in many historic photos of Coe Hall interiors taken by Mattie Hewitt about 1922, shortly after the mansion was built.  In the Gallery are four arrangements and four more in the Great Hall. There are four additional dahlia arrangements in other rooms, twelve altogether; dahlias are the dominant flowers in a group of ten historic room photos.

In the mid-1980s Paul Callahan, a dedicated volunteer turned employee, reintroduced dahlias to Planting Fields. Raised beds were constructed near the Carriage House in rows to allow visitors to view dahlias in a display setting. This garden was maintained solely by volunteers under his direction. “The dahlia is the mockingbird of the flower kingdom. You could mistake it for a waterlily or anemone, you really can’t tell what it is except by its foliage.” (Paul Callahan, Newsday Sept. 30, 1994)

In 1997, construction began on a commemorative garden that would embody Paul’s passion for dahlias in a garden setting while educating the visiting public. The garden was designed by Dwight Andrews with input from arboretum staff, Mid Island Dahlia Society members and Peter Tilles, trustee of the Planting Fields Foundation. The implementation of the garden was both labor intensive and costly. The construction of the garden was generously donated by Peter Tilles. In the spring of 1998, the garden was completed and ready for planting.

Our Garden Grows: Mid Island Dahlia Society was home to the 2001 annual American Dahlia Society (ADS) show. In 2011, a breast cancer awareness pink dahlia bed was added as the central bed. The beautiful pink dahlias were surrounded by a collection of pink petunias generously donated by White Flower Farm. By 2012 the latest addition was a collection of low growing dahlias that are fully double. These dahlias do not require staking and are available in a wide range of colors.

The Garden, with over 400 dahlias planted annually, thrives through the dedication of the Mid Island Dahlia Society members and supporters, the Planting Fields Foundation, and New York State Park personnel.

Credits: Evergreen, Planting Fields Foundation Fall / Winter 2012 Newsletter