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Dazzling Dahlias
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: September - 2022
The inescapable charm of Dahlias earns them a day in the sun with Highlands’ Dazzling Dahlia Festival, September 10-11
Perhaps no other flower is as varied in size, color,and distinction as the dahlia. The American DahliaAssociation currently recognizes 42 species. Althoughdahlias grow better in some regions of the United State than inothers, the plants are beloved by fervent gardeners and dabblersalike in the mountains of North Carolina.On September 10-11, Highlands Historical Society hosts the12th annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival. The festival has evolvedover the last dozen years into a town-wide, family-friendlyevent that showcases stunning dahlias, native plants, Highlands’history, nonprofits, and an abundance of talent and creativity.The Bascom hosts a single-bloom, amateur competition withdahlia categories ranging from dinner-plate to “cactus” size.In fact, the showing is a breathtaking assembly of shape, size,and color. The dahlias are judged by Garden Club of America-certified judges, who provide comments about the flowers. Foramateur gardeners this is a rare opportunity.Anyone interested in entering the single-bloom dahlia showcan do so for $20; up to eight dahlia blooms can be entered onSaturday, September 10, between 8:00 to 10:00 A.M.The judged show will be open to the public Saturday andSunday from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M., with ribbons displayed onwinning flowers. Main Street, Kelsey-Hutchinson FoundersPark, Highlands Historical Village, and The Bascom will bethe backdrop for beautiful dahlia and native plant vignettesinterpreting The Gilded Age, which is this year’s theme. ADahlia Trail Map will be available at these locations and at theHighlands Visitor Center.The public can vote online for their favorites to help selectPeople’s Choice awards. Winners will be announced during a Saturday night concert in Kelsey-HutchinsonFounders Park.“The Highlands plateau is blessed with nonprofits thatsupport every aspect of our lives, and it is time for them totake a bow. So they’ll be focused on at the Park as well,”said organizer Kim Daugherty.Trish Foor, a local watercolor artist, created a painting forthe festival’s official poster.“The original will be awarded to the Best of Show winnerfrom the festival,” added Daugherty. “And the posters willbe available for purchase during the weekend.Plus, during the festival are storytellers and old-timeentertainment at the Highlands Historical Society villageon Saturday and Sunday. Children will be entertained witha scavenger hunt, and there will be flower arrangements forsale. For more information, visit highlandshistory.com.
by Donna Rhodes
