FAQ

DSC Membership

All things membership-related.

  • We offer an Individual Membership (for 1 person) and Family Membership (for 2+ people in your household) for the Dahlia Society of California. This gives you access to our monthly meetings and newsletters, volunteer opportunities, and ability to participate in our Annual Show.


    If you’re interested in joining the American Dahlia Society, please visit the ADS website. Joining the ADS allows you to participate in nationwide shows, and includes a Dahlia Classification Guide and Handbook.

  • Individual memberships are $10 a year. Family memberships (2+ person households) are $15 a year.

  • Membership runs from May 1st to April 30th of the following year.

  • Nope! We encourage people of all ages to join and participate. Our Annual Show has a junior division — made just for kids!

  • We meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month (except January) at 7:30pm. Choose to join us in person at the SF County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park, or join virtually via Zoom (the link will be emailed the day of the meeting).

  • We meet in the County Fair Building classroom located off the parking lot at Lincoln and 10th Ave. From the parking lot, walk through the chainlink gate to the small courtyard. The classroom is the second door on your left.

  • The meeting link will be emailed to members on the day of the meeting.

The Dahlia Dell

Our volunteer-run dahlia garden in Golden Gate Park.

What is the Dahlia Dell?

The Dahlia Dell is a free public garden created by the Dahlia Society of California (San Francisco’s dahlia society). Members grow hundreds of varieties of dahlias for their beauty, competitions, hybridization, and education. Dahlias have been grown in Golden Gate Park for over 100 years. Society volunteers keep the tradition of growing San Francisco’s official flower alive for all to enjoy.

When is peak season?

July, August, and September are the best months to see blooms. The absolute peak is the last week of August-first week of September. Some of our growers let their sections go to seed starting in September, others keep deadheading and disbudding to prolong the season until Thanksgiving!

Who gets to name the dahlias?

The person who hybridized the dahlia gets to name it. For example, Lou Paradise, a superstar in our society, has hybridized many cultivars, such as Bea Paradise and Skip to My Lou. It takes several years to create a new dahlia. You’ll see many of Lou’s creations in the Dell.

Are your dahlias for sale?

No and yes. We cannot sell or give you any blooms. Come to our annual Tuber + Plant Sale where you can buy many of the varieties we grow at the Dahlia Dell.

Who pays for the dahlias and supplies at the Dell?

The Dahlia Society of California (which has been the official name of San Francisco’s dahlia society since 1917) pays for everything you see, except the water. This includes irrigation equipment, tubers, fencing, soil amendments, etc. All of the hard work to make this fabulous public garden a reality is done by volunteers.

Our meetings, tuber sale, and competition venues and supplies are paid for by donations.

Can I volunteer at the Dell?

Yes! Active members are eligible to volunteer at the Dahlia Dell. Click here to learn more.

Are there picnic tables at the Dell?

Yes, there is one picnic table near the Dell. You can reserve it here. There are also a few adjacent benches and a lawn area for picnic blankets.

Is there a restroom nearby?

Yes! There is a public restroom the other side of the Conservatory of Flowers.