One of the sure signs that San Francisco summer is here, in all its frigid glory, is the sudden hallucinatory pop of vibrant hues just east of the Conservatory of Flowers. That’s the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park, which bursts annually with delectable specimens whose names are often as memorable as their ravishing colors: Bumble Rumble, Skip To My Lou, Fruit Salad, Antares, Poppers, Splash Splash, A La Mode, Sunday Steve, Jomanda, Daddy’s Girl, For Robin…
The Dell, containing 700 named varieties, is brought to us by the Dahlia Society of California every year from July-September, and hosts some fabulous concurrent events, including tours of the Dell on August 2 and September 13, and a big free Dahlia Show at the San Francisco County Fair Building, August 16-17. If you need a wee pick-me-up in our fog-laden, fascist-leaning times, I wholehearted recommend a stop by the Dell to refresh your outlook on the world. Check out the slideshow below for some quick shots from my Saturday stroll: