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Banner photo courtesy of ThisWallpaper.com
Central States Dahlia Society (CSDS) is a group of dedicated and knowledgeable gardeners who focus on promoting the culture of dahlias.
"We are basically crazy about dahlias."
During the Winter and early Spring (November thru April), CSDS members meet regularly at the Elk Grove Village Public Library, 1001 Wellington Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. Meetings are usually held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 1 pm.
During the Summer growing season, CSDS fills its calendar with a multitude of activities including the CSDS Annual Dahlia Plant & Tuber Sale, garden walks, tours, excursions, an annual picnic, and annual Awards Banquet. The main event of the year, (drum roll please), is the CSDS Annual Dahlia Show & Competition.
Another highlight of the 2018 season was a Dahlia Exhibition at Cantigny Park. Experienced gardeners were on hand to provide cultural information and to answer questions on how to grow beautiful dahlias in our gardening region.
CSDS is a participating society member of the American Dahlia Society.
Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday, also called Día de los Muertos, is from October 31 to November 3, 2019. It is in remembrance of friends and relatives who have passed. It honors the deceased and specifically the people to whom we were very close. What does have to do with growing dahlias? Maybe not much, but it does give us the opportunity to reflect on people in our dahlia community whom we have lost.
The poster, with the skeleton likeness, was created by the husband of a CSDS member and displayed at our 2019 CSDS show at Chicago Botanic Garden. It was part of the artistic design theme focusing on Mexico. This colorful poster received rave reviews, especially from visitors and members who are familiar with the holiday.
To some it might seem scary; that is not the intent. The four-day holiday event, which apparently includes numerous skeletons, is intended to be an upbeat and positive way of celebrating people who have had a profound effect on our lives. There are many good dahlia people who are no longer with us. They are forever missed, but never forgotten.
Good luck with your dahlias as this season wraps up. Happy tuber digging from your friends at Central States Dahlia Society!
