Connecticut Dahlia Society

The Connecticut Dahlia Society was founded in 1959 and now is in its 50th year. The purposes of CDS are to promote the growing of the  Dahlia, to host shows members and the public to show their Dahlias, and to educate the public about the culture of the Dahlia. CDS's many activities include monthly meetings, the Annual Show at the Pond House in Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut, and annual root and plant auctions. CDS is a member of the American Dahlia Society and has hosted the National Dahlia Show twice in 1982 and 1989. CDS's 50th anniversary show will take place in 2008.

2008 CDS Officers:

President                     Jonathan Wooten    ctdahlia1@optonline.net

Vice President              Jesse Peterson

Treasurer                     Donna Paternostro

Secretary                     Barbara LaRochelle

Editor                          Marjorie Schnerr

History of the Connecticut Dahlia Society

 On February 21, 1959, the following eleven men met in Waterbury Connecticut to form the Connecticut Dahlia Society:

Harry Allyn, Terryville, CT; Lester Andrew, Waterbury, CT; Fred Calkins, Waterbury, CT; Franklin Dressel, Mildale, CT; Walter Hardisty, Watertown, CT; Charles Hobbs, Watertown, CT; Clarence Johnson, Watertown, CT; Thomas McNulty, Brookfield, CT; Ernest Miller, Plantsville, CT; Frank Seaman, Danbury, CT; and Paul Smith, Waterbury, CT.

Paul Smith was the founder of the Connecticut Dahlia Society and he was also elected as its first President. The first show of the society was held on September 9 & 10 of 1959 in the Shopping Plaza on Chase Avenue in Waterbury. 

The Society then held its second and third shows in Waterbury, before moving to the Pond House in Elizabeth Park in Hartford for two years.  Following shows were held in Fairfield, Wolcott, Prospect, Windsor Locks, Cheshire, and for the past 6 years annual shows have again been held at the Pond House in Elizabeth Park in Hartford. The CDS has hosted the National Shows of the American Dahlia Society in both 1982 and 1989 in Windsor Locks

The Connecticut Dahlia Society is an affiliated society of the American Dahlia Society and has its’ judges credentialed according to the standards of the ADS. The CDS is also a member of the North Atlantic Dahlia Conference that consists of six other societies from the states of New York, Rhode Island and New Jersey.

For the past several years, the Connecticut Dahlia Society has been maintaining a Display Garden in Elizabeth Park in Hartford for park visitors to enjoy.   Annual Root Auctions are held in the spring and monthly meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of most months in the Waterbury area.

The Annual Show of the CDS is always held on the fourth Saturday in August.  The 48^th. Annual Show of the CDS will be held on August 26, 2006, again at the Pond House in Elizabeth Park. Admission for the public is free and exhibitors from many states will display their blooms at this show.

The mission of the CDS is to stimulate interest in, and promote the culture and development of the dahlia; to conduct and promote public exhibition of dahlias in Connecticut; to assist its members in learning the most effective ways of dahlia culture; to promote good fellowship; and to devote all profits accruing to the society to the above purposes.

Connecticut Dahlia Society Show History

Connecticut Dahlia Society Past Presidents

Connecticut Originations

CDS can be joined by anyone by filling out the form on the Membership Page.

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