Every summer, the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park becomes an explosion of color, filled to the brim with beautiful blooms. Now, the wait for the iconic dahlias is finally over, with the flower garden in full bloom.
The dahlias begin blooming every July, and continue to bloom through September. The flowers peak the last week of August and the first week of September, so you still have plenty of time to see the flowers in their full glory over the next few weeks.
Managed by the Dahlia Society of California, the Dell is free to visit and just a short walk from the entrance of the park. Volunteers maintain the flowers, nurturing over 700 varieties of dahlias. The flower has been growing in Golden Gate Park since the 1880s and was named the official flower of San Francisco in 1926. The garden is paid for by donations, and dedicated volunteers help grow the flowers.
A ceremony to celebrate remodeling the hillside garden portion of the Dell will take place on August 4 at 10:30 am, where you can meet members of the Dahlia Society and take a free tour of the garden to learn more about the beautiful flowers.
The garden is centrally located, just steps away from the Conservatory of Flowers, which is a popular attraction for anyone with a green thumb. Plus, the Dell is along the Golden Mile, a stretch of JFK Promenade that features art installations, public pianos, and even a pop-up cocktail bar in the summer. We also recommend checking out the No Dancing art installation just down the road from the dahlias. The massive piece of artwork was displayed at Burning Man, and is definitely worth a look if you’re in the park. Plus, you can wander towards the de Young to see what they have on display, and check out the California Academy of Sciences.