Golden Gate Park is well known for its sprawling, 55-acre botanical garden, boasting a variety of plants from around the globe. While it’s always worth the visit, a small garden tucked by the Conservatory of Flowers is currently in full bloom, boasting a selection of colorful flowers that will only last a few more weeks,
San Francisco’s free dahlia garden
Tucked next to the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park sits a free garden bursting with Dahlias. The Dahlia Dell features an impressive array of dahlias, with hundreds of different varieties in the garden. The Dahlia Dell typically starts blooming in July and Peaks in late august, which means now is the perfect time to stop by the flourishing garden.
What makes the garden particularly interesting is the flower’s long history in San Francisco. Dahlias were grown in Golden Gate Park dating back to the 1880s and are the official flower of San Francisco.
The Dahlia Society of California tends the garden, and dedicated volunteers care for it every year. The Dahlia Society of California was established over 100 years ago in 1917, and is still active today. On September 13, the Dahlia Society will host a celebration at the Dahlia Dell, commemorating 100 years of the dahlia becoming the official flower of San Francisco.
The dell is located next to the Conservatory of Flowers, and while you’re in the park, we recommend stopping by the pop-up garden bar Whale’s Tail, which is just a short walk away down JFK Promenade. If you want to explore more gardens for free, the Botanical Gardens are open to San Francisco residents.