Dahlia Dell – Golden Gate Park

I headed over to the De Young Museum for the Picasso exhibit this weekend and was pleasantly surprised to find that the Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park was in full bloom.

Here are a few interesting facts about Dahlias:

• Dahlias are native to Mexico, but were imported to Europe and named after the Swedish Botanist, Anders Dahl.
• Dahlias are octoploids and have eight sets of homologous chromosomes. Most plants have only two sets. This is why there are so many varieties of Dahlias.
• There’s no such thing as a black dahlia. “Black” dahlias are actually burgundy.
• The Dahlia is the official flower of San Francisco and Seattle.
• The Dahlia Dell at Golden Gate park has been around since the 1920’s.

The Dahlia Dell Then…and.. Now…. [click to view the animation]