The Grand Valley Dahlia Society originated about 1950 with a Grand Rapids area woman named Lilian Donaldson. Lilian loved the dahlia flower, and started going to state dahlia society shows in the mid 1940's.    It was at one of these shows in Lansing, Michigan that she met others who shared her love of dahlias.  One of these was Professor Wildon, head of the Michigan Dahlia Society and a professor of horticulture at MSU. Networking began in earnest to start a Dahlia Society in Grand Rapids.  The original meeting of the Grand Valley Dahlia Society was held at Lillian's home, and about 20 members were in attendance.  The first meetings were held in various members homes.  As the Society grew, meetings were held monthly at the Chadwick Garden Center in the Grand Rapids Museum, with the members paying  $3.00 for membership.

Today, over 45 years later, Lillian is in her 90's and still growing dahlias with the hope of naming one after her husband Joe. The Grand Valley Dahlia Society holds an annual banquet, tuber sale, dahlia display, and dahlia show each year.  Our membership continues to grow, and we hope that you will join us. We love to share our ideas as we continue to learn all about the dahlia flower.  We discuss planting,  maintaining normal plant health, diseases, arranging and how to arrange dahlias at displays and shows . Come and join us!
 

Special news!
We have been given the honor of hosting the 2009 Midwest Dahlia Conference Show!  It will be held at the Fredrick  Meijer Gardens on August 28-30, 2009. The entire Grand Ballroom will be available to us, so that we can host growers from all the surrounding states.  What an honor!