Dahlias have had a dedicated plot near the Conservatory of Flowers since the mid 1920’s.

In the 1980’s, Roy Takeuchi cultivated dahlias in both the oval and on the hillside.  While Roy’s father hybridized all kinds of vegetables Roy developed dahlias and sold them commercially.

When Roy became ill in the early 1990’s, Erik Gaensler began planting the Dell.    Deborah Dietz joined him the next year on the hillside. Erik and Gerda Juul joined 2 years later and was followed the next year by Lou Paradise.  Now Tinnee Lee, Melissa Hung, and Erik Gaensler grow on the Hillside and the Juuls, Lou Paradise and Deborah Dietz grow down in the teardrop.

With the advent of the Internet, international dahlia news has spurred widespread exchange of tubers.  The Dell has hosted Higgo originations from South Africa; Oreti and Taratahi originations from New Zealand; Barbary and Ruskin originations from England; Hamari originations from Holland as well as some species of Dahlias from Mexico. Moreover the Juuls and Paradise are highly reputed hybridizers themselves.