Paradise on Earth

A man with gray hair wearing sunglasses, a light-colored striped shirt, and jeans is crouching in a garden with lemon trees and blooming pink and white flowers, smiling at the camera while holding a pink flower.

Lou Paradise has created a paradise on earth in his garden in the Sunset area Paradise family homestead. And, he is sharing some of the paradise with everyone who visits the Golden Gate Park with his managed portion of the teardrop-shaped Dahlia Dell. One look at the names of his of hybridized Dahlias, eight introduced up to 2005 and four new ones in 2006, strongly reveals his Italian heritage.

Bea Paradise in the palm of its creator, Lou Paradise.

Early in his life, Lou left Italy to live with his Aunt and Uncle in the Bay Area, and has called San Francisco his home ever since. How he got started with growing Dahlias is very much like how most of us got started — struck by the beauty and the variety of  Dahlias. Someone brought a Dahlia to his company and the rest is history — he caught the bug.

Light purple and white dahlia flower with green leaves in the background.

Bea Paradise WL LB L 2003

Soon, with guidance from the Juuls, he started to experiment with hybridizing. And, DSC members have been benefactors from his creativity by his bringing to our club so many beautiful new Dahlias. However, hybridizing is not an exact science. Besides expertise, it takes patience, perseverance and a little luck. Lou relates that only one out of one hundred planted seeds finally makes to an ADS approved and registered new Dahlia. It has to pass through a series of stringent tests and exams and normally would take 4 to 6 years.

A vibrant pink and white flower with a yellow center, surrounded by green foliage.

Mikey P  CO-PR/r/w 1996

When Lou created this collarette, his son Mike was so smitten by it, Lou named it after him. Mike, himself, has since won several awards in the Youth categories.

Close-up of an orange dahlia flower with layered petals and green leaves in the background.

Vincent Paradiso M-SC-OR 1993

A large, vibrant orange and yellow dahlia flower in full bloom surrounded by green leaves.

Eden Talos AA-SC-BR 2013

A man standing in a garden with pink and yellow dahlias, smiling, wearing glasses and a short-sleeved striped shirt. An inset close-up shows a purple and pink dahlia flower.

A very proud Lou in front of a very gorgeous Veca Lucia B-ID-LB  1997

Three pink dahlias with green leaves in front of a wooden fence.

Pink Paradise M-FD-P 2006 – Lynn B. Dudley Award winner

Close-up of a pink dahlia flower with green leaves in the background.

Lou has won many prizes with his Scattered B-ID-L 1998

Close-up of a vibrant pink dahlia flower with green leaves in the background.

Dark Horse   BB-FD-DB 2006

More of Lou’s hybrids:

Eden Barbarossa BA R 2010
Eden Predator BB FD FL 2013
Eden Benary MB W 2016
Eden Star
Eden Lemonade BA Y 2009
Eden Testarossa BB SC R 2009
Skip to My Lou  BB FD BI R/W 2006

Pink and yellow dahlia flower with green leaves in the background.

Elsie C  B-IC-Y 2006