The Hamilton Dahlia Society
About us
The Hamilton Dahlia Society is dedicated to assisting fellow gardeners in excelling in growing these beautiful plants. The members enjoy growing these flowers for their beauty and exotic appearance. It is no exaggeration to say that people walking by our gardens stop and marvel at these gorgeous blooms. The HDS hosts a friendly annual competition called the “Show” each September at the Royal Botanical Gardens. We are delighted to announce that we return to the RBG this September 2026 for our show. We hold an awards ceremony at a private dinner in November.
Membership Benefits
The society meets in-person twice a year with dahlia experts available to answer your questions, exchange ideas, and demonstrate our gardening techniques.
We have regular educational zoom meetings with experts. Meetings occur monthly on the off-season breaking for June-September.
The zoom meetings focus on what you should be doing ‘next’ from planting to addressing soil needs, pruning, fertilizing, showing, lifting and storing your dahlias/tubers
Join us for other benefits such as:
Building community through access to expert growers
In-person garden teaching event every July
Early access to our annual tuber sale
Private garden tours
Annual flower show at the RBG
Yearly Awards Show
Membership Renewal- Deadline March 31st, 2026
Those who have joined since August 1st, 2025 do not have to renew as your 2026 membership will be covered by last year's dues.
Email Robyn for more information to become a member or renew your membership at:
hdcds_newmembership@rogers.com
Society Meetings & Events 2026
January 26
Dr, Keith Hammett, QSM, BSc (Hon), PhD
Topic - Dahlia Viruses. Meeting will be via Zoom at 7:00 pm.
February 23
Presenters are Jim Hall & Neenah Navasero
Topic - Cuttings
Also, Adriaan Van Hoeve - his family owns a cut flower farm and he is studying tissue culture propagation of Dahlias.
Meeting will be Zoom at 7:00 pm
March 24
Kristine Albrecht
Kristine Albrecht from Santa Cruz Dahlias is our speaker . Meeting will be via Zoom.
April
Annual Online Tuber Sale
Members Only Sale will start Friday, April 24th at noon. Public Sale will start on Saturday, April 25th at noon.
May 11
Meeting via Zoom - Planting your dahlias
July
In-person Garden Party & Demo
August
-Garden Tours - will be announced
Garden locations will be announced
-Staging and Judging Seminars - will be announced
September 11 -13
Dahlia Show at the Royal Botanical Gardens
October
Digging and Storing
November
Annual Awards Banquet: will be announced