Great Days For Dazzling Dahlias

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Dahlias can be dazzling - from tiny pom-poms to fabulously fluffy flowers the size of dinner plates - blooming in brilliant colors into the fall until frost. And this weekend you can see Dahlias at their peak when the Greater Philadelphia Dahlia Society (Philadahlia.org) puts on its annual show at Longwood Gardens. This year it's in the Ballroom of the Conservatory, Saturday from 1 pm to 9 pm and Sunday from 9 to 5 pm.

Originating in Mexico, where they grow like weeds, dahlias have been cultivated over the centuries to create thousands of unique varieties. And while the Philadelphia Society calls themselves a small group of Dahlia devotees, their members grow about 800 plants!

I'd always feared they were fussy flowers, but not so - it's said that if you can grow tomatoes in your garden you can grow Dahlias. So if you'd like to know how they grow and see some spectacular specimens for yourself, head to Longwood Gardens this weekend, and ask the Dahlia Society for all the dirt on how it's done.

If you miss it, you can learn more about growing Dahlias at Dahlia.org.