The 8th Annual Dazzling Dahlia Festival was held at the Highlands Recreation Center on Sept. 8. Highlands Mayor Pat Taylor signed a proclamation declaring the week of September 3-9 Dahlia week. The festival was the culmination of summer activities for the Highlands Historical Society. The funds raised support the Highlands Historical Society, the Prince House and Kelsey Kids Summer Camp.
“Last year we had 41 flowers or less because of Irma,” said Kim Daugherty, Dahlia Festival Chairman referring to the “best” and “worst” of Irma last year.
Visitors to this year’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival in Highlands, N.C.
Festivities began with a Patron’s Party at Highlands Country Club on Sept. 5 with Highlands & Hollywood as the theme. Attendees walked the red carpet, and Ray McPhail regaled them with the story of Highlands and its part in the filming of “The Four Seasons,” in 1981. The scene with the Mercedes sinking was filmed on Lake Sequoyah. The movie crew was staying at the Rainwater estate, left a space heater on and the heater caught fire. The fire destroyed the old Rainwater estate.
The event raised approximately $12,000 last year. This year, exhibitors entered 277 flowers into the Dahlia Festival; producing an explosion of color and shape that delighted around 200 people. Dinner plate size Dahlias in stunning reds and yellows, Pom Poms, Water Lily’s, balls and Orchids, in every shade under the sun, were just some of the types of Dahlias that local growers proudly shared with the community. Judges awarded Best in Show to Clyde Howell for his singularly stunning Pom Pom. 48 blue ribbons were awarded and many more second place, third place, and honorable mention ribbons were also given.
Clyde Howell was awarded Best in Show for his “Pom Pom” dahlia.
“It was a surprise to win,” said Howell. “I had one I thought would win and it got iced out this season so when I first walked in I thought ‘oh man, this is not my day.’”
Jodie Zahner gave a demonstration and talk on using native plants in arrangements. She shared some great ideas for making the best use of the flowers and foliage that grow all around us. There were also 45 dahlia arrangements that were sold to those who do not grow dahlias.
Best in Show at the Dazzling Dahlia Festival competition.
Sue Heath traveled from LaVonia, Ga., and visitied the show for the first time this year.
“It’s absolutely incredible here,” said Heath. “I’m a painter and I just want to paint all of them. They’re beautiful.”
Daugherty said the dahlias were incredibly beautiful this year, in spite of heavy rains early in the growing season. Many were late blooming, but quite prolific. The blooms entered in the show were absolutely inspiring; their colors ranged from bright whites to deep crimsons, gorgeous purples, oranges, and multi-color blooms that cannot help but make you smile. Each bloom is unique, and a room full of dahlias becomes a festive, joyful, expression of summer bounty on our wonderful plateau.
Ralph Swingholm of Sapphire Valley visited the Dazzling Dahlias Festival at the Highlands Rec Park.
Ralph Swingholm of Sapphire Valley visited the show fir the first time and said he think shows like Dazzling Dahlias are great.
“I love dahlias,” said Swingholm. “There’s such a variety and the colors are so beautiful. The range of hues is fantastic.”
Daugherty thanked the many volunteers who worked hard all weekend setting up, arranging flowers, categorizing, judging, and generously donating their time and talents to Dazzling Dahlia. She also thanked the many people who spend countless hours planting, nurturing, and beautifying our lives with their beautiful flowers. Growing dahlias is a science and an art that requires patience and proper weather conditions.
Article and photos by Brian O’Shea
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Winners:
BEST OF SHOW: Clyde Howell’s Pompom
LACINIATED:
1st: Brightman Logan
2nd: James Keeble, Wesleyan Church, Laura
Plush,Cullasaja Dahlia Club (2), Brightman
Logan,
3rd: Carol Taylor, Jennifer Schmitt, Laura Plush
H.M.: Helen Steward
POMPOM:
1st: Clyde Howell
2nd: Cullasaja Dahlia Club, Dena Williams,
3rd: Drew English
H.M.: Dede Austin
WATER LILY:
1st: Helen & Natalie, Ann Maxwell, Carol Taylor,
Wesleyan Church Glenville
2nd: Mary Berry, Sarah Benz, Helen Steward,
Leslie Jeffrey, Dede Austin, James Letson (3)
3rd: Drew English, Dede Austin, Margo Kessler,
Peggy Annette, James Letson,
Wesleyan Church Glenville
H.M.: Mike Kaiser, Helen & Natalie
BALL:
1st: Clyde Howell, Susie Day, Dena Williams,
John Laulletta, Helen & Natalie
2nd: Margaret Laulletta, Clement Dennis,
Carol Taylor, Helen & Natalie, Dena Williams,
Natalie Laulletta, Jennifer Schmitt, Susie Day (2)
Pixie Killebrew, Peggy Arnette, Mary Berry,
Helen Steward
3rd: Mary Berry, Laura Plush, Marlene Viers,
Cullasaja Dahlia Club, Carol Taylor, Dede Austin,
Helen & Natalie
H.M.: Carol Keller, Tee Davis, Mary Berry, Linda David,
Margo Keesler, Tee Davis, Drew English
MINI BALL:
1st: Clyde Howell
ORCHID:
1st: Drew English
2nd: Peggy Arnette (2)
ANEMONE:
1st: Margaret Laulletta
2nd: Peggy Arnette
3rd: Peggy Arnette
COLLARETTE
1st: Ann Maxwell
2nd: John Laulletta
3rd: Peggy Arnette
MIGNON SINGLE:
1st: Ann Maxwell
2nd: Peggy Arnette, Sandie Trevathan
3rd: Jennifer Schmitt
DINNER PLATE:
1st: Cullasaja Dahlia Club, John Laulletta,
Ann Maxwell, Clyde Howell
2nd: Cullasaja Dahlia Club (2) Sarah Benz, Clement Dennis,
John Laulletta (2), Jane Youmans, Peggy Arnette,
Ann Maxwell, Margo Keesler
3rd: Kathy Ward, Dede Austin, Nina Burke, Clement Dennis,
Dena Williams
H.M.: Mike Kaiser, Mary Berry, Linda David, Debby Jamison
Cullasaja Dahlia Club (2)
MISC.STELLAR:
1st: Debby Jamison, Clyde Howell
2nd: Susie Day, Margaret Laulletta, Cullasaja Dahlia Club
3rd: John Laulletta, Tee Davis
H.M.: Leslie Jeffrey, Mike Kaiser
CACTUS (A):
1st: Wesleyan Church Glenville
2nd: Lee Havron for Sherry Cooper, Carol Keller
3rd: James Letson
H.M.: Tee Davis
CACTUS (B):
1st: Clyde Howell
2nd: Margo Keesler
SEMI CACTUS(A):
1st: Helen & Natalie
2nd: Jane Youmans
SEMI CACTUS(B):
1st: Laura & John Bell
2nd: Carol Keller
3rd: Melanie Mauldin
SEMI CACTUS(C):
1st: Helen & Natalie
2nd: Helen Steward
3rd: Ann Maxwell
SEMI CACTUS(D)
1st: Carol Kellett
2nd: Wesleyan Church Glenville
3rd: Helen & Natalie
H.M.: Peggy Arnette
SEMI CACTUS(E)
1st: Ann Maxwell, Dena Williams, Clyde Howell
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (A):
1st: Clement Dennis
2nd: Natalie Laulletta, Laura & John Bell
3rd: Debby Jamison, Carol Kellett
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (B):
1st: Margaret Laulletta
2nd: Margo Keesler
3rd: James Letson
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (C):
1st: Natalie Laulletta
2nd: Wesleyan Church Glenville
3rd: Sarah Benz
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (D):
1st: Jennifer Schmitt
2nd: Mike Kaiser
3rd: Clement Dennis, Carol Kellett
H.M.: Debby Jamison
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (E):
1st: Marlene Viers
2nd: Carol Taylor
3rd: Helen & Natalie, Dede Austin,
Carol Taylor
H.M.: James Keeble
INFORMAL DECORATIVE (F):
1st: John Laulletta
2nd: Ann Maxwell
3rd: Marlene Viers (2), Clyde Howell
FORMAL DECORATIVE (A):
1st: Jane Youmans, Susie Day, Ann Maxwell
FORMAL DECORATIVE (B):
1st: Nina Burke
2nd: Laura & John Bell, Margaret Laulletta
3rd: Clyde Howell
FORMAL DECORATIVE (C):
1st: Clyde Howell
2nd: Carol Taylor, Helen & Natalie, James Keeble
3rd: Jane Youmans, Dena Williams, James Keeble
FORMAL DECORATIVE (D):
1st: Clyde Howell
2nd: Laura & John Bell
3rd: Debby Jamison, Helen Steward,
John & Laura Bell
FORMAL DECORATIVE (E):
1st: Helen & Natalie
2nd: Laura & John Bell, Mary Berry, Carol Kellett (2)
3rd: Jane Youmans
FORMAL DECORATIVE (F):
1st: Dena Williams
2nd: Dede Austin, Dena Williams, Margo Keesler, John Laulletta,
Clyde Howell, Carol Kellett (2)
3rd: Jane Youmans
FORMAL DECORATIVE (G):
2nd: James Letson
H.M.: Nina Burke
FORMAL DECORATIVE (H):
1st: Lee Havron for Sherry Cooper
2nd: Pixie Killabrew
3rd: Lee Havron for Sherry Cooper
FORMAL DECORATIVE (I):
1st: Jennifer Schmitt
2nd: Margaret Laulletta, Clement Dennis, Sandie Trevathan
3rd: Hellen & Natalie, Sandie Trevathan (2), Margo Keesler
STELLAR (A):
1st: Clyde Howell
2nd: Susie Day
3rd: John Laulletta
H.M.: Mike Kaiser, Margaret Laulletta
STELLAR (B):
3rd: Tee Davis
STELLAR (C):
2nd: Cullasaja Dahlia Club
3rd: Nina Burke
H.M.: Leslie Jeffrey
ARRANGEMENTS:
1st: Diane Warren
2nd: Ruth Claiborne
H.M. Betty Fisher