This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Highlands Historical Society’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival. COVID is impacting every area of peoples’ lives and most things are being cancelled, but nature is thriving.
Dahlias are growing, and the patience that nature teaches us will be rewarded with a stunning and colorful late summer display of flowers.
A dahlia blooms at The Village Green in Cashiers.
Highlands will be the backdrop for vignettes of dahlias and native plants placed around town over the weekend of Sept. 19.
Anyone lucky to be in Highlands from Sept. 19-20, will be treated to the free and socially distant experience of beautiful dahlias plants attractively in random places throughout town, with an emphasis on historical sites.
Last year’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival was held in the Highlands Rec Center.
The beauty and bounty of this spectacular plateau will be on stunning display; a joyful celebration of dahlias and native plants sponsored by the HHS in the hopes to give people a moment of joy through nature’s gift, created by talented-local gardeners.
Gardeners and Garden Clubs (individuals and groups), churches, nonprofits, and businesses are invited to apply to create 50% dahlias and 50% native plants vignette placed strategically in town. Multiple groups can also team up.
Dahlias come in a variety of colors.
The display may be small or large, simple or elaborate, just be creative. It may be a literal or figurative creation, it can represent something, you can use props, or it could just be a jaw-dropping floral display.
Signs will be posted at each display crediting the creators, and HHS will develop a map of the displays throughout town also highlighting historic locations and places of interest.
The deadline to apply is Aug. 20 and there is a $25 fee payable to the Highlands Historical Society. For more information contact Kim Daugherty at gatorsinparadise@gmail.com, or Lisa Daily at ldaily13@msn.com.
All information and rules will be given to applicants and an informational meeting will be held on Aug. 24.
Article courtesy of the Highlands Historical Society
