What is a Dahlia Trial Garden?
Trial Garden Overview
The American Dahlia Society sponsors Trial Gardens across North America to provide a place for hybridizers to have their new dahlia cultivars evaluated. The Trial Gardens are generally located in parks or gardens where the public can visit and watch the dahlias grow and bloom. The ADS provides detailed specifications for the practices used to grow the dahlias, and for evaluating the dahlias.
Trial Garden Entries
If you wish to enter a cultivar in the Trial Gardens, you must make reservations at the Trial Garden(s) you want to use. (If, for some reason you can’t send those roots at the necessary time, you must notify the Trial Garden Director(s) as soon as possible.) Read full details here.
Mid Island Dahlia Society maintains the ADS Eastern Trial Garden at Eisenhower Park,East Meadow, NY.
At the Eastern Trail Garden there is a limit of 50 cultivars. ETG accepts tubers beginning April 15 and plants after May 1st. Send a picture of the cultivar with the entry form. Each entry MUST have a name submitted.
Send tubers or plants to : Mike Shukofsky / 25 Barbara Street / Elmont, New York 11003 / kathleenmike20@gmail.com
Make checks payable to Mid Island Dahlia Society
Send check to: Mid Island Dahlia Society / 2294 Fifth Street / East Meadow, N.Y., 11554
Medals will be awarded to the cultivars that achieve the highest average scores in at least three Trial Gardens.
2024 ADS Awards
(Twenty one cultivars were grown in the Eastern Trial Garden. The following received awards. Click for photo)
The Derrill W. Hart medal – Allen’s Bella, Allen’s Heatwave, DS Doris
Awarded to the cultivar that has the highest average trial garden score in the accredited trial gardens located across the United States and Canada
The Lynn B. Dudley medal –Allen’s Bella
Awarded to the cultivar that has the highest average seedling bench evaluation score as an AA/A; B; BB; M; Ball/Miniature Ball/ Pompon; ST/NX; and Waterlily).
The Evie Gullikson medal –Kelsey O’Nerka
Awarded to the cultivar that has the highest average Seedling Bench Evaluation score and the cultivar with the highest average Trial Garden score as an open center or disc center.