Paul Callahan Garden

1998 - 2023

25 Years and still Blooming

The history of the dahlia at Planting Fields dates back to the estate era of the property. Dahlias have been a feature at Planting Fields at least since the 1920s. They appear in profusion in many historic photos of Coe Hall interiors taken by Mattie Hewitt about 1922, shortly after the mansion was built.  In the Gallery are four arrangements and four more in the Great Hall. There are four additional dahlia arrangements in other rooms, twelve altogether; dahlias are the dominant flowers in a group of ten historic room photos.

Planting Fields Coe Hall: A vintage living room, circa 1922, with floral arrangements, ornate furniture, a large fireplace, and framed artwork on the walls.
Coe Hall living room with antique furniture, fireplace, chandelier, deer head mounted on the wall, and a large painting.
Paul Callahan reintroduced dahlias to Planting Fields in the mid 1980's. Paul is pictured wearing a blue apron and teal sweater standing outdoors near colorful dahlia blooms in a garden.

In the mid-1980s Paul Callahan, a dedicated volunteer turned employee, reintroduced dahlias to Planting Fields. Raised beds were constructed in rows near the Carriage House to allow visitors to view dahlias in a display setting. This garden was maintained solely by volunteers under his direction. “The dahlia is the mockingbird of the flower kingdom. You could mistake it for a waterlily or anemone, you really can’t tell what it is except by its foliage.” (Paul Callahan, Newsday Sept. 30, 1994)

In 1997, construction began on a commemorative garden that would embody Paul’s passion for dahlias in a garden setting while educating the visiting public. The garden was designed by Dwight Andrews with input from arboretum staff, Mid Island Dahlia Society members and Peter Tilles, trustee of the Planting Fields Foundation. The implementation of the garden was both labor intensive and costly. The construction of the garden was generously donated by Peter Tilles. In the spring of 1998, the garden was completed and ready for planting.

A permanent dahlia garden was designed by Dwight Andrews. Shown is hand-drawn garden layout plan with numbered plots and labeled identifiers, including a list of different plant types, and features such as flower types, sizes, and watering stations.
A garden with freshly dug flower beds and a circular path, surrounded by blooming trees and a green lawn.
Green sign with white text reading 'Paul Callahan Dahlia Garden, maintained by the Mid Island Dahlia Society, designed by Dwight Andrews - 1998' with a floral design at the top, mounted on light-colored posts in a garden setting.
People gardening with blooming flowers and trees in the background.
A handwritten letter from Mrs Callahan discussing gardens, friends, and appreciation for efforts in a dahlias garden dedicated to Paul. Includes signatures and a postscript thanking those who worked on the Wednesday garden.

Our Garden Grows: Mid Island Dahlia Society was home to the 2001 annual American Dahlia Society (ADS) show. In 2011, a breast cancer awareness pink dahlia bed was added as the central bed. The beautiful pink dahlias were surrounded by a collection of pink petunias generously donated by White Flower Farm. By 2012 the latest addition was a collection of low growing dahlias that are fully double. These dahlias do not require staking and are available in a wide range of colors.

Sign announcing that Planting Fields was selected for the 2001 National Dahlia Show, co-hosted by the Mid Island Dahlia Society and Planting Fields Arboretum at State Historic Park, with flowers and greenery in the background.
National 2001 Dahlia Show held at Planting Fields shown with numerous tables displaying colorful flowers, with people walking around and viewing the displays.
A pathway through a lush, colorful flower garden with a rustic house in the background.
Person watering plants in a garden with colorful flowers and a gardening tool

The Garden, with over 400 dahlias planted annually, thrives through the dedication of the Mid Island Dahlia Society members and supporters, the Planting Fields Foundation, and New York State Park personnel.

Credits: Evergreen, Planting Fields Foundation Fall / Winter 2012 Newsletter

Garden update: The 7 month PROJECT to refurbish the Paul Callahan Garden is finished and the beds are filling up with new plants.  The renovation was completed under the direction of the Planting Fields Arboretum Director and facilitated by New York State Park staff. During the renovation, special attention was paid to those beds with drainage problems. The Park team dug up the beds in November 2024 to lay a new gravel foundation, worked on the beds through December, and filled the beds with all new soil in April 2025. The beds were ready for planting by our MIDS volunteers in May. Please visit our garden soon; the blooms should be spectacular!