The dahlia is a unique and beautiful perennial flower native to the high elevations of Mexico and parts of Central America. It is a member of the genus/family "Asteraceae". There are now more than 42 recognized species of dahlias and over 20,000 cultivars that are commonly grown as garden plants. Dahlias have become the darlings of plant breeders and flower shows and every year they become more dazzling.

My focus in this photo essay and image collection has been to attempt to illustrate the details of individual blooms and their contribution to the overall splendor, sensation, color, variety of types and the spectacle of each flower.

In this photographic essay, I have attempted to present a view of the true essence of but a few members of the Dahlia family in a way that represents not only their amazing physical beauty but also the emotional impact and the essence of each floral detail.


I hope your viewing of these images is as inspiring and thought provoking to you as I experienced during their creation and composition.