Dahlia Garden Opens Fall Show

Planting Fields Arboretum Opens Fall Garden Festival

By Dagmar Fors Karppi

Commissioner Bernadette Castro joined Peter Tilles, members of the Paul Callahan family and John Norbeck of Planting Fields in dedicating the new Dahlia Garden at the historic state park on Friday, Oct. 2. It was the kickoff of this year's Fall Garden Festival and a fund raiser for Friends of Planting Fields.

President of Friends of Planting Fields Owen Smith; FPF board member and a contributor to the Dahlia Garden Peter Tilles of Tilles Investment Corp.; Legislator John Canning; Mrs. Paul (Rita) Callahan; Commissioner Bernadette Castro, NYS PRHP; President of the Mid-Island Dahlia Society Steve Nowotarski; Dahlia Garden designer Dwight Andrews; PF Assistant Dir. Vincent Simeone and PF Director John Norbeck, with the faux gold scissors.

The garden is in memory of the late Paul Callahan, a retired chiropractor who worked with volunteers creating the Synoptic Garden and other projects at Planting Fields. Peter and Dori Tilles saw a similar garden on a trip to New Zealand and were enchanted by it. The concept is of a Dahlia garden surrounded by shrubs, trees and benches to offer visitors a time to refresh and recreate themselves.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Long Island region and Friends of Planting Fields sponsor the annual fall garden event, held last weekend and again next weekend: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Oct. 10, 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay.

Last weekend, the Dahlia show featured in the Horticultural Center was especially lovely. Previously it had been held in the Hay Barn along with other elements of the show. Having its own site, with softer lighting enhanced the variety and magnificence of the blooms.

Admission to this event is $5/person, children under 12 admitted free.

This annual fund-raising event promotes the mission of the Friends of Planting Fields, to improve, maintain and preserve the grounds and buildings and to promote educational and cultural work intended to benefit the public.

For more information please contact: Andy Durbridge, show chairperson, 367-1397 or Friends of Planting Fields, 922-9200, ext. 107, PO Box 58, Oyster Bay, NY 11771-0058.