Dahlia

Stewart King, Oakfield's 20 year plus employee and horticulturalist, has put pen to paper to talk about a special variety of Dahlia and the unique history that Oakfield shares with the plant.

In 1966 a retired British naval engineer named Al Boyden and his wife Peggy left their home in England and settled here in the Canadian maritime. Peggy had managed to secure a small part of their life from England when she brought with her some bulbs of her favorite plant.                                                                                 

The “Edinburgh” dahlia named for the capital of Scotland, is a reliable and prolific bloomer which sports rich purple and white blossoms.  Each spring Peggy would plant her prized dahlia bulbs, staking the large-leafed plant against the wind.  As summer moved on, she would cut choice flowers and bring them inside to help add color to a corner or two of their home. Then, as the frosts of fall returned to the east coast, Peggy would lovingly dig up the dahlia bulbs, dry and store them for the winter months.  This she would do without fail from 1966 until her passing in the fall of 2009.       

Peggy`s husband, Alfred, continued his loving wife`s tradition of planting, tending and storing these plants. He would even separate the bulbs to share with other gardeners.       

For those few who do not know, Al Boyden was a longtime member here at Oakfield and passed away this spring. I had met both he and his wife more than twenty four years ago. Al loved to talk gardens, and it was only a matter of time before he began to bring in Peggy`s favorite dahlia bulbs for our gardens at the golf course.

When the love of his life passed, Alfred asked me if I would kindly continue the tradition of planting, tending and storing the `Edinburgh` dahlia. I told him that I would be more than happy to do so.  I added that I had unofficially changed the name of the dahlia in memorandum of his wife. When Al heard the new name he smiled broadly and shook my hand.

So, here at Oakfield, and only between you and me, Dear Reader, do we call that beautiful purple and white flower “Peggy`s Favorite”.  Enjoy, and think of tradition when you see those vibrant colors.

Stewart King, Oakfield Horticulturalist.