The American Dahlia Society’s national show is coming to town soon. The show draws serious — serious as in, flying across the country with your prized dahlias flying alongside you — dahlia aficionados and those just curious about the plants that sport the lush, colorful blossoms that seem to be popping up everywhere this time of year. “The show (it was also in Portland in 1968 and 2012) is considered the Olympics of dahlia-dom,” said Larry Smith of the Portland Dahlia Society, who has been growing dahlias for more than 30 years. “The Northwest is considered one of the premier climates in the world for growing dahlias, and some of North America’s most successful hybridizers operate in this area.” We visited Smith's garden to talk to him about the show, his garden and dahlias in general. Click the link in our bio to read more and find out details about the show. Photos by Mark_W_Graves/The Oregonian #Oregon #Dahlia #Gardening