St Peters RC Church Hamilton

August cannot boast its fabulous fullness

Without a razzle dazzle of dahlias.

A Flower native to Mexico and Central America,

Dahlias thrive in a warm, sunny border,

Their wide range of colour being striking and spectacular.

Introduced into Europe at the end of the 18th century,

After several decades their popularity grew,

Grew and grew until like all fashion,

Some years ago, drew to a close.

Good for gaudy bedding displays,

Tended carefully, dahlias can be a perennial.

As an infill they could serve as an annual.

Tales are told that at the peak of popularity,

A dahlia was exchanged for a diamond,

Whilst for a rare blue variety, £1,000 was allegedly offered.

Having recently suffered a set back in popular choice,

For some unknown reason dahlias are considered to be

Rather stuffy, fit for gentry and old fashioned for the choice of many.

Luckily for us today, fortunes wax and wane,

Dahlias are now enjoying a revival again!

And no wonder, with the variety of shape, size and colour,

There has to be a dahlia to suit everybody.

Such a variety of clashing colours to see,

So many a type of spectacular flower shaped intricately,

From single flowers to pompoms and cacti,

Some adorned by a typical green foliage,

Whilst others have double stems and leaves

As bold and brown as dark chocolate.

Individually, dahlias are really lovely,

Put together in a long border they dance before our sight,

In a razzle dazzle of delight,

A most colourful clash, mishmash of hot, hot colours,

As if determined to carry summer into September.

Thank goodness for this glorious long flowering species,

The razzle dazzle of the dahlia peaking in August.

Thank goodness too, for the sun and the rain

So vital to its safe survival.

We delight in the popularity of its revival.

It is said the current trend of fashion,

Is due to dahlias on social media sites becoming a sensation.

One of the oldest surviving horticultural societies,

That of the National Dahlia Society,

Has a Facebook page with four thousand followers.

An annual highlight is the delight

Of the RHS Wisley Flower Show in September.

I wonder how many visitors to the Show’s Facebook

Remember to offer thanks to the Sender?

We tend the flower yes, a dahlia likes to be fed,

But without our Creator Father at work,

There would not be, could not be a dahlia flower bed.

The Creator gifts the seed, the sun, the water for growth.

Surely all gardeners and those who enjoy the splendour of dahlias,

We all should offer thanks

And praise as we amaze at the dahlia, outstanding beauty of summer.

Lord, some would say the dahlia is the glory of late summer, perhaps together with the aster and hydrangea, all the beautiful work of Your hands.

What is so amazing and fascinating about the dahlia is the wide range of vibrant colours and the variety of shapes. You think of everything whilst hoping to please us. Thank You so much. Amen.