BOARDMAN — Boardman Park was a little more colorful over the weekend as the Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society hosted its 21st annual dahlia show at the Lariccia Family Community Center.

MVDS President Harriet Chandler of Liberty said they have about 90 members, many from as far as Cleveland and Pittsburgh. She said some join to increase their knowledge of the flower and become better growers. Others get involved in the competition and want to produce award-winners.

“I like working outside. It’s therapeutic,” Chandler said.

Jim Chuey of North Lima founded the MVDS in 2001. “It’s not a hobby; it’s a sickness,” he joked, noting that he has grown as many as 400 dahlias at a time.

The show used to be at the Carnation City Mall in Alliance until the building was torn down. For the past five years, it has been at Boardman Park.

“This is a phenomenal place and the people treat us well,” Chuey said.

Chuey said this was a difficult year because of the rain in June and the heat and humidity since then. He said dahlias do not like direct sun, adding, “If you see a garden with umbrellas, nine times out of 10, they’re growing dahlias.”

Despite the challenges, they had enough flowers to fill up two large rooms, and they received entries from as far away as Marysville.

Saturday morning, the judges picked winners in 20 categories, including awards for various styles, small and large growers, youth growers and artistic arrangements.

The grand champion was Jason Fairchild of East Liberty, with a large white flower called Clearview Edie. The reserve champion was Randy and Kathy Foith of Deerfield with Wildwood Marie, a bright orange bloom.

Nick Oberholtzer drives up every summer from East Palestine “to get ideas for next year.” He compared growing dahlias to potatoes, except at the end of the season he digs up the tubers and stores them to be planted again next spring. This has become a passion and he tells anyone, “You should try it.”

Amo Dijeng and Chevy Motswaledi, both of Boardman, attended the show for the first time. Dijeng said they are “amazing” and she especially likes the largest flowers, while Motswaledi appreciates the smaller round ones as well as the variety of colors.

Dahlias only last a few days, so when the show closed at 3 p.m. Sunday, the society gave them away to avoid having to throw them in the garbage. Some people will deliver them to nursing homes and hospitals, while others will just take them home to be admired.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society and upcoming events can visit them at mahoningvalleyds.org.