I have always loved dahlias. In fact, it was a photo I took of a dahlia, back when I was in college, with my lens turned around to simulate a macro effect, that ignited the spark of my photography passion. Until then, I had merely been messing around. But that image, flawed though it was, taught me there were worlds to be seen inside a bloom, if one could just look closely enough.

Fast-forward to last year, when my husband’s friend - not just any dahlia grower, but someone who is passionate about cultivating the most beautiful dahlias around - gives us some to plant because all the dahlia shows are canceled and he doesn’t want them to go to waste. We planted them, but missed the bloom last year because we were in Wyoming. This year, however, we did get one to thrive and it has the most magnificent color, as you can see in the first image.

It was no accident that when I went to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden recently, the dahlia show was also happening. I got a peek at the exquisite blooms before judging began, but only got a few pictures of these winners (last three photos) before I had to leave. What fantastic marvels they are, looking beautiful from afar and providing almost infinite detail when you look closely.