The awards presented by the American Dahlia Society (ADS) are more than just accolades; they are a celebration of beauty, innovation, and dedication. By recognizing exceptional dahlias and their hybridizers, these awards inspire growers to reach new heights, ensuring the continued evolution and appreciation of this remarkable flower. At the pinnacle of these honors is the Derrill W. Hart (1892–1936) Medal, one of the most coveted awards in the dahlia community.

The Derrill W. Hart Medal: A Legacy of Excellence

The Derrill W. Hart Medal is a hallmark of distinction, with up to eight medals potentially awarded annually across different categories: Giant/Large, Medium, Small, Miniature, Ball/Mini Ball/Pompon, Stellar, and Waterlily. This recognition is based on rigorous evaluations conducted in ADS Trial Gardens, ensuring that each recipient represents the pinnacle of innovation and cultivation.

Why the Award Matters

• Named After a Pioneer: The medal honors Derrill W. Hart, a transformative figure in the ADS whose contributions to hybridization, cultivation, and promotion of dahlias left an indelible mark on the community.
• Purpose: To celebrate the best new cultivar introduced each year, showcasing exceptional creativity and expertise in hybridization.
• Prestige: Winning this medal is a highly sought-after achievement, symbolizing excellence and dedication within the dahlia-growing world.

How Winners Are Chosen

The selection process for the Derrill W. Hart Medal is meticulous, ensuring that only the most outstanding cultivars receive this honor. Each contender is evaluated on the following criteria:

1. Form: The symmetry and shape of the bloom.
2. Color: Vibrancy, consistency, and depth of hue.
3. Stem Quality: Strength and ability to support the bloom upright.
4. Floriferousness: The plant’s productivity and abundance of flowers.
5. Resistance: Tolerance to pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.

These rigorous standards ensure that each medal recognizes the exceptional quality and innovation of the best dahlias in their respective categories, celebrating the diversity within the dahlia world. Winners are chosen by earning the highest score based on the average of the three highest scores given to each cultivar at each of the 8 Trial Gardens located around North America. These scores are determined by and Accredited judges, ensuring a high level of expertise and fairness in the evaluation process.

Derrill W. Hart: The Man Behind the Medal

Derrill W. Hart was not just a dahlia grower; he was a visionary in the world of dahlias. His contributions to the ADS and the broader dahlia growing community are profound and enduring.

• ADS Leadership: Hart was a prominent member of the American Dahlia Society, joining in the early 1920s and serving as its president in 1934, where he played a pivotal role in advancing its mission and fostering a passion for dahlias. He served as president of the ADS in the mid-1930s, during which he helped implement standardized judging criteria and expanded the organization’s outreach. Hart was instrumental in establishing educational initiatives that encouraged amateur gardeners to grow and hybridize dahlias, further popularizing the flower across North America. During his time in the ADS, Hart worked closely with other prominent members such as Charles Henderson and George C. Whitnall, whose shared vision helped shape the society’s goals. Together, they spearheaded programs to formalize judging standards, expand the trial garden network, and promote dahlia exhibitions nationwide, leaving an enduring impact on the dahlia growing community.
• Innovative Hybridizer: He created numerous cultivars celebrated for their beauty and performance.
• Advocate for Standards: Hart championed the establishment of rigorous evaluation and judging criteria, ensuring fairness and consistency in exhibitions and competitions.
• Proponent of Education: Hart’s writings and editorials in publications such as Garden Magazine brought greater awareness to dahlia cultivation and hybridization practices, inspiring both amateur and professional growers.
• Architect of Recognition: Hart introduced several groundbreaking initiatives to the ADS. One particularly transformative idea was the creation of an ‘honor roll’ for exceptional dahlia cultivars. This concept marked a shift toward formal recognition and categorization of outstanding varieties, which later evolved into the structured award systems still used by the ADS today. Additionally, he championed the standardization of judging criteria, which had not been thoroughly formalized before his leadership. This effort unified the evaluation process for dahlias across the United States, fostering fairness and consistency in exhibitions and competitions.

Scarcity of Records on Hart’s Hybridization

Derrill W. Hart was a prominent figure in the American Dahlia Society (ADS) during the early 20th century, known for his leadership and contributions to dahlia cultivation. However, specific records of the dahlia cultivars he personally hybridized are scarce. It’s possible that during his era, detailed documentation and naming conventions for individual cultivars were not as meticulously maintained as they are today.

Derrill W. Hart: Early Life and Career

Born on December 12, 1892, in Woodford County, Kentucky, Derrill Wason Hart was a descendant of one of the pioneer families in the Pisgah community. He pursued higher education at the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1912, where he excelled both academically and athletically, notably in basketball and tennis.

Following his military service in the U.S. Navy during World War I, Hart moved to New York and became deeply involved in horticulture through publications such as Garden Magazine and the New York Sun. By the 1930s, his editorial influence and passion for dahlias had earned him recognition as a leading voice in the dahlia community.

A Lasting Legacy

Hart’s impact is immortalized through the medal that bears his name and the programs he helped shape:

• Namesake Medal: The Derrill W. Hart Medal continues to honor his vision by recognizing excellence in hybridization.
• Trial Gardens: His emphasis on evaluating new cultivars rigorously is the foundation of the ADS Trial Garden Program, which assesses attributes like form, color, productivity, and resistance.
• Mentorship: Hart’s guidance elevated the quality and diversity of dahlias in North America, inspiring generations of growers and hybridizers.
• Promotion of Standards: He helped formalize the criteria for evaluating dahlias, ensuring consistency across ADS competitions and exhibitions.

The University Dahlia Garden

In 1931, Hart established a dahlia garden at the University of Kentucky near the College of Engineering. Serving as a proving ground for dahlias in southern climates, the garden was described as “entrancing beauty” and “a spot wherein one may spend an idle hour wandering among the royalty of nature.”

Top Hybridizers with the Most Derrill W. Hart Awards

As of 2024, the top hybridizers with the most Derrill W. Hart Awards is not readily available. Further research and exploration are needed to uncover and compile this information. Such insights would provide a valuable perspective on the individuals who have consistently excelled in dahlia hybridization and contributed to the diversity and beauty of this remarkable flower.

The Impact of the Medal

The Derrill W. Hart Medal is not just a recognition of exceptional flowers; it represents the spirit of innovation and community that defines the ADS. By encouraging excellence, the medal drives hybridizers to create more stunning and resilient dahlia varieties, ensuring the flower’s continued prominence and beauty.

References

• Big Blue History. (n.d.). Derrill Wason Hart. Retrieved from https://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Hart_Derrill.html
• Civil War Obsession. (2015). Derrill Wason Hart: Kentucky Basketball and Dahlia Pioneer. Retrieved from https://www.civilwarobsession.com/2015/11/derrill-wason-hart-kentucky-basketball.html
• Dahlia.org. (2019). ADS Awards to Blooms. Retrieved from https://www.dahlia.org/2019-awards-to-blooms-announced
• Find A Grave. (n.d.). Derrill Wason Hart. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38315714/derrill_wason-hart

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