Discovering Dahlias: Late Blair Co. Gardener Knew the Tricks

Paul Kurtz was an educator much of his lifetime, starting as a classroom teacher then Blair County superintendent of schools. This means a lot of people knew Kurt, but few knew him when it came to his true passion.

Kurtz, who lived for many years in a big brick house on the North Side of Bellwood, spent his free hours gardening and thinking about gardening. His primary interest was perennials but his all-consuming passion was dahlias.

It is a genus of bushy, tuberous, herbaceous perennials native to Mexico and Central America and a close relative to the sunflower, daisy, mum and zinnia.

It's e...