The definitive guide to “Dahlicious”, Canberra’s new flower festival starting in March

Posted on 27 February, 2024

Canberra has Floriade, of course, but one of the city’s style mavens, Brian Tunks of bisonhome, is creating his own flower festival.

And it’s Dahlicious.

Turns out the ancient historian and archaeologist, turned ceramicist and glass designer, can also add green thumb to his bow. Brian has single-handedly cultivated 700 dahlias at his paddock in Pialligo, within a gentle stroll of his Bison Glasshouse store.

The Pialligo site will come alive during the flower festival devoted to a bloom which was once a food source for the ancient Aztecs.

About five years ago Brian put seed to soil to grow dahlias as a prop for his dramatic glass vases. But customers demanded to take the flowers WITH the vases, so he had to grow more

Now he’s gone from accidental grower to a full-blown obsessive and wants to share his dahlia love with the city.

“I suppose the attraction for me was working in a paddock, removed from ‘my  day’. It allows me to reconnect and get some mental space. Gardening is a great conduit to sharing information with others—.a way to build community.

“Dahlias have some incredible diversity in terms of shapes, colours and sizes. From dinnerplates to poms and everything in between. I have also started growing my own dahlias from seeds which means you can create new plants from two parents. Amazingly beautiful possibilities… and a joy to share.”

Photo by Lean Timms

The Dahlicious festival will run for the month of March and includes the following events PLUS a whole stack of new ones due to popular demand so please check the website.

• A weekly yoga class each Saturday morning held among the flowers in the paddock. At the end of the one-hour session, limbered up flower-lovers will be invited for a coffee and pastry at the Pialligo Bakesmith.
• A Lucian candle workshop with Chris and Rachel on Saturday 2 March, Sunday 3, and Thursday 21 March will explore notes and fragrances relate and how their composition creates a scent we love. The three-hour workshop will be held at the new bison ‘potting shed’ in Pialligo and guests will select the perfect Bison vessel in which to pour their wax. Pialligo Bakesmith treats and a glass of sparkling wine or non-alcoholic options will keep energy levels up.
• Go on a guided tour with experienced flower gardener Daniel Santelices each Sunday morning and explore the dahlia patch in Pialligo with chief grower Brian. Daniel will help illustrate how to cut the flowers using secateurs and guests will make their own generous bunches in a bucket provided. Coffee, tea and Danishes at  Pialligo Bakesmith for after.
• Dahlia masterclass in paper with paper maestro Jo Neville on Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March. The designer behind paper_couture will provide bespoke crafting kits to enable guests to make several beautiful dahlias… made by your own hands, to take home or gift to someone. Jo’s work has been celebrated in the windows and stores of brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co, and Meta campaigns. She’s featured in magazines such as Vogue Living and House & Garden among others. Classes are limited to 12 people.
• Join Patty Huntington, Features and Fashion News Director, from Harpers Bazaar for a session of styling, dahlias, and intense competition. On Saturday 16 March, guests will use flowers, foliage and Bison vases to create their most stylish arrangement, and prizes include Bison vases, flowers and gift vouchers.
• Brian Tunks workshop. Meet the man behind the designs on Saturday 23 March and hear about his journey as a flower grower. Event includes a gentle walk through the paddocks and some flower gathering and arrangement styling over Pialligo Bakehouse treats and champagne. Participants will take home as Bison vase for their flowers.
• Share a fabulous afternoon with Diana Chan (Winner of MasterChef 2017) writer, stylist and chef extraordinaire on Saturday March 30. Diana’s story begins at a top accounting firm and ends in the kitchen where she finds greatest joy. Guests will put together a table for Easter styled by Diana and Brian while Diana shares two recipes perfect for Easter. Guests will partake of the dishes while also taking home a piece of Bison and some flowers.

Note that Mellabella gelato in their classic van will arrive each Saturday for the month-long festival and “The House of Bubbles”  will be onsite each Sunday for a Sunday sesh.