The Uwe Rosenberg-designed game Dahlias is a a retheming of the classic game Bohnanza that features art by Beth Sobel. The choice of the dahlia as the central motif serves as the starting point for our exploration of its meanings. Native to Mexico and Central America, the dahlia is prized for its remarkably wide range of species and colors, as well as medicinal uses. Similar to roses, the meanings associated with the dahlia in the Victorian language(s) of flowers are based on colors and can range all the way from "innocence and purity," "elegance and dignity," to "betrayal and sadness." However, the dahlia has a much more unpleasant connotation, since it is linked to one of the most infamous unsolved murders of the 20th century--the 1947 "Black Dahlia" murder of Elizabeth Short in Los Angeles.

In this session, we will discuss some of the culturally-centered meanings, connotations, and interpretations of the dahlia, and how this multi-faceted flower has evolved over time.

Tabletop Tuesdays is an event series held on the third Tuesday of each month. At these events, we feature a selection of board games and collection items from across SUL's holdings around a specific theme. Drop in to learn about the month's featured game(s) and/or try some of the board games we have for open play at the Silicon Valley Archives.