EXHIBITING AT FLOWER SHOWS

 

All exhibitors should have a copy of “Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards, for Horticulture and Floral Designs” only obtained through your society, from the Ontario Horticultural Association. This booklet is also used by all judges in Ontario.

 

1. Read the Show schedule well ahead of the show date. Plan what you might have in your garden to show on the date.
2. Cut the flowers early in the morning or the evening prior.
3. Take a pail of warm water, a sharp pair of secateurs to make clean cuts on the stems.
4. Remove any leaves that will be underwater, leaving the upper foliage attached. Narcissus family naturally does not have leaves attached, so they are shown without leaves.
5. Look for specimens that are free from insect damage (as much as possible), free from soil, pollen and insects themselves.
6. Put bucket with picked entries in a dim, cool place for 3 hrs. or overnight.
7. When placing entries in vases for the show re-cut the stems diagonally, to create a fresh cut to absorb water better.
8. Be careful to put the exact number of stems in the vase, as the schedule calls for. Too many or not enough will disqualify your  entry
9. Specimen entries (one flower per stem), i.e. roses, dahlias, marigolds should be disbudded some time prior to the show.

 

Special treatments:-

• woody stems (lilacs, hydrangeas, shrub roses) should have a “T” cut in the end of the stem.

• milky sap (poppies) burn the ends of the stems

• some plants wilt easily (rudbeckias, dahlias) so immerse the ends of the stem in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes, protecting the leaves and flower head. Then return to the pail of warm water.

Ideal entries:-
Spike forms (delphiniums, gladiolus, snapdragons) should have 1/3 flowers fully open, 1/3 buds unfurling, 1/3 buds tight and green.
Round forms (zinnias, roses, daisies) should have a perfectly symmetrical shape. If a double flower (zinnias, marigolds), they should have good depth to the layers of petals.

A word of advice – it is only by participating that you really learn how to exhibit. So give it a try, make your society’s flower shows spectacular and the compliments will be your reward, ( and perhaps a ribbon or two).

Have fun!!

 

Edna Caldwell, February 2010