Entering your home grown horticulture in a show is a rewarding and educational experience. For highly informative instructions with accompanying photos, review Betsy Szymczak’s amazing program, Getting Ready for the Show.
Here are some additional tips
Horticulture Show: the day before the show or at least two hours before entry, cut your best specimens of the categories listed on page 14 of the yearbook. It is best to cut in the morning or evening. Place your cuttings in water overnight (or for at least 2 hours) to condition them so they do not wilt. Complete an entry form for each of your specimens. Because of time constraints, it is very important that you complete the entry form before bringing your specimen to the church. Important: use the botanical (bi-nominal) name plus the common name. If you need additional forms, contact Aparna Kumar. For instructions on completing the entry form, see https://framinghamgardenclub.org/how-to-fill-out-a-horticultural-entry-card/
If you need help identifying your plant, try using a free plant identifying app such as PictureThis, PlantNet, Seek, or PlantSnap. While these apps are not infallible, very often they successfully identify your plant by both common name and botanical binomial name.
Each of your specimens must be groomed and appropriately staged. Remove all soil, residue, insect remains and insect damage, dead florets, dead leaves, etc. Tip: use a small paint brush. Remove all foliage that will sit below the water line. Stage your specimens by placing in a perfectly clean, clear, uncolored glass vase or container. Wedge (insert a small piece of cotton) in the neck of the exhibit bottle to hold a cut specimen in its proper pose.
The club will provide clear glass containers for staging your specimens and cotton for wedging material. Pick up containers from Aparna Kumar’s house on Sept. 8 or 9. However, you are encouraged to use your own clear glass vase, bottle, jar or other containers. All containers and water should be spotless.
Bring your specimens to the church by 9:30am to allow all entries to be in place by 10:15am. For vegetables, fruits and herbs, the club will provide a white paper plate. Specimens must be in place by 10:15 am. Judging will begin promptly at 10:15 am.
Follow the guidelines on pp14-15 of the yearbook.
SUMMARY:
Day before:
- Look for your best specimens and cut them the morning or evening before the show. Try for cultural perfection or near perfection.
- Cut the stems as long as possible to allow for a final cut for length at the show.
- To “condition” your specimens, let them stand in water overnight (or at least 2 hours) in a cool, dark place.
- For some foliage, such as hostas and bugloss, submerge them in water for a few hours.
- Hydrangeas also can be submerged in water to fully hydrate them.
- Prepare your entry forms in advance – see https://framinghamgardenclub.org/how-to-fill-out-a-horticultural-entry-card/
- Groom your blooms and foliage the night before entering. Rinse or brush off all dirt, remove dead leaves and wilted petals and in most cases, all foliage.
Day of show:
- Transport your cut specimens in containers with water, wedged to prevent spilling.
- Flower heads can be protected with rolls of paper, or a paper plate cut to the center to protect the head.
- Bring your specimens to Plymouth Church by 9:30am. Your entries must be in place by 10:15am. No entry will be allowed after 10:15 am so that judging may begin at 10:15 sharp.
- Preferably use your own clear glass containers, but the hort committee will have clear glass containers and wedging material for your exhibits. We also will have white plates for edible specimens.
- If you have not already done so, at the church, select a container for each of your specimens, add water, and “wedge” as necessary to display it at its best angle.
- There can be NO foliage below the water line.
Sassy
sedums
Members display evergreen specimens
Glorious dahlias
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