Tips for Exhibiting Show Blooms


  • Water plants well when buds begin to swell. 
  • Start early in the year and disbud excess buds. Leave one bud per terminal. 
  • Near show time protect buds by pegging back leaves that may cause wind damage. 
  • When pegging make sure that enough room is left for the bloom to open. 
  • Know what the true form, colour and species is for each bloom you want to show. 
  • Read the schedule and note the classes that apply to you. 
  • Carefully watch bloom growth so that the bloom is picked at its point of perfection. If suitable storage is available blooms can be kept for several days (polystyrene boxes with moist shredded paper in the bottom or a very slightly cooled refrigerator make excellent storage) 
  • When blooms are picked, immediately pin preferably two leaves to the calyx making sure that the pins are not visible from the top. Best position for leaves is ten to two (1.50). 
  • The night before the show, organise blooms into your boxes in schedule order and label the boxes.
  • Write out exhibitor cards with name of bloom on the front if needed (for unnamed classes) and pin to the inside of boxes. Name and number on the back of the card. 
  • Do a final garden search the morning of the show as this is often when the prize-winning bloom is found. 
  • Arrive at the show with plenty of time to place your blooms on the bench. 
  • Make sure that the bloom is looking squarely at the judge and saying “pick me”. 
  • Always be careful not to bump or disturb another exhibitor’s blooms. 
  • If there is not enough room for your bloom , ask a steward to make space.
  WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EXHIBITING GROUPS?     
By Sandy Reiman

 Exhibiting in groups allows you to enjoy and have fun with your flowers.   There is plenty of opportunity as our Annual Show has 29 classes and the Retic show has 7 classes for groups.
Changes in group classes this year for the annual show will include the deletion of groups of seven, but an additional group of 5 for garden clubs and public gardens has been added.  The Retic Show has a new group of 3 formal doubles for the Betty  McGovern  Memorial  Trophy.

 HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXHIBITING
Read the schedule - Check where the champion bloom is selected from – this influences where your best blooms should go.  At the Illawarra Show champion blooms can only be selected from single bloom classes.
Identify where you could place your cultivars and mark on your schedule, there is nearly always somewhere to exhibit your cultivars in a group.

 WHICH BLOOMS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?
· Any cultivar you have a lot of – even as few as four (1 for the named class, 3 for a group).
· If you have cultivars that are not on the schedule, they are excellent to place in groups.
· The major consideration is to select good quality blooms
· For NND classes blooms of the same cultivar are very good  – allows the judge to see consistency   and will catch the eye of the judge.  However, do not use the same cultivar if quality, size or form  is inconsistent .
· For Classes that require differences try to find a theme e.g. colour, species, form   or other attractive arrangement

 HOW TO DISPLAY YOUR BLOOMS
· Pin your blooms as you would for single classes with two leaves.
· Select appropriate size container – if needed ask a steward for the correct size of cup.
· Do not place blooms so close together that part of a flower is not visible –the judge may think you are trying to hide a flaw.
· Ensure each bloom if facing the judge and leaves are similarly positioned.
· Place blooms in a vertical line, if a variation in size place the largest at the back decreasing  to the smallest near the judge.
· Name the blooms – use a larger size label (these are available) Name the blooms from the back of the bench ending with the smallest nearest to the judge.

DO AND DONTS
· Do adhere to the schedule.  Don’t waste your lovely flowers in the wrong class!
· Do put blooms out early and give yourself plenty of time.
· Do have your name tags prepared and pinned into your boxes with the relevant group before you leave home.
· Do not touch or bump another competitors  blooms – if insufficient space ask a steward for help.

 FLOAT BOWL

This is essentially another group.  Success may vary with the judge depending on the criteria used  i.e. camellia or floral art .  These are suggestions that relate to our Illawarra show using camellia judging criteria and from past observations.
1. Essential that blooms must be floating
2. May use 3 to 5 blooms  (Any number of blooms are now accepted as judging is by public vote)
3. Do not have blooms touching (can hide flaws)
4. Keep blooms the same size
5. Preferably the same cultivar
6. If using embellishments keep them to a minimum (don’t hide your flowers)
7. If you have a good supply of a quality cultivars use them in this section

OR DO AS YOU PLEASE THE PUBLIC LIKE TO SEE FLAIR AND/OR ART

 TIPS THAT WORK FOR ME 
 Take spare blooms – If a proposed group of 5 falls apart you will have a spare or find a suitable group for 3.
· Set up your groups the day before judging. This ensures you will have space on the bench.
· If you find better flowers the next day you can replace them quickly.
· Cultivars not listed on the schedule are great for collections.  They provide added interest.
· Check your labels (your name and number is on the back of the card, and name of cultivars on the front.)

 HAVE A GO - Its lots of fun and not too serious.  Don’t worry if your blooms are not all champion bloom quality – others will most likely have the same issues.   Make the most of your best flowers – show them off – the public will love them!