So You Want To Win The Blue Ribbon at the Flower Show

This is a presentation

by James Pavelka,

NCG, Life Flower Show Judge &

Advanced Master Gardener

Get & Read Your Schedule !!1. It tells you when the shows are.2. It tells you where to bring you entries.3. It tells you what time to enter.4. It tells you who to call for questions.5. It tells you all of the rules !!!!6. It tells you how to register & fill out entry tags.7. It tells you when to pick up your entries.

So When Do I Pick & Prepare My Entries ??

1. The night before ( late afternoon ) or the early morning of the show !!!

Take a container of fresh hot water and cut your specimens with a sharp scissor or blade.

Recut when you have all of your specimens picked ( always take extras for backup) and let them harden to get ready to exhibit.

How Do I Groom My Entries?

WOULD YOU GO TO GET JUDGED NOT CLEANED UP AND LOOKING YOUR BEST ?? 1. Wash your specimen so it is free of all dirt, debris, visitors. 2. Clean off all old blooms , diseased leaves, any disfiguring spots, etc.

So How Do I Pose My Entries ? 1.MAKE SURE YOUR ENTRY TAG SHOWS ON THE SIDE OF THE ENTRY YOU WANT SEEN.2. WEDGING MAY BE USED TO MAKE SURE IT STANDS STRAIGHT.3. MAKE SURE IT CONFORMS TO SCHEDULE AS # OF STEMS, BLOOMS, LEAVES & LENGTH.4. DON’T HAVE ANYTHING BUT STEM SHOWING UNDER WATER.5. IF YOU INCLUDE BOTONICAL AND LOCAL VARIETY NAME, THAT’S A PLUS.

Lets Talk About Judging

Remember :1. Judges are human and make mistakes. You enter the show for fun and a good learning experience. 2. They follow point schedules and judge entries at the time of show. Some entries might look better when opened to public and people think “ What were they thinking ? ” A good judge will leave a comment if possible.

Scale Of Points For Horticulture

Not looking So Good !!

CULTURAL PERFECTION…………….. 60 pts. is it healthy, prime maturity, peak of perfection,: color pure, clear, bright, attractive, fresh: form & size characteristic for variety: stem & foliage characteristic & proportionalCONDITION & GROOMING…………… 25 pts. is it free of blemishes, groomed & staged to present the best appearance, and is the container clean & appropriateDISTINCTION (color, size, substance).. 15 pts. superiority in all respects and also includes correct botanical name as well as common variety name if possibleTOTAL…………………… ……………. 100 pts.

Nice prepared entries !!

Scale Of Points For Roses

FORM………………………… ………….25 pts. looking straight down, do petals unfurl with perfect spiral & no split centersCOLOR ……………..…………………… 20 pts. made up of 3 elements: hue, chroma, & brightness ( is color fresh – judges cannot be preferential to color )SUBSTANCE........ ................................. 5 pts. does it look and feel freshSTEM & FOLIAGE.…………………….. 20 pts. long straight stem with clean intact, disease free leaves ( at least 2-3 sets of 3-5 leaves : no stem on stem BALANCE & PROPORTION .……….. 10 pts. bloom to stem ratio 1:6 ( miniatures should be about 6-7” long if possible )SIZE .................................................... 10 pts. the bigger the better, but miniatures should be petite Blooms should be ½ to ¾ open if possible ( extra buds remove except for spray which shows cycle- bud- prime-full open bloomTOTAL …………………………………. 100 pts.

BAD !!

GOOD

OKAY

BEST

Scale Of Points For DesignCONFORMANCE…………………. …20 pts. does it say what schedule says about material used, colors, & size DESIGN …………….. ………………..40 pts. does it use the elements –light, space, line, form, size, pattern, texture & color principles – balance, proportion, rhythm, contrast, dominance,& scaleARTISTIC CONCEPT ………………. 20 pts. selection and organizationEXPRESSION ………….……………..10 pts. does this interpret the class in any shape or formDISTINCTION…………………….……10 pts. is there marked superiority in all respectsTOTAL……………………………….. 100 pts.

bouquet

LINE

MASS

IN CONCLUSION

Have fun and be a good winner !! Share your knowledge with others.

Don’t be a sore loser !!It’s just a flower show !!!If you did your best – thenYou’re a winner already !!!!Everyone has to experience Losing at some time inorder to win !!

Rotten Bad Judge