Does the thought of placing entries in the 2011 Elora and Salem Horticultural Society’s Flower and Vegetable Show give you the “willies”?
If so, it’s time to catch your breath, rid yourself of that feeling of intimidation and start studying the Show Guide schedule.
It has been a tremendous summer for growing – a great reason to enter a few of your garden ‘beauties’ this year. Someone has to win and it might as well be you. Besides, it is fun, interesting, and there is much you can learn about growing and exhibiting. If you are unsure of anything, please ask a fellow horticultural society member. We are glad to help.
The Elora and Salem Horticultural Society has two entry categories – junior (ages 6-15) and adult (over 15). First-time exhibitors in both categories are also eligible to enter in the Novice category for the Novice Award. A Youth Floral Arranging Contest in the Junior category is held the evening of the show (pre-registration required).
So be of stout heart and place your exhibits on Aug. 15. The more participants, the better the show. All you need is a membership. If you still don’t have one, you can get it when you register for the show. Here are a few exhibiting tips :
Planning
It is important to have a schedule that outlines the various entry categories. A copy can be obtained, along with entry tags, at the Elora BIA Information Centre, 5 Mill Steet East in Elora from July 18.
Winning starts in the garden, so look around your garden and decide what you might like to enter as the show date approaches. On entry day or the day before, you should cut or harvest a few more specimens than required, in case of damage. Carefully select for uniformity in size, shape, colour; lack of flaws, diseases, damage – torn or broken foliage or fruit.
Registration for the 2011 Elora and Salem Horticultural Society show happens on the evening of Aug. 15, between 7 and 9pm, at the Elora and District Community Centre.
The exhibits will be judged the morning of Aug. 16 by Dorelene Anderson, OHA certified judge. The show will be open to the public between 7 and 9pm. This time difference is important to note, so you can consider in advance any changes that may occur in the state of your exhibits overnight.
A typical transformation might be tight blooms opening further, changing the diameter of the blooms. Also, well-open blooms may start to fade. Buds may open and you end up with an extra bloom and now are NAS – not as scheduled. Vegetables, especially brassicas (cabbage family) may tend to wilt.
Exhibiting flowers, vegetables
The basic trick to winning, as in all competitive Sports, is knowing how to influence the judge – not by cheating, but by using all your skills in the harvesting, preparation and presentation to attract his or her attention to your exhibit.
You want your entry to stand out above all others and catch the judge’s attention. Uniformity of size and quality of item(s) is key.
For instance, if the rules call for three tomatoes and you have two nice big tomatoes, but the third has several anemic-looking spots, you would be better to enter three smaller ones that are unblemished and perfect in color and size.
General Tips
• Balance size of vase to flowers being exhibited.
• Foliage must be from flower shown, NOT another type of flower.
• Remove all diseased and/or dead leaves prior to entering by clipping off (do not tear).
• Artificial flowers are not eligible.
• Read guide carefully : If the rule specifies five items don’t show four or six.
• ‘Condition’ floral exhibits – All flowers will require ‘conditioning’ to avoid ‘wilting’. Cut them with a sharp knife – leaving as long a stem as possible – either early in the morning or late afternoon, and immediately place in tepid water with some ‘cut flower food’ added to reduce wilting. Flowers are heavy drinkers, so be sure to check the water levels on a regular basis.
• Gladiolus – An ideal spike consists of 1/3 open florets, 1/3 buds showing colour and 1/3 buds not showing colour ; all blooms on stem should face the same direction
• Onions – Pick three weeks prior to exhibiting to allow them to cure. They must not bleed if the judge cuts them. Clean them up but don’t remove all of the skin.
• Beans – ensure they are straight or all specimens curve slightly in the same direction ; leave ½ inch of the stem attached ; they must be at the same stage of development and table ready (fresh) ; don’t wash – simply brush off any dirt (this applies to most other vegetables as well).
• Beets – leave roots and stems on.
• Radishes – harvest two to three days prior to the show and trim roots to two inches.
• Squash – will display better if elevated from the soil while growing. This avoids spots from the damp earth
• Carrots – side shoots are not allowed ; trim tops to two inches.
• Sweet Peppers – all entries should be all three bump or all four bump bottoms;
Floral Design Category
Design is a separate category whereby floral arrangements are created using fresh flowers. This is the only class where the exhibitor may purchase plant material rather than growing their own. The show guide outlines the criteria of the design, based on the Ontario Judging & Exhibiting Standards – Publication 34/2003. The interpretation of the arrangement is up to you.
The Elora and Salem Horticultural Society is looking forward to your participation. The show will be held Aug. 16 (with exhibits placed on the 15th), 7-9pm at the Elora and Community Centre.
Sharon Leggett
Show Convenor
Elora & Salem Horticultural Society
