If you've ever visited a local fair, you might have seen rows of vases filled with beautiful, perfectly formed flowers with prize ribbons proudly attached and wondered who the people are that entered and won these contests. Those people are just like you! Any regular, albeit hardworking gardener, can enter a local fair's flower contest. Here are a few hints and tips I learned when my mom, son, and I competed at the Dixon May Fair in 2019.
- Plan your pruning dates so that the best, fullest bloom time coincides with the fair dates. This is where jotting down notes or creating a gardening diary comes in handy.
- Flowers are expected to arrive at the venue a few days before the fair opens, so plan for a mid-week drop-off most of the time.
- Print out or download the rules beforehand so that when you arrive at the venue, you'll have them handy
- Each flower type might have a different way of being presented according to the rules, for example, “Hybrid Tea needs one stem, three leaves and be 3/4 open” By simply following the printed rules very closely you will have a great chance of placing.
- Most venues will provide vases, a hose, and a table for the exhibitors to set up the flowers, but you will need a watering can or other containers to transport the water, pruners to carefully go over each flower, and paper towels in case of spills.
- Always bring multiple flowers of each type entered and choose the one that looks best upon arrival, lots can happen between your garden and the venue.
- Fill the vases as full as possible, especially if it's hot outside because they dry out fast. The entries are usually judged before the public arrives, but you still want them to look good when people are walking through.
- There are many ways to transport the cuttings in the car. I've seen wet paper towels wrapped around the bottom of the stems, big jugs of water full of flowers, and individual clip-on plastic vases. If you trim the bottom bit of the stem before placing it in the vase, whatever transport method you choose should work well.
- Bring a friend….many hands are often beneficial, and more fun!
You may not win a grand champion ribbon your first time entering, but you'll be ahead of the visiting public just by being brave enough to enter, that's a win in my book! Here are a few pictures from our first foray into floriculture competitions, I can't wait to enter a few more.