BVGC Flower Show on November 15 & 16

The Bonita Valley Garden Club is hosting their first flower show in a very long time. Here are the details:

If you've ever considered entering a show like this, it can be a lot of fun and a wonderful learning experience. You have two weeks to implement your plan!

This is an NCG Small Standard Flower Show so there are certain rules that need to be followed.

General Rules

1. This National Garden Club Flower Show conforms to the standards established by National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC). The Handbook for Flower Shows (HB), 2024 Edition, with revisions printed in The National Gardener (TNG) is the authority for all issues not covered by the schedule, which is the law of the show.

2. Only members of this garden club and invited guests may enter the show. (You were just invited!)

3. Horticulture entry cards will be available on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 7AM-9:30AM at the horticultural entries table.

4. Entries in the Design Division must be pre-registered with the Design Entries Chairman, Lynne Batchelor 858-790-2007. The Design Entries Chairman will prepare all entry cards for all design classes and place them on the tables.

5. Each Exhibitor is limited to one entry per class except in the Horticulture Division.

6. All exhibits will be accepted from 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM on Nov. 15, 2025.

7. Judging will begin at 9:45 AM on the day of the show. Only the General Chairman, the Classification Chairmen, Judges, and the clerks will be allowed on the show floor during the time of judging. Judging will be by the NGC Standard System of Awarding, HB p. 5, and any additions found in the National Gardener.

8. The Classification Chairmen for each Division checks exhibits for conformity to the schedule prior to judging. Final determination for conformance is the Judges’ responsibility.

9. The General Chairman and the Classification Chairmen must be available during all judging for possible consultations. They, along with the Judges and Clerks, are the only personnel allowed on the floor during judging.

10. The decisions of the judges are final. Awards may be withheld if not merited.

11. There must be an emphasis on fresh plant material. No artificial plant material will be allowed in any division.

12. The Bonita Valley Garden Club will strive to assure the safety of all items after arrival and placement but is not responsible for any loss or damage to exhibits.

13. Materials on the California State Native Plant/Endangered/Conservation list.(www.wildlifeca.gov/Conservation/Plants/info) may only be used if homegrown or harvested with permission.

Awards

The NGC Standard System of Awarding is used in all divisions.

Only one first place (blue) ribbon per class or sub-class. Must score 90 or above.

Only one second place (red) ribbon per class or sub-class. Must score 85 or above.

Only one third place (yellow) ribbon per class or sub-class. Must score 80 or above.

One or more honorable mention (white) ribbons as merited. Must score 75 or above.

All non-blue ribbon exhibits scoring 90+ points must be signed and dated by an NGC Accredited Judge on the judging panel.

Awards offered will be:

Award of Horticultural Excellence-offered to the highest scoring blue ribbon winner (95 points or higher) and correctly named exhibit in the entire Horticultural Division. It is a rosette of green, orange and blue ribbons.

Arboreal Award offered to the highest scoring (95+) blue ribbon winner. Rosette of green ribbons.

Grower’s Choice Award to the highest scoring (95+) blue ribbon winner. Rosette of dark green ribbons.

Award of Merit a Section Award to the highest scoring exhibit in the specified sections. Rosette of orange ribbons.

Designers’ Choice Award to the highest scoring (95+) blue ribbon winner in the Design Section. Rosette of purple ribbons.

President’s Award awarded by the BVGC president in Horticulture and Design.

Sweepstakes Award to the highest scoring exhibitor for entries in Horticulture and Design combined. Blue-4 points, Red-3 points, Yellow 2-points, White 1 point. Rosette of green/white ribbons.

JUDGING SCALE OF POINTS

The Design Scale of Points used for judging can be found in the online Handbook for Flower Shows, p.141 and the notebook size HB p.130.

The Horticulture Scale of Points used for judging can be found in the online Handbook for Flower Shows p.140 and the notebook sizeHB p.129.

The Handbook for Flower Shows is available for free download at “NGC Flower Show Handbook July 2024 pdf”

DIVISION I HORTICULTURE

“Autumn Gardens”

Horticulture Rules

1. The NGC Policies are printed in the Handbook for Flower Shows, Chapter 6, Exhibiting in the Horticulture Division.

2. The rules for a single species cut or container grown specimen are listed in the Handbook for Flower Shows or its supplement Horticulture Exhibiting and Judging.

3. If a plant is considered a flowering plant, it should be exhibited as a flowering specimen. Foliage plants may flower but should be exhibited as a foliage plant if they are grown for their leaves.

4. Specimens with a class designation in the schedule may not be entered in the “Any Other Worthy Class’’.

5. All plant material must be fresh and have been grown by the exhibitor.

6. Exhibits must have been in the possession of the exhibitor for no fewer than 90 days. Exception: early maturing seeds/transplants, and forced bulbs, corms/ tubers/ rhizomes, and early maturing crops. Arboreals and troughs require ownership of 6 months. Refer to the chart on HB p. 55 for specifics.

7. Entry cards must be filled out at the Entries Table in pencil or waterproof ink. See HB p. 57.

8. Plant material must be in its natural state and may not be altered by the application (treatment) of oil, commercial “shine” products, etc. that artificially change the natural color and texture.

9. Cut specimens must be displayed in clear bottles provided by the exhibitor of suitable size and stability. Cut specimens should not have foliage below the water line. Some clear bottles will be available at the Entries Table

10. All specimens should be correctly labeled with their binomial names or the currently accepted scientific identification for their educational value. Common name may also be added. (HB pp. 53-54)

11. An exhibitor may make more than one entry per class if each entry is a different species, variety, cultivar, type, or color.

12. Wedging, a small, inconspicuous “plug” in the neck of a container to improve the pose of the specimen, is permitted. Wedging may be visible but must not detract from the cut specimen. Plastic wrap wedging will be available at the entries table.

13. Double potting is permitted, but the inner pot must not be visible. Top dressing (adding a material to make the surface look cleaner) for container- grown entries: coarse sand, pea gravel, wood chips; cannot use another plant, such as moss.

14. The Classification Chairman and/or General Chairman have the authority to subdivide classes by color, form, size, variety, cultivar, or other distinguishing characteristics. HB pp. 3-

15. The Scale of Points for judging horticulture is listed on HB p. 129.

HORTICULTURE CLASSES

Eligible for Awards of Merit, Arboreal Award, Grower’s Choice Award, and President’s Award

• Class 1: Cut flowering specimens- l (Award of Merit)

a. Annuals-1 large or three small stems

b. Perennials-1 large or 3 small stems

c. Orchids-1 stem

d. Any other worthy specimen, named, 1 large or three small stems

• Class 2: Cut branch/stem specimens of trees/shrubs

Must have several nodes and apical tip. I stem branch 10” to 18” long. (Arboreal Award)

a. Trees-Foliage only

b. Trees-Fruited/coned/berried

c. Shrubs-Foliage only

d. Shrubs-Fruited, coned, berried

e. Evergreens-may be displayed on table if too large for glass bottle

f. Any other worthy specimen, named

• Class 3: Cut foliage specimens-1 stem (Award of Merit)

a. Ferns

b. Sanseveria (snake plant)

c. Aspdistra (cast iron plant)

d. Phormium (flax)

e. Any other worthy specimen, named

• Class 4: Container grown plants.

Container no larger than 8” in diameter. One variety/cultivar per container. (Growers Choice Award)

a. Orchids

b. Succulents

c. Herbs

c. Any other worthy specimen, named

• Class 5: Edibles

Displayed in a clear container or paper plate provided by the committee. (Award of Merit)

a. Vegetables-1 large, 3 medium or 5 small

b. Fruits/berries/nuts-1 large, 3 medium, or 5 small

c. Herbs, (cut)-3 stems

d. Any other worthy specimen

DIVISION II DESIGN

“Autumn is in the Air”

Design Rules

Advanced Reservations Required. Contact Design Consultant Lynne Batchelor at 858.790.2007

1. The NGC Exhibit Policies are printed in the Handbook for Flower Shows, Chapter 7 Exhibiting in the Design Division, NGC Policies and Guidelines.

2. A design entered in competition must be the current work of only one exhibitor and that exhibitor’s name must appear on the entry card.

3. An exhibitor may enter as many classes in the Design Division as desired unless the schedule limits the number of entries, but only one exhibit per class.

4. Fresh plant material may not be treated in any manner. Plant material that has been treated to alter its exterior appearance may be used only in its dried state.

5. The designer has the freedom to choose Traditional or Creative style with any design type listed unless restricted by the schedule.

6. The exhibitor is required to conform to the stated description and limitations of the Design Type if named in the class.

7. Rules for Design Types, Advanced Design types, Table Designs and Table Appointments are printed in the Handbook for Flower Shows, Chapter 14.

8. Reservations in the Design Classes should be made in advance with the Design Entries Chairman. If a designer is unable to fulfill an assignment, it is the designer’s responsibility to provide a replacement and to notify the Design Entries Chairman.

9. Plant material used in designs need not have been grown by the exhibitor unless the schedule requires it.

10. All plant material used in the design must be listed on a 3” x 5” index card provided by the exhibitor. Cards will be available at the entries table.

11. No artificial flowers, foliage, fruits, or vegetables are permitted in the Design Division.

12. Landscapes or scenes are not permitted in the Design Division.

13. Plant material and non-plant material permitted and not permitted in the Design Division are listed in HB pp. 80-81.

14.The designer is on his/her honor that the design being entered has not been previously entered or judged in an NGC flower show.

15. The Design Scale of Points is listed in the notebook HB p.130 and in the online HB pp.140-141

DESIGN CLASSES

Eligible for Designer’s Choice Award and President’s Award

All designs will be displayed on 29” tall tables, draped to the floor in black. The designer has freedom to use fresh, treated or dried materials and man-made and natural materials.

• Class 1: “Falling Leaves” (4 entries)

A design with emphasis on downward rhythmic movement. Space allowed 24” wide by 36” high by 24” deep in front of black background panel, provided by the committee.

• Class 2: “Dia de Los Muertos” (4 entries)

A creative line design in which line is dominant with a minimum of plant material and other optional components. Space allowed 24” wide by 36” high by 24” deep in front of black background panel, provided by the committee.

• Class 3: “Picnic at the Pumpkin Patch” (4 entries)

An Exhibition Table design not meant to be functional. Created to artistically suggest use of food. Designer to provide their creative staging. A black trifold niche 48” high x 24” wide with 12” wings will be provided by the committee. Background niche may be incorporated into the design. Must include a completed floral design.

By Bonita Valley Garden Club

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