Shows

Flower Shows

Our Society sponsors 2 shows each year as part of the members’ meetings in May and September. In these shows, flowers and vegetables grown by our members are submitted as entries in a friendly competition to promote knowledge and quality of our gardening skills. Awards and trophies are available for the winners of both individual and cumulative points awarded for various entries.

Annual Trophies

Our Society is very lucky to have 6 trophies and 3 awards.

Bristow Trophy. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bristow, who were active members and competitors in the Society, donated a silver trophy bowl in 1958. It is awarded for the Most Total Points earned in the current year in the horticulture class.

Colwyn Trophy. This trophy was generously donated by the Colwyn Poultry Show Group in 2009. The trophy is awarded to a Novice Designer for the most points earned in Design in the current year. A Novice Designer is an exhibitor with less than three years of exhibitor experience.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Trophies!

Bistrow – Michelle Goff
Rose Bowl – Joan Rogers
Pioneer – Graham Oughton
Mabel Reid – Helen Lacroix
Colwyn – Shannon Shan
John Carter – Sharon Oughton

2024 May Flower Show

Division 1: Horticulture

Section A: Bulbs
Class 1 Tulip – 1 bloom, single
Class 2 Tulip – 1 bloom, double
Class 3 Tulip – 5 stems
Class 4 Narcissus (Daffodil) – any kind
Class 5 Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) –3 stems

Section B: Iris
Class 6 3 stalks, same species
Class 7 3 stalks, different colours
Class 8 1 stalk – Siberian

Section C: Peonies
Class 9 1 bloom – double
Class 10 1 bloom – single
Class 11 3 blooms – your choice
Class 12 1 bloom floating in water

Section D: Roses
Class 13 1 bloom or spray – miniature
Class 14 1 spray – Rugosa
Class 15 1 spray – Floribunda
Class 16 1 bloom – Hybrid Tea

Section E: Flowers
Class 17 Flowering Spring perennial – 1 stem
Class 18 Primrose – 3 stems
Class 19 Flowering branch –1 branch, not to exceed 24” in height from the table (no flowering vines)
Class 20 Spring flowers – 3 different species, not listed above in this division
Class 21 Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) – 1 stem
Class 22 House Plant – Blooming
Class 23 House Plant – Not grown for blooms

Section F: Fruits and Vegetables
Class 24 Rhubarb – 2 stalks (pulled, not cut, leave sheath on, cut leaf in a 1” triangle)
Class 25 Fruit or Vegetable –3 same species

Division 2: Design

Section A: Novice (less than 2 years of showing)
Class 26 Father’s Day – design in a mug
Class 27 In Love with Spring – a design of your choice

Section B: Experienced
Class 28 Father’s Day – design in a mug
Class 29 In Love with Spring – a design of your choice
Class 30 Graceful – Line design (see Definition of Terms)

Division 3: Photography

Class 31 Favourite Spring Flower
Class 32 Garden Gnome

One 4 x 6 print may be submitted in each category
Print must be taken in 2023 or 2024
If fewer than 3 entries are submitted for a category, the prize awarded will be at the Judge’s discretion.

Special Award

Pioneer Trophy – Rienk and Roberta Vlietstra donated this trophy for the annual award for the “Best in Show” exhibitor in the May Show

Mabel Reid Memorial Trophy – Mabel Reid was an active competitor in all the shows in every category. She especially loved Design and Arrangements. When she died in 2004, the Society created an award in her honour. The trophy is awarded to the winner of the Best Design in the June Show.

Rose Bowl Trophy – In 1971 the Red Rose Tea Company donated trophies to Horticultural Societies to be awarded for the best Rose. The Fergus Society decided to award this silver bowl trophy for the Best Rose in any category in the June Show.

Cancelled for 2024 - June Flower Show

Division 1: Horticulture

Section A: Iris
Class 1 3 stalks, same species
Class 2 3 stalks, different colours
Class 3 1 stalk – Siberian

Section B: Peonies
Class 4 1 bloom – double
Class 5 1 bloom – single
Class 6 3 blooms – your choice
Class 7 1 bloom floating in water

Section C: Roses
Class 8 1 bloom or spray – miniature
Class 9 1 spray – Rugosa
Class 10 1 spray – Floribunda
Class 11 1 bloom – Hybrid Tea

Section D: Miscellaneous
Class 12 Alliums – 1 bloom
Class 13 Aquilegia (Columbine) – 1 stem
Class 14 Delphinium – 1 stem
Class 15 Dianthus Barbatus (Sweet William) – 3 stems
Class 16 Dianthus (any other variety) – 3 stems
Class 17 Geranium (perennial) – 3 stems
Class 18 Heuchera (Coral Bells) – 3 stems
Class 19 Hemerocallis (Daylily) – 1 stem
Class 20 Lupin – 1 stem
Class 21 Perennial/biennial (not listed above) – 1 stem
Class 22 Poppy – 1 stem
Class 23 Collection of 5 flowering stems –different species –1 container, named
Class 24 Foliage – 3 different species
Class 25 Fern Fronds – 3 different species
Class 26 Flowering tree/shrub (no flowering vines) – 1 branch max 24” from the tabletop

Section E: Fruits and Vegetables
Class 27 Rhubarb – 2 stalks (pulled, not cut, leave sheath on, cut leaf in a 1” triangle)
Class 28 Fruit or Vegetable –3 same species

Division 2: Design

Section A: Novice (less than 2 years of showing)
Class 29 Tiny Wonders – miniature design not over 5”
Class 30 Joys of June – floral arrangement

Section B: Experienced
Class 31 Tiny Wonders – miniature design not over 5”
Class 32 Joys of June – floral arrangement

Division 3: Photography

Class 33 Garden Ornament
Class 34 Love those bugs

One 4 x 6 print may be submitted in each category
Print must be taken in 2022 or 2023
If fewer than 3 entries are submitted for a category, the prize awarded will be at the Judge’s discretion.

Special Awards

2024 September Flower Show

Division 1: Horticulture

Section A: Flowers

Class 1 Anemone – 1 stem
Class 2 Aster, perennial – 1 spray
Class 3 Chrysanthemum – 1 spray
Class 4 Dahlia – 1 stem
Class 5 Hydrangea – Arborescens (Annabelle)
Class 6 Hydrangea – any other variety, named
Class 7 Phlox, paniculata (Summer Phlox) – 1 stem
Class 8 Rose – 1 bloom
Class 9 Rose – 1 spray
Class 10 Sedum – 3 stems
Class 11 Echinacea/Rudbeckia – 1 stem
Class 12 Ornamental grass – 3 stems, different species
Class 13 Flowering Branch – 1 branch not to exceed 24”
Class 14 Any annual, 3 different species– 1 stem each
Class 15 Any perennial – not listed above, 1 stem

Section B: Vegetables & Fruits

Class 16 Beets – 2
Class 17 Carrots – 2
Class 18 Cucumbers – 2
Class 19 Onions, any variety – 2
Class 20 Pepper – 2
Class 21 Potato – 2
Class 22 Squash – 1
Class 23 Tomato, mini, ripe – 5
Class 24 Tomato, red – 2
Class 25 Tomato, green – 2
Class 26 Garlic – 2
Class 27 Vegetable – not listed above, 1 large, 2 medium or 4 small
Class 28 Fruit – 1 large, 2 medium or 4 Small
Class 29 Collection – minimum 4 fruits and/or vegetables, 2 of each, exhibited for cultural perfection

Division 2: Design

Section A: Novice (less than 2 years of showing)

Class 30 Happy Hour – design in a glass
Class 31 Roadside Hum – using dry plant Material, Vertical Design

Section B: Experienced

Class 32 Happy Hour – design in a glass
Class 33 Roadside Hum – using dry plant Material, Vertical Design
Class 34 Little Sweetie – miniature design

Division 3: Photography

Class 34 Fergus Garden – cared by the Diggin’ in the Dirt group
Class 35 Hanging Basket or container – in its glory

One 4 x 6 print may be submitted in each category
Print must be taken in 2023 or 2024
If fewer than 3 entries are submitted for a category, the prize awarded will be at the Judge’s discretion.

Special Awards

Special Monetary Awards of $5 for the September Show:
Champion Dahlia Award
Champion Echinacea/Rudbeckia Award

Harry Conklin Rose Award – Harry Conklin was an enthusiastic Society member who awarded a prize each year for the best rose. This $5 award continues to be awarded in his honour for the Best Rose in the September Show.

John Carter Trophy – In 1996, John Carter donated a trophy which he had won in lawn bowling. The bowler on the top of the trophy was replaced with three roses. This trophy is awarded for the best Fruit and/or Vegetable Collection in the September Show.

General Rules for Flower Shows

Adult competitions are open to all paid members of the Fergus & District Horticultural Society over the age of 16.

All entries must be placed on the day of the Flower Show between 4:30 – 6:00 pm at the Fergus Legion, 500 Blair St., Fergus.

All flowers and vegetables must be grown by the exhibitor.

For the design classes, material need not be grown by the exhibitor but fresh garden flowers and greenery are to be used unless otherwise stated.

Exhibitors may make only 1 entry in each class and are responsible for their placement.

If 2 exhibitors sharing a garden wish to compete in the same horticultural class, they must enter different varieties.

Entry tags are available at the meeting prior to the show or from the Show Chairperson and must be placed with the entry and be clearly visible.

Exhibitors should include on the entry tag the botanical name (genus and species) or the common name/variety of all specimens where possible.

Exhibitors must supply their own containers and white paper plates for fruit and vegetable classes.

All designs must be the sole work of the Exhibitor.

For the purpose of the Design Classes, a Novice is a person who enters a competition for the first time and may place entries in the Novice Design classes for two years. Please place your entry in the correct section of the design classes.

An Exhibitor must have had a house plant in his or her care for 3 months before the show.

The show will be closed to all persons except for the Show Committee and clerks while exhibits are being judged.

No exhibit will be entitled to a prize unless it possesses merit, and no award will be made to an unworthy exhibit, even if it is the only entry in the class.

Judges decisions in all cases will be final.

Society Officers reserve the right to adjust the prize amount shown in the Yearbook prior to judging.

The Society will not be held responsible for the loss or damage to any exhibit or container.

Exhibits must not be moved until the show is declared closed.

Judging will be conducted according to the Second Edition OJES 2019 Horticultural Judging Standards, Publication #34/2993 OMAFRA which may be obtained for $10.00 from show chair, Kathy Bouma

Prizes

Horticultural Points Value
1st place 3 points $3.00
2nd place 2 points $2.00
3rd place 1 points $1.00

Design Points Value
1st place 10 points $10.00
2nd place 8 points $8.00
3rd place 6 points $6.00

Photo Points Value
1st place 3 points $3.00
2nd place 2 points $2.00
3rd place 1 points $1.00

Ontario Judging Standards Information

Judging is in accordance with the Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards 2019. Substandard entries may not necessarily be awarded prizes.

These are a few of the definitions and helpful information to be found in The Ontario Judging Standards for Horticultural & Floral Design, which may be obtained at our monthly meetings for $10.00.

Definitions

Accessory – An object used in a subordinate manner to enhance a design. An accessory may be made of non-plant material, or plan-based material. A design incorporating an accessory should appear incomplete if the accessory is removed (Pg 129 Publ#34/2019)

Basket – A container usually made of plaited, slatted or woven natural plant materials, with or without a handle. Baskets made from man-made materials such as glass, pottery, metals, etc., may also be used, but their form should resemble a basket.

Bloom – an individual flower, one to a stem. Specimen blooms should be disbudded for exhibition purposes. No leaves unless attached.

Bud – An undeveloped growing point which may become a shoot, leaf, or flower.

Collection – A specified number of different cut flowers, foliage, potted plants, branches, fruits, vegetables, or nuts, exhibited for cultural perfection. Individual items in the collection should be named.

Container – Any receptacle for plant material. In design classes, it becomes an integral part of the design.

Display – A combination of cut flowers, potted plants, cut foliage, herbs, branches, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc., exhibited for artistic effect as well as cultural perfection. The schedule should state the nature of the display including the numbers of specimens required, the type of containers(s) and the space allotted.

Specimen – An individual exhibit in a show, eg. fruit, cut bloom, etc.

Spike – An upright stem carrying several flowers which are nearly stemless, e.g., Gladiolus, Liatris.

Spray – The terminal flowering growth of an herbaceous or woody plant carried on one stem. Ideally it would show all stages of development. e.g., flowers in bloom, buds showing colour, green buds and leaves.

Stalk– The stem or main axis of a plant; any supporting or connecting part of a plant, as the petiole of a leaf, the peduncle of the flower, or the funicle of an ovule.

Iris Terminology

The standards are the upright top three inner petals.
The falls are the lower three petals.
The beards are the fuzzy caterpillar-like hairs on the falls.

Bloom Colour Categories

Bi-tone – Term used to describe shades of one colour in a flower
Bi-colour – is usually two distinct colours, one on the standard and a different colour on the falls.
Plicatas (mixed colours) has petals that are stitched or stippled or banded margin colour over a lighter ground colour

Floral Design

Design – a combination of fresh and/or dried plant materials, with or without other objects arranged to create an artistic unit. The elements of design: space, line, form, colour, texture and pattern and are used to interpret the theme.

Foliage Design – A design in which foliage predominates.

Mechanics – Devices for holding or supporting plant material such as pin holders, chicken wire, florist’s wire, aqua picks, tape, oasis, etc. Mechanics should not be visible.

Miniature – A design with maximum dimensions no more than 12.7 cm(5”) in height, width and depth including any container, base and/or accessories.