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Green thumbs welcome: Garden clubs prepare
for flower show
By Gregory A. Summers - Features Editor The Lancaster News
October 8, 2006
With a theme of
"Olde English District Celebrations," the upcoming Lancaster
Council of Garden Clubs flower show combines flower design, educational
exhibits and horticulture.
The show is Oct. 14 and 15 at Covenant Baptist Church Family Life
Center, 165 Craig Manor Road. Free and open to the public, the show
highlights work by some of Lancaster's best gardeners.
"It's three full days, plus what you do at home in figuring out
what to bring in and what arrangements you're going to create,"
said Betty Broome, co-chairwoman of the flower show.
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This Confederate Rose,
blooming in Frank and Betty Hartley's yard, would make
a great entry in the garden club flower show. photo by Aaron
Morrison
- Staff photographer The Lancaster News |
"Some
folks think it's a social, but it's not," she said.
"There's some stiff competition with flower arranging and some
even go as far as making special-designed containers for their work.
It's just remarkable."
But entries aren't just limited to the members of Lancaster's three
garden clubs.
Broome said one of the show's four categories - the horticulture
division - is open to any amateur grower with a green thumb who
wants to enter it.
"We have hundreds of entries and you learn a lot; we try
to keep it as educational as possible," Broome said.
"But it never fails, every year, I see something that I
have to buy."
The open horticulture contest includes categories ranging
from annuals, perennials, bulbs, dahlias, chrysanthemums and
roses to shrubs, foliage, trees, container-grown plants,
orchids, herbs and 5-stem collections.
There is no fee to participate and all entries must be at
the family life center between 8 and 10 a.m. Oct. 14.
"You will see some of the most absolutely beautiful
flowers that are the cream of the local crop," said
Elaine Adkins, flower show publicity chairwoman.
"They coddle them and bring in their very best. Some
people bring up to 30 items."
Cut specimens must be displayed in size-appropriate
clear containers and shouldn't have any foliage below
the water line. A small inconspicuous amount of clear
plastic wrap can be used as wedging material.
Arboreal specimens can't be longer than 30 inches from
the cut end to the tip of the branch.
Container grown plants must be in containers not to
exceed 12 inches across the top and may be
double-potted.
Entries must be labeled by genus, species and
or/variety. Common names may be given, but if a
grower has done his homework, it has a bearing on
the total score. Broome said judges choose winners
in each category based on a blind draw; they have
no idea who entered what.
Rule booklets for the horticulture contest are
available at Lancaster County Council of the
Arts, 201 W. Gay St., Lancaster County Library,
313 S. White St., and Ace Hardware and Garden
Center (Lancaster Feed and Seed), 714 S. Market
St.
The Lancaster Council of Garden Club is a
member of Garden Club of South Carolina (East
Piedmont District) and National Garden Clubs,
Inc. (South Atlantic Region)
Lancaster Council of Garden Clubs Flower
Show
- WHEN: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 and 2 to
4 p.m. Oct. 15
- WHERE: Covenant Baptist Church Family
Life Center, 165 Craig Manor Road
- COST: Free
- INFORMATION: Betty Broome,
285-0558; Gwen Furse, 285-8144 |
Contact
Greg Summers at 283-1156 or gsummers@thelancasternews.com
Article © The
Lancaster News, reprinted with
permission.
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