The rules for your entrant should meet the descriptions as follows:

Cut specimen rules

1.       Exhibit must be fresh

2.       Exhibit must be grown by exhibitor

3.       Plant material must be in its natural state and not be altered (example oil for shine)

4.       Exhibits should be in clean, transparent (clear) container. Containers do not have to be colorless, but cut stem/s should be viewed easily through any colored container. Containers should be free from lettering, labels or distracting colors and patterns.

5.       Containers include, but are not limited to, vases, bottles and weighted test tubes; cups or small bowls for cut flowering woody ornamentals (Camellia, Hibiscus, Gardenia).

6.       Containers should be in pleasing proportion to the specimens. Specimens shouldn’t look dwarfed by the container, nor should they appear unstable or overpowering the container.

7.       Top-heavy specimens require containers that are large, have a broad base and are heavy enough to prevent tipping over. Unobtrusive glass marbles, pebbles, etc., may be used for ballast but not as wedging.

8.       Flower specimens should not have foliage below the water line, except for gladiolas.

9.       Broadleaf and needled evergreen arboreal specimens, if properly conditioned, may be exhibited without water, either in a container, lying on a table uncrowded or displayed in an innovative way on trellises, walls, doors, etc.

10.   Arboreal specimens must be less than 30” in length from cut end to apical tip, and include several nodes and the central leader to be eligible for judging

11.   Wedging material is allowed to improve the specimen’s pose for all cut exhibits while remaining inconspicuous. Approved wedging type must be listed in the schedule.

12.   Water should be clean and free of debris. Water levels do not have to be uniform in bottles.

13.   Participants must provide their own container.

14.   Exhibitors should provide as much of the botanical binomial or current scientific designation as possible. Common names, enclosed in parentheses, can be included below the scientific designation.

Plants will be divided by annual, biannual or perennial

 Container-Grown Specimen Rules

1.       Containers should be clean and unobtrusive. Green, black and terracotta colored containers are recommended over white or pastel colors. Decorated containers should not dominate the specimen.

2.       Staking is permitted, but should be unobtrusive and not extend above the top of the plant.

3.       If hanging container-grown specimens are included, staging should be provided to hang the specimens, or the staging committee should ideally provide elevation (e.g. pots, columns, pedestals, stools etc) so trailing exhibits hang freely.

4.       Vertical gardens must be staged vertically for judging.

5.       Container-grown specimens should be centered in containers except for sympodial orchids and succulents with pups or self-multiples.

6.       Unobtrusive soil surface coverings such as coarse sand, poultry grit, pea gravel, etc. can be used in container-grown specimens and combination plantings.

7.       Participants must provide their own container.

8.       Exhibitors should provide as much of the botanical binomial or current scientific designation as possible. Common names, enclosed in parentheses, can be included below the scientific designation.

Fruits/Vegetables/Nuts Rules

1.   Should be at right stage of maturity for best taste and quality; table-ready for consumption.

2.   The presence or absence of stems is allowed.

3.   Placed on a container furnished by the exhibitor.

4.   Herbs are judged as foliage or flowering plants, cut or container-grown as applicable.

5.   Items will be placed in the following categories and entries must include the number of fruits/veges listed by category:

a.       Large (cabbage, cantaloupe, pumpkin) – 1

b.   Medium (apple, beets, cucumbers, peaches, tomatoes) – 3 to 5

c.   Small (blueberries, cherry tomatoes, green beans, strawberries, peas) – 12

 Table Design Rules

Exhibitors must provide their own staging properties.  Staging may include:

a.       Tables

b.       Panel

c.       Underlay materials

d.       Frames

e.       Vertical structure like a pedestal, box or cube

1.       Must be a table planned and set for actual service of food.

2.       Convenience and sense of order must prevail.

3.        A decorative unit (completed floral design with/without candles and other accessories) must be included. A container-grown plant alone is not a design.

4.       Coordination of all components must be balanced within the allotted space.

5.       Plant material must be used somewhere in the design.

Types of table designs

a.       Alfresco – dining outdoors with any degree of formality

b.       Informal – casual dining

c.       Semi-formal – a more formal and sophisticated dining

d.       Table/Tray for One – the decorative Unit should be in scale to the one (1) place setting. The tray requires an appropriate sized Decorative Unit with the stability of the Decorative Unit given importance

Table Appointments

a.       Dishes – china, porcelain, stoneware, paper, glass, plastic, metal, wood, etc.

b.       Beverage service – glass, china, paper, aluminum, etc. Coordinated with other appointments.

c.       Flatware – plastic, wood, inexpensive metal, etc. Expensive flatware is not permit-ted in an NGC Flower Show.

d.       Coverings – tablecloth (neatly pressed with one center fold for large tables,no folds for round tables), place mats, runners, underlays.

e.       Napkins – required for all Functional Tables. May be cloth or paper depending on table formality. One (1) or more napkins may be used together; placed where best suited for the table design. Napkins are never placed on dishes in Tray classes.

f.        Decorative Unit with or without candles and/or other accessories. When diners are seated for functional tables, Decorative Unit should not interfere with viewing or conversation across the table.

g.        Candles – allowed, unless prohibited by fire regulations. Wicks need not be charred and are never lit for safety reasons. “Flame” should be above or below eye level. Battery-powered candles are permitted.

Photography Rules

a.       All exhibits must relate to horticulture, gardening, design, or other NGC goals, objectives and/or initiatives (landscape, conservation, civic projects, preservation, ecology, environment, etc.).

b.       Image size must be 5 x7 or greater, and may be monochrome, black and white, and/or color),

c.       Image must be matte or gloss finish; no frames allowed.

d.       Professional printing and matting is permitted.

e.       Images should be displayed vertically at eye level if possible, for judging and viewing, and on a neutral-colored wall, display panel or stands. Display panels will be provided.

f.        Exhibitors are encouraged to label photographed plant material, preferably with current scientific designation.

g.       Photo may be enhanced by the exhibitor with cropping, filters, adjustments and/or darkroom techniques. Images with extreme manipulation may be displayed in a specific class.

 Artistic Crafts Rules

1.       Exhibit must contain some fresh and/or dried plant material. Only dried material may be treated.

2.       No artificial, endangered or locally invasive plant material may be used.

3.       A card listing plant material must be included with all artistic craft entries.

4.       Designers are free to incorporate staging properties

5.       Entrant is required to provide all staging materials

6.       Staging may include:

a.       Tables

b.       Panel

c.       Underlay materials

d.       Frames

e.       Vertical structure like a pedestal, box or cube

Types of Artistic Crafts

a.       Jewelry and ornamental accessories

b.       Items must be ready-to-wear with fasteners, clasps, etc., as needed.

c.       Non-plant material may be used for construction, but must not show unless allowed by the schedule.

d.       Forms may be assembled from plant material. Clipping, cutting or shaping of material is allowed.

e.       Wearable apparel, except jewelry; examples include corsages, boutonnieres, hats, gloves, dresses, etc.

f.        Decorations – decorated packages, kissing balls, decorated candle holders, dried flower pictures, bookmarks, invitations, napkin rings, nosegays, ornaments, bird houses, etc.

g.       Trees featuring decorations

                                                               i.      Tree may be real or artificial depending on local regulations.

                                                             ii.      Tree is evaluated on quality of the decorations and overall placement.

                                                           iii.      Schedule states type and who furnishes tree.

 Centerpiece Rules

1.       Exhibits should be in clean, transparent (clear) container. Containers do not have to be colorless, but cut stem/s should be viewed easily through any colored container. Containers should be free from lettering, labels or distracting colors and patterns.

2.       Containers include, but are not limited to, vases, bottles and weighted test tubes; cups or small bowls for cut flowering woody ornamentals (Camellia, Hibiscus, Gardenia).

3.       Containers should be in pleasing proportion to the arrangement. Specimens should not they appear unstable or overpowering the container.

4.       Top-heavy specimens require containers that are large, have a broad base and are heavy enough to prevent tipping over. Unobtrusive glass marbles, pebbles, etc., may be used.

5.       Arrangement should not have foliage below the water line.

6.       Exhibit must be fresh

7.       Arrangement does not need to be grown by exhibitor.

8.       All materials used must be described.

9.       Invasive or noxious plants should not be used.

10.   Entrant is required to provide all materials

11.   Arrangements can include flowers and any other plants to provide a pleasing result

12.   Fake flowers should not be used.

Fun Fakes

A non-judged category that represents any unique non-real flowers or plants that entrants would like to share at the show.