Guidance for Exhibitors: Section 1 – Flowers
Classes
| 1 | Ashtead Park Garden Centre Premier Vase. Mixed Garden Flowers, 5 kinds, maximum 4 stems of each (see information below). |
| 4 | Sweet Peas, 3 sprays, any variety or varieties with own foliage. |
| 7 | Roses, 3 blooms, 1 vase, 1 or more varieties. |
| 12 | Patio pot or container with 1 or more flowers planted by exhibitor. |
| 16 | Flowering Pot Plant (excluding Fuchsias, Pelargoniums and Orchids), pot not exceeding 200mm/ 8″ diameter (see information below). |
| 18 | Garden Flowers, 1 vase, 1 kind, 5 stems. |
| 21 | Bush Fuchsia, in pot not exceeding 200mm/ 8″ diameter. Up to 3 plants of the same variety may be included in the pot. (No standards.) |
| 25 | Pelargonium (1), Zonal, in pot not exceeding 200mm/ 8″ diameter. |
| 31 | Mixed Flowers, 1 stem of each of 5 different kinds in 1 vase. |
| 32 | Hanging Basket in flower. Basket not exceeding 350mm/ 14″ diameter. |
Additional information
| 1 | Ashtead Park Garden Centre sponsors Class 1 (Premier Vase Class for mixed garden flowers) and will donate vouchers valued at £15, £10 and £5 to exhibitors placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd. They will also donate a £10 voucher to the exhibitor gaining most marks in Section 1 – Flowers. |
Guidance for Flower Exhibitors
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The term ‘kind’ is intended to cover all varieties of a genus. For example, all gladioli or all lilium, whatever their colour, are considered to be one kind.
Pot sizes given are internal dimensions.
Blooms are best cut in the early morning, and put straight into a bucket of water at least 12 hours before they are intended for exhibition, during which time they should be kept in deep water in a cool place.
Always try to show a fully developed flower, remembering it is better to show one that has not quite reached its best, rather than one that is just past its best, beginning to fade and showing the centre disk.
Select blooms that have freshness and that are uniform, not only in size but also in colour.
Practise staging at home. Try setting up 5 blooms in a vase with 3 blooms at the back fairly high up and the two at the front with slightly shorter stems. Aim for a well-balanced effect overall, with blooms set slightly apart.
Some flowers are not good at taking up water when cut and it is advisable to crush or scrape the ends of all ‘woody’ stems so that a good supply of water is assured.