Chriss Rainey wrote that it might not always be a good idea to take large numbers of flowers to a show.
I do know of one or two cases where a local group was so unhappy about visitors winning all the awards that they stopped having ADS shows with ADS judges and now do their own thing. In one of these cases, I was specifically told that the reason for seceding from ADS-sanctioned shows was the visiting flowers.
The sad thing is that if they had just said something, I am sure the visitors would have used some restraint.
In general, though, I think long-established groups would be disappointed if visitors did not arrive with carloads of flowers to make their shows as big as possible.
My suggestion is that if you are going to a show sponsored by a new or small group, just ASK!
Bill Lee
This attitude is not just seen in the world of flowers. I was in charge of a quilt show at our fair and I decided to bring in a traveling, top notch show thinking it would inspire people. It was just for display. There were those who refused to enter their quilts in the fair competition because they thought people would compare their quilts to the juried presentation and they would come up short! The surprising thing is that the woman who always won the blue ribbons was the loudest complainer. Instead of taking an opportunity to learn and be inspired she was insecure and did not want to leave her plateau. I was also in charge of flowers and art. There isn’t much outside competition and not much local either in the flowers because the fair was moved to convenience a carnival provider! In the art a not so quiet whisper campaign was started because I allowed a professional to hang the work instead of willy nilly all over. I was in charge of all divisions in the fair and believe me it was a learning experience about the people in this county. Go out of this county in any direction and you find a whole different set of standards and expectations. I’ve always wondered why this county attracted the genetic pool that it did. We came when my husband put a washed out road back together :)
Colleen in NE Calif.
I agree with you Brian. I too have seen shows with locals only classes. Some have beginner type classes. Judging to a standard means the competitors and those just there to see the pretties would benefit from seeing the best possible examples of the standard. Otherwise the fancy, whatever it may be, will be dumbed down and everyone loses.
Colleen Calif.
Mornin’, everyone,
I may be new to daffs, but I am not new to clubs and exhibiting, and that in quite a few countries. I have had many interesting experiences at shows! Still do, even though I no longer exhibit.
To get to the point, I agree fully with Brian as to the current closed philosophy of many shows. After all, what is the reason to put on a public show? To interest the public! NO OTHER REASON! If we are only interested in garnering prizes, then the shows would not be public, now, would they. It is considerably costlier to stage a public show, than to simply bring the flowers together and have a judging team do their job.
As far as prizes going to outsiders, this is easily handled via different classes, plus, I will admit I know quite a few exhibitors that are so prize hungry, they will show their exhibit in a public toilet to get another knic-knak for the cupboard. It is often shameless and, IMO, lies more with a psycological problem on the part of the individual, rather than any need to inform the public! It is much too common, in both senses of the word. Nuf Said.
As I mentioned above, I no longer exhibit anything other than fotos of my creations. (I breed parrots, canaries, Hemerocallis, Iris, as well) The main reason is the ridiculous amount of rule and regulation involved, coupled with a certain close-mindedness as to what is beauty, achievement, moving foreward. I have never felt any need to prove my wares to others, they are what they are and represent my personal work and direction, on the other hand, I do not appreciate ridicule in the place of criticism, especially behind the back. In other words, most clubs tend to become friendly little cliques, or lead by one in any case, rather than places to exhange ideas and info and set new goals and standards. Rules are there to be broken! I’ve watched all too many exhibits being down-pointed for what I see as ridiculous criteria in the judging tabelle.
In the end, why do we actually involve ourselves with our plants. Because we love them, they fascinate us and offer us a personal challenge. There is not only a sense of achievement involved, but a spiritual feeling that simply lifts the soul, a feeling all to often missing in our modern world, suffocating under a yoke of rules and regulations and expectations. To take this intrinsic joy away from the gardener and replace it with rules and regulations that limit their abilities to create, explore and, very important…share, we are simply cutting off our noses to spite our face. We are not allowing our clubs and societies to bloom.
I think you all realise, this is not a call to drop all judging criteria or other such sillieness, it is simply a call to rethink why our clubs exhist and where we wish to go in the future. Who are to be the members that will carry the torch in new directions, if not those we have yet to meet? Without well placed stepping stones, such new members will never cross the stream to take part. It bwecomes just too much work for little or no reward (and I do not mean prizes!).
OK, I’m down from my soap box and off to breakfast in the garden to inhale the roses,
Jamie Vande
Cologne
Germany
Brian S. Duncan schrieb:
Whenever I arranged a show of any type (flowers or otherwise) I got the judge to take some scheduled time and go over what she was looking for when judging, that is, the rules and how things should look. People were excited to come and listen to the presentations and the following year one woman whose entries had been little childlike and totally incomplete came back the following year and won blue’s. It was amazing.
Colleen in Calif.
Most seasons the success of the show is dependent on those who have flowers to bring them. Sometimes judges are invited because the sponsors expect they will bring flowers. Here in the Mid-Atlantic we are faced with early or late seasons so we can never predict what the season will bring. For the success of the show and its educational value all flowers should be welcomed and if competition is tough than the more satisfying to be awarded the ribbons. —-
Brian: Instead of soccer, Chriss could have used golf – it’s a good thing they kept score at Pebble Beach. I enjoyed that final round drama and presentation as much as any. Will Graeme McDowell now be knighted? Send him a selection of your best bulbs.
Theodore E. Snazelle, Ph.D.
101 Water Oaks Drive
Clinton MS 39056-9733
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Insightful comment, Bob.
Loyce McKenzie
Living in the furthest north growing zone of any ADS show physically prohibits me from taking tons of flowers to shows other than Minnesota’s. (I did take 2 Div 6s to Chicago and got trounced by Nancy Phipuff and Edie Godfry.) However, I love going to other shows as a non-exhibitor. I find I am able to help “locals” with things that would detract them from staging their own flowers for the show. Little things like getting water and tubes, carrying staged flowers to the table setting up signage and the ADS posters can allow a few more blooms get in the show. Additionally, you get to meet a lot of nice people who may never make it to a national convention but do contribute much to the daffodil world.Additionally, you renew friendships with others who dogo to conventions.
Another trick, unrelated to taking lots of flowers to shows, is inviting other judges to attend your show and stay with you. I saw the importance of this at the Chicago convention when Bob Spotts and Kirby Fong stayed at Dr Reed’s and he subsequently won big with “Windy City.” Subsequently, I invited Nancy Pilpuff and John Beck to attend the Minnesota Show the following week and stay at my house, which they did. I then proceeded to win best of show with Ambergris Caye (brought forward by Dr.John Beck). My conclusion: There probably is some benefit in having the judges sleep with you. Denis Dailey