2014 MTDS show results

The Middle Tennessee Daffodil Society held its 54th annual show at its traditional venue, Cheekwood Gardens in Nashville, TN. We have been going to this show since 2006 (daffodils permitting), and over that time we have seen a wide variety of springtime conditions. Two years ago, the season was early, and the show was late, which meant that azaleas and dogwoods were out in bloom. Through the miracle of refrigeration, the show went on, and the visitors were blown away by the sight of daffodils which had disappeared from their landscape a month earlier. Last year, spring was late, so only the earliest magnolias were out. This year, we are running at least a week (if not more) behind last year, so for this year’s show Cheekwood featured a few star magnolias which were just opening, pansies, and crocus.

The gold ribbon for best in show went to Rapture, which was part of a three stem entry.

The White Ribbon for best vase of 3 went to New Penny, shown by Jeff and Jennifer Harvey.

The best small grower was Andrew Buhler with Limelight.

The best single stem classic bloom, as well as the best classic bloom in the show was Kingsworthy, shown by Carol Smith.

The best classic vase of 3 was Falstaff, exhibited by Bonnie Campbell.

The winner of the best historic vase of three was this impressive entry from Bonnie Campbell. It was a well-deserved runner up for the standard white ribbon, as it glowed from across the room.

This exhibit won two ribbons, one for the best intermediate vase of three, as well as the best intermediate flower in the show. The exhibitor was Susan Basham. The best intermediate flower is at the upper left.

 

Helen Rieke won both the youth best bloom and the best youth three stem with Barrett Browning. I was impressed with Helen’s many entries, and I was even more impressed to hear that many of the flowers she was showing belonged to one of the founding members of MTDS. How is that for daff rescue?

Molly Adams won the purple ribbon for best 5 stem collection in the show with this red/orange cup entry. The flowers were – top row – Falstaff, Barrett Browning, Ceylon – bottom row – Thunderhead, and Itzim.

Betsy Abrams won the classic 5 stem collection ribbon with Barrett Browning, Tahiti, Ceylon, Jetfire and Waterpenny. I was particularly impressed with the Jetfires she had entered across the show, as they has beautiful color with no spotting.

 

Betsy Abrams also won the historic collection ribbon with a classic combination – Erlicheer, Actaea, Thalia, Sweetness, and Beryl. The Actaea in the center of the exhibit was the best historic bloom.

Bonnie Campbell won the mini white with this excellent set of three Minnows.

Becky Fox Matthews entered and won the Miniature Bronze ribbon for 5 sets of 3 stem vases. The best miniature bloom in the show was Kiera KB 11/2001, which was the top bloom in the leftmost set of three. Other cultivars in the mini bronze were Bird Music, Grandma’s Choice, N. assoanus, and Twinkling Yellow. The “Mini-Tuggle” is an accomplishment – congratulations, Becky!

The Havens award for 12 blooms of higher divisions was won by Betsy Abrams. The exhibit included Tahlia, Falconet, Puppet, Beryl, Ornatus and Sailboat on the left, and Pueblo, Golden Echo, Intrigue, Rapture, Katie Heath and Tresamble on the right.

Betsy also won the Throckmorton ribbon for 15 stems of differing division and color code. (I think she had everything in here except a division 11a.) The flowers were – upper left – Kedron, Centanees, Intrigue, Ornatus, and N. jonquilla – upper right – Chromacolor, Ceylon, Katie HEath, Bella Estrella, and Erlicheer – and lower center – Bravoure, Tahiti, Mt. Hood, Queen of the North, and Barrett Browning. It is nice to see so many historics and classics in a big collection.

This was my favorite flower in the show. Not only is it a nice split cup with beautiful color which is groomed perfectly, but its exhibitor was visually impaired. Mrs. Estelle Condra, my hat is off to you. Here she is with her blue ribbon winning bloom:

 

 

I’d like to thank my wife Lisa for taking these beautiful photographs.