Entering Horticulture Classes

If you missed the workshops offered this summer, here are instructions:

STEP ONE: Accompanying this article are copies of the list of Horticulture Classes. Pick some to enter, right now! Don’t wait until the last minute.

STEP TWO: A week or so before the Flower Show, prepare your entry card for these plants. The entry cards can be found here.

Fill in the following information and leave other areas blank: Check “GCA” for the type of show, and type in the number of the Class you intend to enter. Fill in the Plant Material info, Length of Ownership, and Growing Conditions (eg: full sun, dry soil). Check “Propagated by Owner” ONLY IF you propagated the plant from seed or cuttings. Fill in your name, your club and zone (Shaker Lakes Garden Club Zone X), the Show name (A Fantasy), and the Show Dates (September 8-10, 2023).

STEP THREE: Repeat for other classes you intend to enter.

STEP FOUR: Print out the entry cards to match your entries onto heavy white paper or onto card stock.

STEP FIVE: For Cut Entry Classes (that is classes 1-51), cut your entry either the evening before entering or early that morning, and make sure there are no insects, dead plant parts, or obvious bits of dirt that mar the look of your entries. For cut stems, place the specimens in water right away for transport. For fruit and vegetables, wash them and carefully set them in a box or basket for transport.

STEP SIX: Carefully transport your entries to the Shaker Heights Main Library either on Thursday, September 7 between 4 and 7 pm or on Friday, September 8 between 9 and 11 am. Entries cut Friday may appear fresher during judging Friday; however, the Entry and Registration area will be far more crowded and busy. If your entry is not in line with completed entry cards and the exhibit properly set into its display bottle (these are at the Entry/Registration area) before 11 am, your exhibit will not be entered. We strongly suggest that for Horticulture entries of potted plants, you should enter on Thursday. For cut specimens, you may take your chances.

If you are entering Class 54, you will need to fill in a Key Card to accompany your entry and its entry card. See How to Complete a Key Card at the GCA website.

If you are entering Class 55, you will need to fill in a Propagation Card to accompany your entry and its entry card. The printable card is at the GCA website here: Hort Prop Card Spring 2018 FILLABLE extended.pdf (gcamerica.org) and instructions for filling it out are here: How to Complete a Hort. Propagation.

If a male household member is entering Class 56, His name should be listed on the reverse side only of a 4” x 6” index card. The front side or the card should identify the class number, the plant’s botanical and common names, and information on growing techniques. These might include date(s) of repotting as well as growing conditions such as light, frequency of watering, and whether and how often fertilizer was applied.