Exhibit Like A Winner!

by Lynda H. Fleming

This is the third article about the fun and benefits of exhibiting your roses.  Below you will find some easy tips and examples that will enable any of you to “Exhibit Like A Winner”!  

Disclaimers: I am not a Judge.  The opinions are mine, based on more than 25 years of exhibiting.  Winning Some!  Losing Many!!  Having a Blast!!!

So…..Are There Other Challenge Classes for Roses That Don’t Need Good Stems and Foliage?  YES!!

Why not try Rose in a Bowl?

• Gateway has a challenge class for both Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras, minis, and minifloras.  So, you can enter Rose in a Bowl with a large or small rose!
• Only 1 rose is needed!
• NO leaves or stems are required!  Check the schedule to see if leaves are allowed, if you decide you want to use them.  Their use can make a beautiful exhibit as shown below.
• Bring a bowl…..and a beautiful bloom!
  • Make sure to check the schedule!  Can open blooms be used?  Or only classic hybrid tea form?  Does the schedule say “floating in a bowl”?  If, yes, then make sure there is enough water in the bowl to float the rose.
  • This class is also about artistry.  You want to draw the Judge’s eye into the exhibit, so, don’t use bowls that compete with the bloom!  If the bowl is too busy, it takes focus away from the bloom.  If the bowl is simple, a contrasting color can highlight the bloom, such as using a black bowl to exhibit a white rose!
  • Think about the size of the bloom relative to the bowl.  A tiny bloom in a large bowl gets lost.  Similarly, if the rose is too crowded in a bowl, it will detract from the beauty of the bloom.  
• A rose in a bowl is an excellent way to exhibit roses in your home!  Therefore, it is easy to practice for this class!

I’ve Got a Lot of Pretty Blooms with Bad Canes and Leaves.  What can I Do with Them?

Exhibit Them in Boxes!

• Check the schedule.  Some classes require the same variety, others require no more than 2 of a variety.  
• Blooms should be a uniform size and shape.  Keep all blooms at the same level in the box!  A bloom sticking up higher than the others or crooked will be distracting.  
• Light bloom colors pop on black!
• If multiple varieties are used, make sure they make a harmonious color mixture!
• If the blooms are open….Don’t Forget About the Stamens!!  Make sure they are fresh!

Don’t waste your beautiful blooms just because the leaves are damaged or the stems are weak!  Give these classes a try!  You, too, can Exhibit Like a Winner!