Flowers, Dept. 16

Flowers



Enter Online


2024 Entry Instructions

ONLINE ENTRY IS PREFERRED. To enter online, click on the Online Entry link and follow the instructions. If you prefer, you may print out the offline entry form, fill it out, and mail it in according to the deadline outlined on the form and on the Entry Deadlines and Delivery Schedule page. (Please contact your Department if you are unable to print the entry form.)

Rules

PLEASE READ ALL RULES CAREFULLY TO PREVENT DELAYS AT THE TIME OF ENTRY.

  1. Please pre-register in all categories you anticipate entering.
  2. Entries must be completely finished and ready for placement before they are brought to the Flower Department.
  3. All entries must be brought to the Flower Department between 3 PM and 8 PM on Wednesday, the day before the start of the Fair. Limited parking will be available around the Flower Barn for a 15 minute duration. Additional parking will be available at Whites Farm.
  4. All entry changes must be made by 8 PM on Wednesday, the day before the start of the Fair. NO CHANGES will be accepted after that time.
  5. All entries must be show quality, with no sign of disease or insect damage/infestation.
  6. Each exhibitor is allowed only ONE entry in each class.
  7. Where there is no competition in a class, the entry will be judged and placed according to its own merit.
  8. Where required by the variety of entries, a class may be created or divided at the discretion of the judges.
  9. All judges’ decisions are final.
  10. Any entry using material on the State Conservation List as published by the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., will be disqualified.
  11. Collections (C02 & C03 only) must include a list of all plant and flower varieties used.
  12. Exhibits must remain in place until 6 PM on Sun., the last day of the Fair. Committee members will be on hand until 8 PM Sunday. VEHICLES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED ON THE GROUNDS BEFORE 7:00 PM. On Monday following the Fair, Committee members will be on hand from 5–7 PM to assist exhibitors in collecting their entries. After 7 PM Monday, remaining exhibits will be placed outside the exhibit area and the doors will be closed.

Special Awards

Best of Show

One Best-of-Show rosette will be awarded in each of the following categories: Arrangements, Artistic Vases, Collections, Single Specimens, Potted Houseplants and Container Gardens.

Betty Ackerman Memorial Award

This award was established in 1994 in memory of Betty Ackerman, who was an assistant superintendent of the Durham Fair for many years. The award is given to the entry judged to be best in a class, or classes, of flower, as chosen by the Flower Committee. This year’s class is Dahlias: medium (4” – 8”) (V14). The winner will receive a special award of $20, given by Jeff and Carol Feldmann in memory of Betty Ackerman.

George Matyas Memorial Award

George Matyas was an exhibitor in the Potted Houseplant category of the Flower Department from 1997 to 2005. When he received the Exhibitors Guide each year, he took time to carefully pick his entries. All of his houseplants and flowers were grown from seed or plant cuttings. A special award of $20 is given by his daughter Patti Kemish in memory of her father. This year the award will go to the best entry in Fern (no asparagus fern allowed) (P08).

Harriet Duval Special Award

This award was established in 2013 to honor Harriet Duval, who joined the Flower Committee in 1962 and chaired the committee from 1982 to 2012. The award is a rosette for the first-place winner of a designated class of flower arrangement. This year’s class is World Series Trophy (A09).


TABLE OF CATEGORIES

Class Code & Name $ Prize Amount
Arrangements
2024 Theme: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
1st 2nd 3rd
Please Note: 1) No artificial flowers, foliage or fruit may be used. 2) No coloring of fresh or dried plant material is allowed. 3) Flowers must be garden grown. 4) Arrangements must be movable at the discretion of the committee and/or judges. 5) Containers must be lined to prevent leakage. 6) Accessories are to be used only when specified.
A01 Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks. A colorful arrangement in a fun food container. 20 15 10
A02 The Outfield. An arrangement of grasses and greenery, incorporating a baseball mitt. 20 15 10
A03 Home Run. A celebratory arrangement, with accessories. 20 15 10
A04 Babe Ruth. An arrangement of dahlias in a pitcher. 20 15 10
A05 Team Red Sox. Red-toned flowers in a white container; use accessories. 20 15 10
A06 Team Yankees. Silver foliage (e.g. Lamb’s Ear, Dusty Miller, etc.) and blue flowers in a blue container; use accessories. 20 15 10
A07 The Ump. A white arrangement in a black container; incorporate eyeglasses. 20 15 10
A08 Your Favorite Team. Use your favorite team’s colors in an appropriate container; use accessories. 20 15 10
A09 World Series Trophy. (Harriet Duval Special) A tall arrangement of yellow flowers in a gold-toned container. 20 15 10
A10 Little League. (Miniature Arrangement, not to exceed 4½" in any direction.) Miniature arrangement incorporating a whistle. 20 15 10
Collections 1st 2nd 3rd
C01 Gourds: Judged by number of varieties and artistic
arrangement in a container or basket.
15 10 8
C02 Annual Flowers: Judged by number of varieties and
arrangement (a printed list of varieties must be provided).
15 10 8
C03 Perennial Flowers: Judged by number of varieties and
arrangement (a printed list of varieties must be provided).
15 10 8
Artistic Vases of Flowers 1st 2nd 3rd
Please Note: 1) A vase is a container that is taller than it is wide. 2) No additional support of the flowers is allowed. 3) No foliage is to be below the water line. 4) Entries must be multiple flower stems of ONLY ONE variety. 5) No accessories are allowed. 6) Entries will be judged ONLY in the appropriate class, i.e., pompom dahlias will not be accepted in any other dahlia class. 7) Quality of flowers, foliage and suitability of vase will be judged.
V01 Ageratums (annual) 9 8 6
V02 Ageratums (perennial) 9 8 6
V03 Anemone 9 8 6
V04 Asters (annual) 9 8 6
V05 Asters (perennial) 9 8 6
V06 Bachelor buttons 9 8 6
V07 Calendulas 9 8 6
V08 Chrysanthemums 9 8 6
V09 Cleome 9 8 6
V10 Cosmos 9 8 6
V11 Coxcomb: crested 9 8 6
V12 Coxcomb: plumed 9 8 6
V13 Dahlias: large (over 8") 9 8 6
V14 Dahlias: medium (4" – 8") (Betty Ackerman Memorial Award) 9 8 6
V15 Dahlias: small (less than 4") 9 8 6
V16 Dahlias: pompom 9 8 6
V17 Gladiolas 9 8 6
V18 Globe Amaranth 9 8 6
V19 Hydrangea 9 8 6
V20 Marigolds: large (over 2") 9 8 6
V21 Marigolds: small (up to 2") 9 8 6
V22 Nasturtiums 9 8 6
V23 Pansies 9 8 6
V24 Petunias: double 9 8 6
V25 Petunias: single 9 8 6
V26 Roses 9 8 6
V27 Roses: miniature 9 8 6
V28 Salvia: annual (Betty Ackerman Memorial Award) 9 8 6
V29 Salvia: perennial 9 8 6
V30 Sedum 9 8 6
V31 Snapdragons 9 8 6
V32 Strawflowers 9 8 6
V33 Sunflowers 9 8 6
V34 Verbenas 9 8 6
V35 Zinnias: large (over 3") 9 8 6
V36 Zinnias: medium (2" – 3") 9 8 6
V37 Zinnias: small (less than 2") 9 8 6
(Only flowers NOT listed elsewhere will be accepted in Classes V38 & V39) 
V38 Other worthy entry: Annuals (please identify)
(1 entry per exhibitor)
9 8 6
V39 Other worthy entry: Perennials (please identify)
(1 entry per exhibitor)
9 8 6
Single Specimen in Vase 1st 2nd 3rd
Please note: 1) Only one specimen is allowed, with no buds attached. 2) No foliage is to be below the water line. 3) No additional support of the flower is allowed. 4) Entries will only be judged in the appropriate class, i.e., pompom dahlias will not be accepted in any other dahlia class. 5) Quality of flower, foliage, as well as suitability of vase, will be judged.
S01 Chrysanthemum 9 8 6
S02 Dahlia: large (over 8") 9 8 6
S03 Dahlia: medium (4 – 8") 9 8 6
S04 Dahlia: small (less than 4") 9 8 6
S05 Dahlia: pompom 9 8 6
S06 Gladiola 9 8 6
S07 Rose: hybrid tea 9 8 6
S08 Other worthy entry (cannot be flowers entered in Artistic Vases of Flowers) 9 8 6
Potted Houseplant 1st 2nd 3rd
Please note: 1) Plants must be disease-free and in clean containers. 2) Entries will be accepted as space permits. 3) No plant stands will be allowed. 4) Plants must be a reasonable size and weight; plants that cannot be accommodated may have to be moved. 5) Only one variety of plant per container. 6) Annual begonias, coleus, and impatiens will not be accepted.
P01 African violet (single crown only) 10 8 6
P02 Begonia 10 8 6
P03 Cactus (single variety only) 10 8 6
P04 Gardenia 10 8 6
P05 Hibiscus 10 8 6
P06 Orchid 10 8 6
P07 Oxalis (George Matyas Memorial Award) 10 8 6
P08 Fern (no asparagus fern in this class) (George Matyas Memorial Award) 10 8 6
P09 Asparagus fern 10 8 6
P10 Christmas Cactus 10 8 6
P11 Jade 10 8 6
P12 Other succulent (no dish gardens) 10 8 6
P13 Ivy 10 8 6
P14 Philodendron 10 8 6
P15 Pothos 10 8 6
P16 Spider plant (hanging or pedestal) 10 8 6
P17 Other worthy entry (please identify; no hanging baskets in this class) 10 8 6
P18 Hanging basket: Foliage plant (hanging variety ONLY) 10 8 6
P19 Hanging basket: Begonia (hanging variety ONLY) 10 8 6
P20 Hanging basket: Geranium (hanging variety ONLY) 10 8 6
P21 Hanging basket: Other blooming plant (hanging variety ONLY) 10 8 6
P22 Other flowering Houseplant in bloom 10 8 6
Container Gardens 1st 2nd 3rd
Please note: 1) Plants should be grown in the container they are shown in. 2) Plants should be clean and contain no dead foliage or stems. 3) Plants should have no insects or insect damage or disease. 4) Plants should be labeled or tagged with either the botanical or common name. 5) No endangered or invasive species allowed. 6) A variety of plants is expected in all classes. 7) Exhibitors may submit 1 entry per class. Exhibitors may enter all classes.
CG01 Small Containers, any shape, up to 12" in width or diameter. 20 15 10
CG02 Large Containers, any shape, up to 20" in width or diameter. 20 15 10
CG03 Small Window Box, up to 12". 20 15 10
CG04 Large Window Box, up to 20". 20 15 10
CG05 Hanging basket (collection of plants). 20 15 10
CG06 Herb Garden, up to 20", containing medicinal, edible or decorative herbs. 20 15 10
CG07 Novelty Planter, up to 20", using plants, props, figurines, etc. to express the theme, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”. 20 15 10
CG08 Succulent Wreath or Container, up to 24" wide. 20 15 10
CG09 Fairy Garden, not to exceed 20" wide. 20 15 10
CG10 Terrarium in a glass container, up to 12" wide. 20 15 10
CG11 Single Variety Planter 10 8 6

Contacts

  • Eileen Kukish
    Superintendent
    860-878-8053
    16 Lakeview Estates
    Middlefield, CT 06455
  • Holly Pearce
    Asst. Superintendent
    860-682-3382
  • Judy Moeckel
    Asst. Supt., Computer Services
    860-280-7638

Committee

  • Dianna Dixey
  • Joann Farrell
  • Sandy Frederick
  • Jean Gay
  • Heather Moeller
  • Mary-Ellen O’Brien
  • Janine Skelps
  • Mae Spooner
  • Don Stephan
  • Wendy Stephan
  • Betsy St. John