Flower Shows and Artistic Design

February 2, 2022

Chairman Tricia Kincheloe, The Garden Club of Fairfax

The 1998 Lily Show was hosted again by the Blue Ridge Garden Club on June 17-18, in Lexington at Washington and Lee’s University Center. Titled “Around the World in Eighty Days,” the show was chaired by Elizabeth Boetsch who reported 232 stems. A severe hailstorm hit Lexington during the show but, fortunately for hosts and exhibitors, it occurred during evening hours and did not interrupt activities.

Artistic Judging School was held on September 15, 1998, at the Woman’s Club in Richmond. Speaker and floral designer Betty Dols demonstrated a number of techniques for “Creative Arrangements.”

The 1998 Rose Show, “A Tasting…Old World Flavour,” was hosted on September 24-25, by Nansemond River Garden Club, still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Bonnie.  Rose Chairman Charlotte Hundley reported 474 stems, 74 artistic arrangements and 127 exhibitors.

The April 7-8, 1999 Daffodil Show, “What’s in a Name?,” was sponsored by Three Chopt Garden Club at St. Mary’s Church for the second year.  The show reported 90 exhibitors, 67 arrangements and 1521 stems.

The 1999 Lily Show, “Celebrate the Century,” was hosted by Roanoke Valley Garden Club on June 16-17 at the Second Presbyterian Church. In spite of disappointing attendance, the club reported 51 exhibitors, 66 arrangements and 181 stems. A new perpetual award for creativity was offered.

The 1999 Rose Show, “A Tasting…New World Flavor,” was scheduled September 24-25 to be hosted by the Nansemond River Garden Club. With widespread devastation from Hurricane Floyd, the show was canceled.

Artistic Judging School was held on September 28-29, 1999, at the Woman’s Club, with speaker Penny Horne featuring “New School Design: Meet Me for the Millennium!”

Noted author and magazine contributor Mary Tonetti Dorra was invited to the Kent-Valentine House on February 15, 2000, to discuss her book, Beautiful American Rose Gardens.

A Judges Seminar was offered on March 9, 2000, at the Kent-Valentine House, chaired by Lee Snyder of Harborfront and Carolyn Jones of Eastern Shore. Virginia Guild of Hunting Creek, Martha Lynch of Leesburg and Flower Shows Committee members participated.

The April 5-6, 2000 Daffodil Show, was hosted by the James River Garden Club at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Center for Education and Outreach. The artistic theme, “A Work of Art,” centered around the interpretation of 20th-century art and featured 1486 stems, 65 artistic exhibits and 16 InterClub collections. Best in Show went to an exhibitor in the Challenge Class.

Flower Shows Chairman Tricia Kincheloe reported at the 1998 Board of Governors that flower shows are “a lot of work and can cost a lot of money.” She emphasized the Flower Shows Committee’s goal — “to create a show that can accommodate our changing needs and lifestyles without sacrificing the integrity, if you will, of our traditional GCV shows.” She welcomed suggestions. At the 1999 Annual Meeting she reported the committee had received many suggestions and criticisms and there were some compliments, as well. The overwhelming concern was cost, both in dollars and manpower. She urged host clubs to refrain from entertaining lavishly, to avoid renting typewriters or hiring typists, and to decrease the number of artistic classes. The Flower Shows Committee also would pay for the expensive, engraved Crane award cards, relieving host clubs of that responsibility.