Winners announced in the ‘Home for the Holidays’ flower show

By Ellen Gregory

The Watauga Council of Gardens Clubs hosted “A Small Standard Flower Show” on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15, at the Boone Mall.

The title of this year’s show was “Home for the Holidays.” It was inspired by this time of year when families and friends gather to celebrate the season.

“This year’s show feathered some changes. This is the time of the year when we have put our gardens to sleep. That made houseplants a good choice for horticulture,” a spokesperson for the council said.

There were four classes in design: Class 1, “Evergreens Galore,” a mantle design; Class 2, “All Are Welcome,” a wreath design; Class 3, “Holiday Cheer,” a pedestal design; and Class 4, “Celebrate O Christmas Tree,” a two- to three-foot tree decorated in natural materials.

A Grower’s Choice Award was given as a Top Exhibitor’s Award in horticulture and was awarded to Tom Normand of the Blue Ridge Garden Club. A Holiday Excellence Award was given in design and was awarded to Jackie Dellinger of the Shorts and Jeans Garden Club in Newton.

The Club Competition Award was awarded to The Gardenerettes Club of Boone for its Christmas tree of natural materials.

An Award of Appreciation was presented to The Monarch Managers Junior Garden Club and their advisor, Gail Bastarache, a member of the Gardenerettes Garden Club, for their educational exhibit titled “Reclaim and Recycle.” Everything was made from recycling things, including a Christmas tree in a ball that will be planted for Arbor Day. The Monarch Mangers Junior Garen Club is a class of third-grade students at Hardin Park School in Boone.

Judges for the show were Susan Hooper and Diane Proffitt of Charlotte, Mary Lou Goodman, Shirley Tuttle of Statesville, Barbara Blackwelder and Barbara Howard of Troutman, and Floye Hood of Morganton.

These judges traveled a long way to judge the show, and were not paid for their services. The Colonial Garden Club provided coffee, cookies and pastries for the judges before judging. The Gardenerettes Garden Club hosted a lunch at Wachovia Bank. “We thank Jackie Adams, who was hostess for the lunch, and Mary Ann Lawrence, who provided decorations,” the spokesperson said.

In the Design Division, Class 1, a mantle design, first place was awarded to Minnie Sneed of the Colonial Garden Club in Boone; second place to Brenda Gray of the Colonial Garden Club in Boone; third place to Shirley Tuttle of the Troutman Garden Club; and honorable mention to Chloe Coleman of the Rhododendron Garden Club in Boone.

In Class 2, “All Are Welcome,” a wreath, first place was awarded to Bootsie Seabock of the Trellis Garden Club in Hickory; second place to Barbara Blackwelder of the Troutman Garden Club; third place to Karen Pritchard of the Green Thumb Garden Club in Hickory; and honorable mention to Barbara Howard of the Troutman Garden Club.

In Class 3, “Holiday Cheer,” a pedestal design, first place was awarded to Jackie Dellinger of the Shorts and Jeans Garden Club in Newton; second place to Mary Lou Goodman of Field and Stream Garden Club in Statesville; third place to Tom Normand of the Blue Ridge Garden Club in Boone; and honorable mention to Floye Hood of the Morganton Garden Club.

In Class 4, “Celebrate O Christmas Tree,” first place was awarded to Gardenerettes Garden Club of Boone, Susan Oliver, president; second place to Colonial Garden Club of Boone, Wanda Branch, president; third place to Troutman Garden Club, Barbara Howard, president; honorable mention to Rhododendron Garden Club of Boone, Chloe Coleman, president.

In the Horticulture Division, Class 2, African violets, first place went to Karen Dancy, second place, Verda Ingle, and third place, Chloe Coleman.

Class 3, “Tropical Types,” flowering houseplants, 3A orchids, first place went to Chloe Coleman, and second place, Martha Haas. In 3B bromeliads, first place went to Martha Haas.

Class 4, “Other Flowering Houseplants,” 4A Christmas cactus, first place went to Jackie Dellinger, and second place, Chloe Coleman. In 4B other flowering houseplants, first place went to Mt. Care Home residents, and second place, Chloe Coleman. In 4C other flowering houseplants, first place went to Tom Normand, and second place, Wellness Center.

Class 5, “Other Foliage Houseplants,” 5A Large, first place went to Verda Ingle, second place, Tom Normand, third place, Verda Ingle, and honorable mention, Martha Haas and Verda Ingle. In an exhibit entered by Flavel Eggers, 5B small, first place went to Wanda Branch, second place, Verda Ingle, third place, Verda Ingle, and honorable mention, Ellen Gregory.

Class 6, “any other houseplant or combination planting,” 6A Bonsai, first place went to Wanda Branch, second, place Rose Guthrie. In 6B combination planting, first place went to Tom Normand, second place, Ellen Gregory, and third place, Graeme Juctice.