Awards
Awards
There are two general types of Flower Show judging, comparative and merit based. Comparative evaluates each exhibit against the next within a class to determine winners, 1st Blue, 2nd Red, and 3rd White ribbons. In Merit-based judging each entry is examined against a merit standard with four levels of awards. All entries scoring 90 points or above earn a blue ribbon, and entries scoring 85-89 points receive a red ribbon. Entries scoring 80-84 points, acquire a yellow ribbon, while entries scoring 75-79 points are awarded a white ribbon. Additionally, honorable mentions may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.
Graffiti
April 27-28, 2021
Garden Club of America and
Garden Club of Houston
Awards
GARDEN CLUB OF AMERICA (GCA) AWARDS
GCA Flower Show Awards described below have been applied for and will be presented if merited.
Division I, Floral Design
The Dorothy Vietor Munger Award may be awarded to members of The Garden Club of America clubs in competitive Floral Design classes at a GCA Flower Show. It is offered in recognition of creative work of outstanding beauty using predominantly fresh plant material. The design must have placed first, second, or third. Challenge class entries are not eligible. The award is not a substitute for Best in Show and will be given at the discretion of the judges.
The Harriet DeWaele Puckett Creativity Award may be awarded to members of GCA clubs or non-members in recognition of a uniquely skillful and creative response to an imaginative schedule in Floral Design. It will be given for an innovative and interpretive entry, which, although it abides by the principles of good design, goes beyond traditional period arrangement to whatever art form the exhibitor(s) chooses. The design must have placed first, second, or third in the Floral Design Division of a GCA Flower Show. An entry in any challenge class is not eligible to receive this award. The award is not a substitute for Best in Show and will be given at the discretion of the judges.
The Sandra Baylor Novice Floral Design Award may be given at a GCA Flower Show to an exhibitor who is a member of a GCA club and who has never won first place, or a GCA Special Award in the Floral Design Division of a GCA Flower Show, GCA Major Flower Show or Sanctioned Non-GCA Major Flower Show. It shall be awarded to an individual novice exhibitor for a unique and skillful response to the schedule. Novice entries placing first, second, or third in any competitive class, including challenge classes, are eligible for this award.
Division II, Horticulture
The Catherine Beattie Medal may be awarded for a horticulture entry distinguished by its vibrancy, prime condition, and perfection of grooming. The exhibitor must have owned and grown the exhibit for at least six months. The medal may be awarded for a single plant, collection of plants, container garden, or cut specimen, but only if there is an exhibit worthy of the honor. It may be awarded to members of GCA clubs only; individual, joint, and club entries are eligible. The award should not be considered as a substitute for Best in Show. The medal may not be awarded to the same exhibit more than once; however, offspring of a Beattie winner are eligible to receive the award.
The Clarissa Willemsen Horticulture Propagation Award may be awarded for a horticulture entry distinguished by its prime condition, flawless grooming and difficulty of propagation. The entry must have been propagated and grown by the exhibitor for at least six months. This award may be given for a single rooted plant or a collection of rooted plants. The dates and method of propagation must be recorded on an accompanying propagation card. The entry must have placed first, second, or third at a GCA Flower Show. The award may not be given to the same exhibit more than once.
The Rosie Jones Horticulture Award may be presented to a horticulture entry of exceptional visual appeal that reflects the spirit of growing with joy and enthusiasm and inspires others to propagate, grow, show and share horticulture. An exhibit that has been propagated by the exhibitor will be given special consideration but propagation is not a requirement. Perfection, while always desirable, is not a primary criterion. This award celebrates the ineffable joy inherent in the beauty and pursuit of horticulture.
Division III, Photography
The Photography Creativity Award may be awarded at a GCA Flower Show to a member of a GCA club in recognition of creative and technical excellence in response to the theme of the schedule. The entry must have placed first, second, or third.
Division IV, Botanical Arts
The Botanical Arts Creativity Award may be awarded at a GCA Flower Show to a member of a GCA club for excellent craftsmanship and creative response to the theme of the schedule. The entry must have placed first, second, or third.
Division II, III, IV
The GCA Novice Award may be given at a GCA Flower Show in the Horticulture, Photography and Botanical Arts Divisions to an exhibitor who is a member of a GCA club and who has never won first place or a GCA Special Award in the division entered, of a GCA Flower Show, GCA Major Flower Show or Sanctioned Non-GCA Major Flower Show. It shall be awarded to an individual novice exhibitor for an outstanding exhibit. Novice entries placing first, second, or third are eligible for this award.
Division V, Conservation and Education Exhibits
The Ann Lyon Crammond Award may be presented at a GCA Flower Show to an outstanding educational exhibit, which best educates the public about gardens. Any educational exhibit, which increases the appreciation of any aspect of plants, gardens, or landscape design, may be considered for this award. The award may be given to GCA club members, member clubs, non- members or other organizations.
The Marion Thompson Fuller Brown Conservation Award may be presented for an outstanding conservation exhibit at a GCA Flower Show. The award recognizes an exhibit of exceptional educational and visual merit, which increases knowledge and awareness of the environment. The exhibit should emphasize environmental concerns and may demonstrate conservation practices. Plant material may or may not be used and, when appropriate, must be clearly identified. Protected material may be included if such materials are identified as protected and not collected in the wild. The award may be given to The Garden Club of America clubs, club members, non-members or other organizations.
Overall
Best in Show, selected from among the first place winners, may be awarded in each Division.
Judges’ Commendation(s) may be given to an entry, class, section, special exhibit or other aspect of the show that is of exceptional merit.
Award of Appreciation may be given to thank an exhibitor or group for participation. The award may also be given to non-judged classes.
GARDEN CLUB OF HOUSTON (GCH) CLUB AWARDS
Division I: Floral Design
The Gay Estes Flower Arranging Award may be presented for excellence in floral design in a Garden Club of Houston Flower Show. It must be awarded to a member of The Garden Club of Houston. It is named for a talented arranger, former Vice President of the GCA, former Chairman of the GCA Judging Committee, and author of several books on floral design. It is intended to encourage participation and to award a skillful arranger in any class. It may be awarded to two entrants working together. It may be awarded to Best in Show, if the entry demonstrates distinction.
The Ingrid Kelly Floral Design Award may be awarded to members of The Garden Club of Houston in competitive floral design classes at a GCH Flower Show. It is offered in recognition of creative work of outstanding beauty using predominantly fresh plant material. The design must have placed first, second or third. It may be awarded to two exhibitors working together. Challenge class designs are not eligible. The award is not a substitute for Best in Show and will be given at the discretion of the Judges.
Best Conformance to the Schedule Best Use of Color
Most Unique Plant Material
Division II.A: Horticulture
The Nancy Thomas Horticulture Award may be presented to a Garden Club of Houston member, when merited, for excellence in horticulture in a Garden Club of Houston Flower Show. It is named for an accomplished horticulturist and former President of The Garden Club of America. It is intended to encourage participation and to reward distinction. Eligible entries may come from any horticulture class, but must have been grown by the entrant for a minimum of six months. Special consideration should be given to entries grown organically. Entries that have previously won this award are not eligible.
Best Cut Flowering Specimen Best Cut Foliage Specimen
Best Plant(s) Grown for Flowers Best Plant(s) Grown for Foliage
Division II.B: Horticulture Design
Best Conformance to the Schedule
Most Creative Use of Plant Material
Division III: Photography
Best Conformance to the Schedule
Division IV.A: Botanical Arts
Best Creative Response to the Schedule
Division IV.B: Needle Arts
Best Creative Response to the Schedule