Most show secretary’s stick rigidly to the stated times because of time constraints and the need to get everything completed, judging, prize cards written etc before the exhibitors and the public are allowed into the show.

11. Awards and trophies will be presented at 4.00pm

If you are fortunate enough to have all your hard work rewarded by winning a trophy these will be presented to you at this time, try to make sure you are available to collect and you receive you accolade.

12. No plants are to be removed before the close of the show at 5.00pm

Nothing is worse than seeing plants being removed before the end of the show and gaps appearing on the benches. The public have paid their money to see a show and they should be able to see ALL the plants.

The show manager (he/she is the person responsible for the smooth running of the show and organising the people who look after things (the stewards)) will not take too kindly to anyone removing plants before the stated times.

13. Hanging pots and baskets may contain more than one plant.

A simple technical qualification for this form of exhibit (an exhibit is 'anything' that has more than one plant in the pot e.g. basket, half baskets, container planting or in classes where more than one pot is required e.g. 3 x 5" )

Note: Some shows may allow pots which have been ‘multi-planted’ - if the class consists of more than one pot - this too is an 'exhbit'.

14. Exhibits should be named wherever possible.

Plants should have a single plant label clearly marked with the plants name where known – if you don’t know don’t put a label in the pot.

There MUST be no marks that will differentiate your plants from any other in the show, the judges will not take kindly to any effort to sway their judgement.

15. Exhibitors cards must be placed face downwards and remain so until judging has been completed.

An exhibitor’s card is obtained from the show secretary when you enter your plant(s) into the show. These are simply small cards usually printed on both sides and completed with details as described below.

(Front)

Name of cultivar/species:

..................................

(Back)

Class No: …………

Exhibitors Name:

.................................

These cards are to be placed on the table close to your exhibit and the name of the cultivar or species should be facing upwards. The other details are for the show stewards so that they know who the plants belong to for administrative purposes.

16. The show committee request that where possible matching coloured saucers are used on the show bench and standard pots are to be used.

When you are staging your plants try to use a saucer that is the same colour as your plant pot (when the show is judged to BFS rules the plant pots are to be terracotta coloured). This protects the table and prevents water marks on whatever covering is being used. In most case it is purely for aesthetic reasons but it does make your entry just that little more presentable.

A standard pot has sides that are approximately the same perpendicular height as the width across the top (e.g. 31/2” up and 31/2” across the top) they should also have a distinct taper.

You should find that most shows similar to the rules I have described and the best piece of advice is that if you are not sure ASK. I still examine every rules page of the show schedules where I intend to exhibit my plants.

The show organisers are there to help and in many cases are only too pleased to have your exhibit – without you and people like you there would be no show.