DEPARTMENT 306
FLORAL DEPARTMENT

Entry Form Must Be Returned By August 3.

* ATTENTION *

Entries in the Floral Department will be accepted SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, between 12:00 and 5:00 p.m., with exception of Class C. These will be accepted on Wednesday, August 22 between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

ENTRY REMOVAL Tuesday, August 28, 3:00-6:00 P.M. Adhere to this take out time only.

ENTRY MUST BE MADE by filling out entry form (In center _of catalog) and returning to the Appalachian Fair, P.O. Box 8218 Gray, TN 37615 by Aug. 3. If possible, for 20 or more items, entry tags can be picked up in advance for your convenience in tagging items before bringing to the fairgrounds on entry day.
 

SPECIAL RULES Artistic Division

1. With the exception of Class G, all flowers will be judged Friday. FLOWERS FOR CLASS C SHOULD BE BROUGHT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, FROM 9:30 a.m. TO 12:00 p.m. Any walk through gate may be used. However, gate 6 will be the only drive through gate accessible to the Farm & Home Bldg. Gatemen have been instructed to admit flower exhibitors until 12:00 p.m. without charge.
2. No exhibit or style of arrangement may be entered that has been exhibited in previous years at the Fair.
3. Flowers must be arranged and ready for display when presented for entry. It is the responsibility of the exhibitor to properly select the lot for entry of any article. For information call 477-3211.
4. All containers must have the name of the exhibitor on masking tape on the bottom of their container.
5. No artificial flowers or foliage will be accepted. Unless otherwise specified, either fresh and/or dried plant material may be used. Fresh plant material cannot ever be dyed or otherwise treated by application of any substance. It may be clipped, stripped, bent or otherwise manipulated. Dried plant materials may be treated with substances such as paint, wax, shoe polish, etc. to change texture or color.
6. Accessories are allowed unless otherwise specified. However, no free-standing accessories will be accepted.
7. No professionals are eligible for entry in artistic classes.
8. Only one entry may be made in any one lot. An exhibitor may enter as many lots as desired, if space is available. However, if the department should be crowded it may be necessary to limit the number of entries that can be accepted.
9. Exhibitors must leave the vicinity of the show during judging. All premium money will be paid from the awards as marked by the judges and not from ribbons that may be attached to the exhibits. Judges are instructed not to award a premium or premiums unless article or articles are deemed worthy of the placing awarded.
10.The Fair Association reserves the right to exclude any unworthy article from exhibition and to remove wilted flowers when needed.
11.Wilted arrangements in Class A will be removed. Vases and dried arrangements can only be picked up Tuesday, August 28th.
12. Premium checks can be picked up or handed out.
13. Refer to the General Rules and Regulations in this book applying to all departments.
 

SPECIAL RULES Horticulture Division

1. All horticulture MUST have been grown by the exhibitor.
2. All potted plants shall be grown in pots and show no evidence of recent repotting or being freshly dug. They must have been in the possession of the exhibitor for at least three months prior to showing.
3. Only one (1) plant in each pot or hanging basket, unless otherwise stated.
4. Do not use plant shine.
5. Unusual potted plants must be identified.

Fun with Flowers
Proper preparation of fresh plant materials, done the day before you prepare your arrangement, will make your design selection last longer, for the public's enjoyment of your display for several days. Just three "C's" make a big difference for your flowers and leaves:
1. Choosing: before cutting, think about line, size, color and form of leaves and flowers. Do they relate well to each other? (Cautions: new growth is hard to condition successfully; flowers that unfold (iris, poppy, and daylily) have a short life span.)
2. Cutting: early evening (when sugar has been stored all day) is best; next best is early morning. Sharp cutters are important. Have a tall bucket of cool water with you, so you can "soak as you go."
3. Conditioning: the process of ensuring optimal freshness of materials, helping them take on more water than they lose.
1.) Cut the stem on a slant under water. This helps prevent air and bacteria from entering the cut end, and increases capillary action.
2.) Soak in deep water. Remove foliage (leaves) below the water level to decrease rot, place wrapped in newspaper overnight in a tall bucket of tepid water up to the flower heads.
3.) Keep flowers from baking! In August it is hard to keep your plant material from wilting. Keep air conditioning on in the car so transport is cool.
4.) If flowers wilt from lack of water don't panic! They can be revived. Place stems in hot (110) water, protecting the flower head by wrapping it in newspaper at the high end of the stems. Keep immersed until the water cools to room temperature and then move to a dark room overnight.
5.) Special cases:
     a. If a stem is hollow (gerbera daises, tulips), you can insert a wire into the cut end of
         the stem up to the head of the flower to keep it from drooping (only in designs, never
         for horticulture!)
     b. For plants with hard stems (chrysanthemums, hydrangea), crush the end of the stem,
         using a soft hammer. This increases the area for water intake. Remove unwanted
         foliage several days ahead, while still in the garden, to permit natural healing.
     c. For plants that lose milky fluid when cut (poppy, poinsettia), use boiling water or
         alcohol or burn the cut end of the stem.  This helps to plug the leak and lets the
         plant absorb, not lose, moisture.
     d. For wild flowers with delicate stems, which do not absorb water easily, rub salt on
         the stem which has been cut underwater and crushed.

We hope you have fun as you use the golden rules of Choosing, Cutting, and Conditioning!