2024 Horticulture Show
Presented by Garden Club of Jacksonville
November 7 - 17, 2024
LOCATION
Beaver Street Gate
Annex Exhibit Hall B/Plantopia
510 Fairgrounds Place
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
CONTACT
Garden Club of Jacksonville
info@gardenclubjax.org
904-355-4224
WHY ENTER?
The residents of Jacksonville are truly lucky to have a long growing season and relatively mild winters. Take this opportunity to showcase what you have grown this season: anything from scrumptious fruits and vegetables to beautiful hanging baskets or patio plants are welcome. It's time to show off!
ENTRY DROP-OFF
•Entries may be dropped off 1-8 p.m. November 4 and 5-8 p.m. November 5.
•Entries will be on display until 6 p.m. November 17.
•Map provided at the bottom of this page
ENTRY DIRECTIONS
•Bring your plant(s) to the check-in desk.
•Complete an entry card for each entry.
•Present the entry card to the volunteer at the check-in desk to review and input information.
•Once your plant is reviewed, a volunteer will direct you to place your plant for judging and display.
ENTRY PICK-UP
•Entries and ribbons may be picked up at 6-9 p.m. November 17 or 9 a.m.-noon November 18.
•Please see a Horticulture Show volunteer before picking up entries at Annex Exhibit Hall B/Plantopia.
•Prize money will be mailed to the address you provide during drop-off.
•Unclaimed entries will become the property of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to amateur gardeners of all ages, adult or youth:
•Juniors: 17 and younger
•Adults: 18 and older
INFORMATION
•Garden Club of Jacksonville: gardenclubjax.org, info@gardenclubjax.org, 904-355-4224
•Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair: jacksonvillefair.com, info@jacksonvillefair.com, 904-353-0535
Greater Jacksonville
Agricultural Fair
DATES:
NOVEMBER 7-17, 2024
JUDGING
•Begins at 2 p.m. November 6.
•No exhibitors may be present during judging.
•Judges will have gardening expertise.
•Merit judging will be used. All qualifying exhibits will be judged individually against a standard and be eligible for an award.
•Judges will leave written comments on all exhibits not winning a blue ribbon.
•Decisions of the judges are final.
RULES
•Exhibitors should read all rules and regulations carefully. The Show Committee will disqualify entries that do not conform to schedule specifications and those of inferior quality.
•All horticulture exhibits must be fresh, show-worthy plant material, grown by and in the exhibitor’s possession for at least 90 days, unless the variety reaches maturity in less than 90 days (i.e. lettuce, green onions and parsley). Plants used in Section I: Special Container Plants must have been in the exhibitor’s possession for at least 45 days.
•Exhibitors may make more than one entry per class, provided each is a different species, variety, cultivar, type, or color.
•Common plant names may be listed, but every effort should be made to label specimens with their correct botanical name (genus and species). The Show Committee will provide assistance in determining the correct name and appropriate class for entry.
•Container-grown plants must be in clean containers with no chips or cracks. Appropriately sized, matching saucers are allowed.
•Hanging plants must be suspended from a secure device.
•Double potting is discouraged. Plant supports for plants, which normally vine or cling, are allowed if the plant is visibly growing on or attached to such support.
•One variety of plant is allowed per container, except dish gardens, terrariums, etc.
•No oiling or dressing of foliage is permitted.
•Perishable exhibits, such as fruits, vegetables, or nuts, will be placed on plates provided by the Show Committee.
•Cuttings of fresh-harvested herbs or small fruits or vegetables on the vine for Section K.1. will be displayed in specimen vases provided by the Show Committee.
•The Show Committee may subdivide categories when necessary. Judges will not subdivide.
•No artificial plant material may be used. No live or dead animals may be used.
•No exhibitor may judge or clerk in any section in which they have exhibits.
•The only persons allowed on the floor during judging are the Show Superintendent, Classification Chair, Placement Chair, Judges, Judges Chair, and Clerks.
•Every precaution will be taken to protect your plants, however, the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair, its officers, and agents, do not insure, and are not responsible for any accident, loss, or damage to entries.
•Entries winning Best of Show may be entered the subsequent year, but will not be eligible for Best of Show.
•Exhibitor entry sheets must be filled out for everyone submitting entries. Entry sheets will include contact information as well as a list of all entries for each exhibitor.
•Appropriate, inconspicuous top dressing or mulch is allowed.
PREPARATION
•Repot plants well ahead of show date.
•Do not over-pot or under-pot your plant. Pot should be appropriate for plant size.
•Exhibitors should prepare and groom entries before bringing them to the fair.
•Make sure your pots are clean and not broken or cracked.
•Remove trash, debris, dead leaves, stems, and seeds.
•Plants should be full, mature, and centered in the pot.
•If a plant is being exhibited for blooms, it should be in full bloom.
•Water plants well before bringing to the fairgrounds. Plants will be watered sparingly during the Fair.
•Special watering instructions for individual plants may be provided at the time of entry.
•Use the schedule to determine section and class for your entry.
•Entry sheets and cards will be available at the show site.
•The exhibitor should make every effort to determine the botanical name or at least the common name of each plant. Here are a few websites that may help: guide-to-houseplants.com, flowers.org.uk/plants.
•If you need assistance filling out your entry cards, Horticulture Show volunteers will assist you when you arrive to enter your plants in the show.
AWARDS
•Overall Best of Show: $25
•Sweepstakes Award (most blue ribbons) : $25
•Sweepstakes Award Runner-up (second-most blue ribbons): $15
•Red-ribbon count—and if necessary, white-ribbon count—will be used in case of a sweepstakes tie.
•Award of Merit: $10
•Blue Ribbon: $3 (Score: 90-100; excellent, most nearly meets standard, does not indicate perfection)
•Red Ribbon: $2 (Score: 80-89; good, a few specific shortcomings identified)
•White Ribbon: $1 (Score: 70-79; fair, many improvements are needed to meet standard)
•No Ribbon (Score: 69 and under; far below expected standard)
•People's Choice (voted by attendees to the Fair): $25
•Ribbons will be awarded for adult and junior categories
•Liberty Landscape Choice Award: $200
•Standard Feed & Seed Choice Award: $200
CATEGORIES
Section A:
Gesneriads
(African Violet Family)
1.Standard African Violets: Plain Foliage
2.Standard African Violets: Variegated Foliage
3.Miniature and Semi-miniature African Violets
4.Trailing African Violets
5.Other Gesneriads, Blooming
6.Other Gesneriads,
Non-blooming, for Ornamental Foliage
7.Hanging
8.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section B:
Begonias
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section C:
Ferns
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section D:
Succulents
1.Cacti
a.Hanging
b.Potted
2.Euphorbias
a.Hanging
b.Potted
3.Other Succulents
a.Hanging
b.Potted
Section E:
Bromeliads
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section F:
Orchids
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section G:
Bonsai
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section H:
Plants Growing on Wood
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section I:
Special Container Plants
(must be planted directly in the container and be less than 18 inches in diameter)
1.Planters
2.Terrariums
3.Dish Gardens
4.Unusual Containers
5.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section J:
Patio Plants
(more than 36 inches tall)
1.Blooming
(must be blooming)
2.Bearing (must be bearing)
3.Foliage
4.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section K:
Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs, or Nuts (edible or non-edible)
1.Harvested
(at least 3 examples required, with stem and leaf attached)
a.Fruits (do not cut)
b.Vegetables (do not cut)
c.Herbs (dried and fresh)
d.Nuts
e.Any other worthy entry
2.Living
a.Fruits
b.Vegetables
c.Herbs
d.Nuts
e.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section L:
Hydroponically Grown
1.Any Worthy Entry
Section M:
All Other Blooming Plants (must be blooming)
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry
Section N:
All Other Foliage Plants
1.Hanging
2.Potted
3.Any Other Worthy Entry