SALISBURY — This should be the year of the flower. If our spring is any indicator, with all of the rain and cool nights, the bloom display will be spectacular. Extension Master Gardener Volunteers still get very excited with each successive season, just waiting to see what is going to come next. What better way to experience this entire horticultural splendor than in one place: the fourth annual Retro Flower Show, which will be held at the Agricultural Center, 2727 Old Concord Road, on Saturday, July 13. The show is open to the public, free of charge, from 1-4 p.m.
There are two divisions in the show: Division I, Artistic – Arrangements; Division II,- Horticulture. The Artistic Division has four sections with themes for adults:
Songs of Summer

Class 1. Beach Music
Class 2. Country/Bluegrass

Class 3. Songs of Inspiration
Class 4. Love Songs

Class 5. Place/Travel Songs
Celebrations

Miniatures (not to exceed 3 inches overall)
Open

The idea behind the Artistic Division is to create an arrangement using natural ingredients (not limited to flowers) to reflect the theme of the class.
There is also a youth Artistic Division with Summer Fun as the theme.
The basic rules governing these entries state that all backgrounds and coverings will be furnished by the exhibitor, with a maximum background size to be 40 inches high, 30 inches wide and 18 inches deep.
Entries in the Horticulture Division must have been grown by the exhibitor, and must have been in the exhibitor’s possession since the beginning of the growing season. For example, an exhibitor cannot go to a garden center the week of the show and buy a specimen plant to be entered. The following sections are offered for specimen stems:
Dahlias

Roses

Zinnias

Marigolds

Flowering branches and vines
Magnolias

Abelia

Rose of Sharon

Hydrangea (white and any other color)
Buddleia

Gardenia

African violet

Begonia
Geranium

Terrarium

Dish garden

Miniature gardens (think fairy gardens)
Cacti and succulents

Tubers and bulbs
Miscellaneous section — snapdragons, phlox, daisy, dianthus, petunias, celosia, coral bells, salvia, aster, impatiens, coneflowers, yarrow, lantana, rudbeckia, houseplant, any other annual, any other perennial
The Youth Horticulture section has classes for:
Terrarium (with cover)

Dish garden
Miniature garden

Any annual

Cash prizes are offered in the Youth Division as incentive for those young, aspiring horticulturists (ages 10-19). Please encourage any youth to participate.
A specimen is one bloom, one spike, one stem, one spray, etc. Specimens, collections must be presented in an appropriate glass container furnished by the exhibitor. Containers are not judged. Glass soft drink bottles are acceptable. This is a nice way to reuse Cheerwine bottles as they compliment the specimens. Pots and containers should not be covered and must meet the size stated in the class requirements. Only one entry is permitted by an exhibitor in a class. The exceptions are in the Miscellaneous Section for both Other Annual and Other Perennial. Multi-entries are permitted and will be judged by color. Additional specimens may be presented for display only, and would be appreciated. Sometimes the plant just doesn’t fit any category but is worthy of being seen.
All entries will need to be labeled with an official entry tag. The tag will have a space for the variety name, common name and botanical name, if known. If you do not know the name of your plant, a generic name will do. Perhaps one of our Extension volunteers can assist. The doors to the Agricultural Center will open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 13. At this time, you can fill out your entry cards and have a chance to place your arrangements prior to judging. Entries will be accepted until 10 a.m. Judging will occur between 10 a.m. and noon.
The show will open to the public at 1 p.m. and close at 4 p.m. Entries cannot be removed from the show until then. The public is also invited to a reception at 2:30 p.m. Our Pocket Garden projects at the Agricultural Center are well under way. Volunteers will be outside in the gardens to answer any questions you might have during the day.
Complete rules and regulations will be posted on the Master Gardener website and will also be available at the Extension office on Old Concord Road. The Retro Flower Show has been a beautiful showcase of horticulture in Rowan County. Take a little time and come experience the show. And show off a little, too. We would love to see your garden, one stem at a time.
www.rowanmastergardener.com

Carole Massey is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Rowan County.