November 2025 Horticulture Schedule

A. Annuals

  1. Dahlia

  2. Snapdragon

  3. Salvia

  4. Other

B. Perennials

  1. Asters

  2. Chrysanthemum

  3. Iris

  4. Rose

  5. Other

C. Vegetables

  1. Under 3″ – show three

  2. Over 3″ – show one

D. Herbs

E. Needled Evergreen Branches (24″ max. including apical tip)

  1. Needled, with cones (for example, white pine)

  2. Needled, without cones (for example, yew)

  3. Needled, with berries (for example, juniper)

F. Broadleaf evergreen (24″ max. including apical tip)

  1. Without Berries

  2. With Berries (for example, holly)

G. Deciduous berried branches (24″ max. including apical tip)

H. Fall foliage (24″ max. including apical tip) (for example, Japanese maple)

I. House plants (12" max. container diameter)

J. Meritorious

Consultants: Ros Brady, Marilyn Derr, Leslee Asch-Morrison

November 2025 Horticulture Showing Tips

These guidelines are intended to help you prepare your plant material likely to be shown in November. They do not cover every detail or every plant, but they outline what judges look for when evaluating horticulture entries. The standards here come from the official handbook used by flower show judges. While a few items in that handbook are true requirements, most describe the criteria judges use for evaluation-in other words, what are considered ideal rather than mandatory.

Our meeting schedule always takes precedence. If a requirement or guideline in the handbook conflicts with what is stated in the schedule, the schedule governs. Any differences between our schedule and the required criteria in the official handbook will be noted. For our meetings, we use these same standards as a framework, though we are not as strict as a formal show.

Questions can be directed to one of the meeting’s consultants or a member of the Horticulture Committee. We are all always learning!

Annuals

  • Dahlias should be exhibited as a single, disbudded bloom (ie side buds removed) with at least one set of leaves; two or more are preferred.

  • Snapdragons should be exhibited when the flower head is ⅔ open with ⅓ in various stages of development, tapering near the top of the flower cluster. The stem should be straight with no side or secondary branches.

  • Zinnia should have two sets of leaves for large and medium flowers and one set for small flowers.

Perennials

  • Aster should be exhibited as a spray of 5 flowers with at least ⅔ to ¾ open and the others in bud. There should be no faded or aged flowers. The stem should be proportional to the spray head.

  • Chrysanthemum should be exhibited as either a single, disbudded stem with at least three leaves OR as a spray with many (at least 5) open flower blooms and a terminal bud in the center of the spray.

  • Iris should be exhibited with one flower scape with at least one open bloom. The terminal bloom must be present. Two or more open blooms are expected for tall bearded type. Flowers should be alternating and not one sided on the stalk. Spathes (light brown, tissue paper like element at base of the flower stem) should be present but inconspicuous.

  • Rose should be exhibited with two sets of blemish free, five leaflet leaves that are well spaced and no missing leaves visible between them.

Branches

  • Evergreens will be displayed flat on the tables.

  • Deciduous foliage branches will be displayed in glass bottles.