Great story and I enjoyed reading it! And congrats! :)

Congratulations! I think you captured all the highs and lows of rose showing...but wasn't it worth it!

Congrats! It's easy to get hooked. I didn't win novice at my first show, but I did win best fragrance, so like you I now have to compete with the big guns. This year I started doing arrangements. I won novice there too. And one show this year, I won best OGR Tea Noisette and best shrub collection. Have fun!

Was this at the West Jersey show last weekend? I judged, but not the Novice Class. Congratulations! Will we see you at Longwood Gardens for the Del-Chester show tomorrow? :-)

Congratulations!

You have learned an awful lot for just one show! Bodes well for success in the future!

Congratulations, Bunni! I'm so happy for you! Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Yes, at every show I've been to the rose people have always been very nice and very helpful. They really are glad you came and happy to help!

Yes, you made a few mistakes but I don't think any of them were so bad. I never get much sleep before my show. I may go to bed but I'll spend most of the night going over in my head which roses I have and how I can show them, lol. Not a good idea but I can't help it. I always cut the morning of the show too unless there is something just perfect the night before. Then I may cut it and refrigerate it for the night so it won't open too much by morning. And I've learned to cut some things that look too tight. Don't ask me why but for some reason every show venue I've been to, churches, malls, nurseries, etc. has been HOT and the roses open quickly in those conditions. So I've learned to cut tight and hope the form is just right by judging time. And lastly, don't judge your own roses before you cut them. Just cut them and take them. I've won queen with a rose I wasn't going to even take and got nothing on a rose I thought was my best entry. You never know what the judges are looking for. Just cut them and take them and enter them. Let the judges do the rest.

Are you a member of this society? If so volunteer once to clerk for the judges. It's a fascinating experience and I guarantee you'll learn tons of things about exhibiting roses.

But the most important thing is to have fun! And it sounds like you did!

Congrats Bunni, that's wonderful. I am a novice of the novice. I always thought about rose shows, but the very thought intimidates me. Some day I would like to try though. Could you post some pictures, would love to watch the pictures and it will inspire people like me to try to exhibit roses some day.

Thanks for your post, bunni. Your story makes exhibiting not so scary for first-timers. Congrats!

I too would love to see pics of your entries.

Here are some pics I took of a show I was at recently. Don't be intimidated. The rose people are very nice and love to help. If you join a rose society, you will get even more help. The main impression you will get is 'I have better roses than that!'.

Also, it's great if you volunteer to help clerk and do other duties. Many of these rose show people have been doing this for years, and if you like participating in shows, taking over some of the responsibilities will be very appreciated.

Here is a picture of the show, with all the roses in their categories.

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Here is the head table, with the winners and the trophies

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Some of the Hybrid Tea and Floribunda winners. These usually make up the 'Court', King and Queen of the show, Prince and Princess.

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Other roses on the tables with their ribbons

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My winning entry, Best Tea/Noisette, Reve d'Or.

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My Novice Arrangement. I won a blue ribbon, so I'm not a novice any longer.

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Wonderful pictures! Looks like it was a really beautiful show!

Bunni your posting was like a magazine column, I enjoyed every minute reading it! I felt like I was right there with you! Congrats on finding the jeans too, lol.

Wow Buford, those pictures are beautiful. the flower arrangement is awesome, you picked such nice colors, love the yellow green contrast.
Did you take classes on flower arrangement or just did it out of your imagination. Its wonderful.

I so enjoyed reading this, thank you! There is a rose show about an hour away next weekend and I've been seriously thinking of going if I have anything nice that morning! It would be my first one too :)

Congrats on your ribbons!

Andrea

Thanks Madri. I actually really stink at doing arranging. I cut flowers and bring them in, but they never look right. I did go with another novice to one of our society's members home. She is an arrangement judge and she gave us a little class on not only arranging, but what the judges look for, what type of vases, etc. The arrangements at shows are very specific. You have to use a certain type of material, have a certain style, etc. I actually used a picture that I saw on the web as a guide. I used yellow roses, because that is what I had the most of. I've always like the yellow/purple/green combo. I did buy some filler, but the hosta, fern and cryptomeria on the bottom are from my yard. At the last minute of the prep, I replaced two of the roses, which were Golden Showers, with two Gold Medals because they were fresher and had a nicer shape. I think that helped.

There are plenty of books and articles on ARS Arrangements. If you do go to a show, check out the arrangements. Some of them are really amazing.

Nummy, you should definitely go. Just bring whatever roses you have. It will be fun.

Lol, thank you all, I'm glad you enjoyed my story. Yes, I had fun! I'd encourage anyone thinking of showing to get out there and give it a go. I've been encouraged by other's posts on here about their first shows, including buford's (lovely arrangement, btw!). So hopefully others will be encouraged by mine. :-)

It was the West Jersey show, Diane. It was a bit larger show than I had expected, and there were so many gorgeous roses, so it was great to take time to study the exhibitions. I wasn't able to make the show this weekend because I was away, unfortunately.

Thanks seil for the cutting tips, it's been from your posts that I learned a little about cutting for show. I'll definitely keep the other tips you shared in mind for the next show! I did join a local society the other day, though not the one that ran the show. They seem to be a great group of people, I just wish I lived closer.

I haven't loaded them on the computer yet, but I'll try to post some pictures soon for those of you who asked to see them.

Thanks for posting this! I had considered going this year but ended up not being able to - next year I'm hoping to give it a shot. :)

If the society you joined was Jersey Shore, our next meeting is in August, and our show is in September. :-)