Flower Show returns to this year’s 4-H Fair

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Amanda Mrzywka is almost hidden behind the “Bountiful Basket” she plans to enter in this year’s Flower Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension and 4-H Youth Development are sponsoring this year’s Flower Show at the Orleans County 4-H Fair July 25-30.

Amanda Mrzywka, a member of the 4-H team, is working to organize this year’s show. This is the second year for the Flower Show, which Mrzywka says got off to a great start in 2015. There were 86 entries in ten classes.

“People said how beautiful it looked,” she said. “It made the space full of color and got people excited.”

The show includes both open and junior divisions, meaning anyone can enter.

Exhibits can be entered in one of ten classes: cut flower bouquet (single or multiple stems); kissing ball design; miniature gardens or fairy gardens; dried flower or dried flower bouquets; edible container arrangements; houseplants; made for the shade; bountiful baskets; pedestal or regular urns for the sun; painting, drawing or photograph of a flower or garden.

“The biggest competition is in the miniature gardens/fairy gardens class,” Mrzywka said.

An example of a Made for the Shade container with shade-loving plants.

There are some changes from last year’s show, most notably a $2 per person per entry pre-registration fee for entries taken to the show by 7 p.m. on Friday, July 22. Entries received Saturday, July 23, will cost $5 per entry. The fees help to cover costs such as judges, ribbons and prizes, Mrzywka said.

Entries can be brought to the Lartz Building for pre-registration from 4-7 p.m. on July 22 or July 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for regular registration.

Judging will take place Sunday, July 24, at 9 a.m. Once exhibit judging is complete, exhibits will be showcased at the Flower Show booth in the Lartz Building on the fairgrounds, allowing fairgoers to enjoy the show throughout Fair Week.

At the judge’s discretion, an honorable mention prize will be awarded this year. Mrzywka says the honorable mention will be the “top prize” of the overall show. First, second and third place ribbons will also be awarded in each class.

Also new this year is a Garden Design Contest, which will give community members in local garden clubs an opportunity to design and create a garden on the fairgrounds based on the theme “Together We Bloom.” Judging for the Garden Design Contest will be held Monday, July 25, at 4 p.m.

Additionally, the Flower Show features a Fresh Bouquet Competition on Wed., July 29, at 6:30 p.m. The contest is open to the public. The entry fee is $10.

Register at the fair office during the week of fair. The winner will be presented with a trophy. Mrzywka encourages entries, even from those who might not like flowers or have allergies.

“You can enter a photograph,” she said in the painting or drawing of a flower or garden class. “Anything in a frame” will be accepted, she said.

“If you have baskets that are thriving, take them down and bring them to fair to show for a week,” she added.

For detailed information and rules for the Flower Show go to cce.cornell.edu/orleans or stop at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Office on the fairgrounds.

Amanda Mrzywka stands with containers which would be suitable to enter in the fun in the sun pedestal or regular urns class.