There are already quite a few tips on the website for members who intend to show rhododendrons, but here are a few of my tips for newcomers to the game.
Firstly think about which blooms to cut a few days before the show and choose those that are not quite ready. If they’re fully open and you cut them the day before the show then there’s a good chance that they’ll be going over by the time the show begins. Quite a few exhibits are already dropping flowers on the show bench.
Choose blooms that have no marks, no ragged edges or splits and are as near perfect as possible. The same applies to foliage – judges can be influenced by the general appearance of the exhibit and not just by the flowers. Ideally a truss should be regular in shape and sit on an attractive bed of foliage – avoid trusses which lean sideways and where the foliage flops over the flowers. Nibbled or torn leaves can attract the eye of the judges so carefully remove any damaged foliage.
Be careful how you transport your exhibits to the show. I used to keep a stack of milk crates and bottles – this way you can make sure that the exhibits don’t bang against each other on the way to the show.
When you’re ready to place the exhibits on the show bench it’s well worth checking the schedule to make sure that they’re placed in the correct classes. Don’t get mixed up with species and hybrids, trusses and sprays, and other technical terms. Use the best size of vase for the exhibit in question and use moss or damp newspaper to ensure that the truss or spray is supported as you would like it to be. Each exhibit must have an accompanying card to name the species or hybrid – those without cards will be disqualified.
Finally, take a look at your exhibit before you walk away and make sure that it’s clean, tidy and elegant. Speaking personally, when approaching the next section to be judged, the eye will immediately be drawn to the most beautifully set up exhibits.
By Maurice Wilkins