Show Tips - How to Prepare Your Daylilies

Show Tips

How to Prepare Your Daylilies

You will need a copy of the 2009 or 2010 Cultivar Classification List (2008 is obsolite) to put the cultivar numbers your show tags. Lists will be available at the show, on the web, or by contacting the show chairman. It is best to prepare your tags the night before since there may not be time to prepare entry tags, groom your scapes and hand in entries before the closing time. The List includes numbers for cultivars entered at NCDC flower shows over the last few years. If you have a daylily that is not on this list, other than a UF, Spider or Polytepal, the last page tells you how to do your own classification.

If you need help classifying a cultivar that is not on this list, please consult the Classification Desk at the show.

The Classification Committee will assist in determining classification numbers of registered cultivars, but will not fill out show tags, nor will they have much time to identify unknown cultivars. Unlisted daylilies should be brought to the Classification Desk at least 15 minutes before the closing time for entries to ensure classification in time for placement.

Unfotunaately, this year we are unable to hold the Design Division at the Green Spring Gardens due to lack of space. We hope to offer the Design Division again next year. For online show information visit our web site at http://www.daylilyclub.org/flowershow.htm.

Show Details

Doors open to entrants at 7:30 a.m. The entry preparation location will be the Children's Workroom. Off-scape single blooms must be handed in by 10 a.m. Scapes must be handed in by 10:30 a.m. The show will be open to the public from 1:30 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

In addition to twelve AHS Rosettes there are three NCDC awards:

The Beginner's Luck Trophy for the novice winning the most blue ribbons and is entering for the first or second time,
THE Golden Anniversary Award for best scape entered of a cultivar registered by any NCDC member (past or persent). You will need to determine which of your entries qualify and mark your entry tag with an asterisk.
The Registered Multiscape Award for the best entry of three scapes and
The Pat Cochenour Polytepal Trophy for the best registered polytepal.

All exhibits must be removed at 4:30, the day of the show, but not before. We encourage all members to help dismantle the show.

Tips

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the show and improve your chances to win ribbons.

Read the Show Schedule, Cultivar Classification List and Instructions in advance.

Fill out show tags carefully. Check the Section number of your entry, especially for Large and Extra Large flowers. We want to avoid disqualifying wining flowers that are entered in the wrong section (some Large flowers appear to be larger than Extra Large flowers). To be sure, check the NCDC Show Classification List of assigned numbers or the daylily’s registration size, form, etc.

Select your best scapes and blooms. A scape with multiple blooms is desirable but it will be judged on its weakest bloom so remove any flowers that are less than perfect.

Make sure that your flower has all its flower parts (six stamens, three sepals, three petals, etc.).

Groom your daylilies before you hand them in to the placement committee. Careful grooming takes time.

Remove seed pods, damaged buds, and blooms.

Trim brown bud scars and brown parts from bracts or leaves, scrape brown areas on the scape to make it look fresh and green.

Shape the groomed leaves or bracts to natural looking points.

Do not remove proliforations.

Take care not over-groom bud scars-judges look for scapes with evidence of a high bud count.

Remove dirt, insects, and any pollen that has fallen on the bloom. Useful tools are razor blades, exacto knives, small cuticle scissors, make-up brushes, and Q-tips.

Judges take off points for poorly groomed entries.

You might try cutting your scapes (but not single blooms) the night before the show and keeping them in a bucket of water inside your house or garage to prevent insect or rain damage.

Except for seedlings, which must be severed as close as possible to the base, cut your scape to a pleasing height to enhance the flower (no taller than 30").

There are various methods of transporting scapes to the show.

To keep scapes from twisting and bumping each other you could make a masking tape grid on top of a 5 gallon bucket or styrofoam cooler, put scapes in individual beer or soda bottles, or use rolled up newspapers in a bucket between the scapes.

Drive carefully!

To learn how the judges select winners you can attend a judges' training course or volunteer to be a Judge's Aide. Please contact Jerry Bange at geraldbange@aol.com or 410-798-9207 by June 20, to volunteer.

- Based on instructions by Jessie Cohen