Please enjoy the results of our September Show!
Kicking off the 2026-2027 show season with a gorgeous variety of late-summer blooms & beautifully-designed floral displays. Congrats to all participants and to our award winners!
We also had the pleasure of listening to TJ McGrath & learning about his sustainable flower designs. McGrath is a New Jersey–based floral designer, educator, and speaker. He is known for his thoughtful approach to sustainable floristry and his belief that flowers should reflect season, place, and natural movement.
STAGING
BARBARA KIRKPATRICK, MARIA KOLARSICK
PASSERS
FLORAL: JOAN LYNCH, PEEKA TILDESLEY
HORTICULTURE: KATHRYNE SINGLETON, JEANNIE SHANLEY
CLERKS
FLORAL: MARY JANE O’HARE, MARIA KOLARSICK
HORTICULTURE: GAIL VAN WINKLE, SUSAN ROBERTSON
JUDGES
FLORAL: BARBARA BATTING, TAPHY HARCSAR
(GCA) HORTICULTURE: ANNIE BIGLIANI, KATHLEEN BOURKE, MARY KENT
FLORAL DESIGN
“If vegetables in the garden are the food that fills your body, then flowers are the food that fills your soul” – Kristen Raney
Class 1: Create a modern mass design* incorporating dahlias; the design must use a vegetable as the container. Entry is to be staged on a 30” high rectangular table covered with a white floor length tablecloth. Design should not exceed 12” width or depth. Exhibitors are given a 20” x 20” design space. Viewed and judged from all sides. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Laura Haaren | 2nd: Louisa Renn | 3rd: Mary Jane O’Hare | HM: Amy McCooey
Class 2: Novice. Same as above. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Kathryn Bauer | 2nd: Barbara Kirkpatrick | 3rd: Kathleen Onieal | HM: Marion Moran
Class 3: Create a traditional mass design* using dahlias and other flowers and vegetables in a container of the designer’s choice. Entry is to be staged on a 30” high rectangular table covered with a white floor length tablecloth. Design should not exceed 12” width or depth. Exhibitors are given a 20” x 20” design space. Viewed and judged from all sides. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Avery Brighton | 2nd: Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Peeka Tildesley, Jane Orr
Class 4: Novice. Same as above. Limited to (4) Entries
Results: 1st: Wendy Wilt | 2nd: Colleen Fischer
HORTICULTURE
(GCA Judges)
All entries must be properly identified with species and cultivar information.
MARY OWEN BORDEN AWARD
Class 1: Open to all members. A collection of four different kinds of (genera) of flowering specimens. One stem or branch of each, to be displayed in four RGC containers. A key card with visual diagram and plant list is required. The key card must be a 4” X 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” X 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used. This class may not be subdivided.
Results: 1st: Susan Olson | 2nd: Heather Robinson, Mary Jane O’Hare, Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Betsy Ford, Missy Falkenberg, Laura Haaren
IRMA DERING WHITNEY DAHLIA TROPHY
Class 2: Open to all members. One single stem with foliage. Dahlia blooms 3” or less MAY be disbudded.* Dahlia blooms over 3” MUST be disbudded and may be displayed without foliage. T o be displayed in a RGC container. This class may not be subdivided.
Results: 1st: Lisa Atallah | 2nd: Jeannie Shanley, Heather Robinson, Elaine Eadon, Stephanie Hoitt | 3rd: Jeannie Shanley
ROSA (ROSE) “PETALS OF LOVE”
Class 3: One stem disbudded*, with foliage, to be displayed in one RGC container.
Results: 1st: Mary Jane O’Hare | 2nd: Laura Haaren, Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Susan Olson
Class 4: Novice. Same as above.
Results: 2nd: Lisa Atallah | 3rd: Janet Rochford
Class 5: One spray with two or more blooms per stem with foliage, to be displayed in one RGC container.
Results: 1st: Susan Olson | 2nd: Laura Haaren | 3rd: Mary Jane O’Hare | HM: Heather Robinson
Class 6: Novice. Same as above.
No Entries
PERENNIALS IN BLOOM
One stem of a flowering perennial to be displayed in one RGC container.
Class 7: Hydrangea, any variety (subdivided)
Results: 1st: Heather Robinson | 2nd: Missy Falkenberg | 3rd: Elaine Eadon, Peeka Tildesley, Stephanie Hoitt, Laura Haaren, Mary Jane O’Hare
7A Results: 1st: Susan Sorokolit | 2nd: Susan Olson, Jeannie Shanley, Susan Olson
Class 8: Novice. Same as above.
Results: 3rd: Barbara Kirkpatrick
Class 9: Asclepias, any variety
No Entries
Class 10: Novice. Same as above.
No Entries
Class 11: Any other blooming perennial
Results: 1st: Susan Olson | 2nd: Elaine Eadon, Lisa Atallah, Susan Olson | 3rd: Missy Falkenberg | HM: Susan Olson, Elaine Eadon
Class 12: Novice. Same as above.
Results: 3rd: Machiko Maki | HM: Barbara Kirkpatrick
GOING NATIVE
Class 13: An arrangement of three different genera of flowering native** perennial specimens, herbaceous or woody. T o be arranged in one RGC container. A key card with visual diagram and plant list is required. Key card must be a 4” x 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” x 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used.
Results: 1st: Susan Olson | 2nd: Missy Falkenberg, Laura Haaren | 3rd: Betsy Ford, Elaine Eadon, Heather Robinson
Class 14: Novice. Same as above.
No Entries
SUMMER ANNUALS
One stem of a flowering perennial to be displayed in one RGC container.
Class 15: Zinnia.
Results: 1st: Susan Sorokolit | 2nd: Elaine Eadon, Heather Robinson | 3rd: Laura Haaren, Missy Falkenberg
Class 16: Novice. Same as above.
Results: 3rd: Janet Rochford
Class 17: One stem of any variety of Tagetes (Marigold) with foliage attached.
Results: 1st: Heather Robinson | 2nd: Wendy Wilt, Laura Haaren | 3rd: Elaine Eadon | HM: Mary Jane O’Hare
Class 18: Novice. Same as above.
Results: 1st: Machiko Maki
Class 19: Any other flowering summer annual.
Results: 1st: Susan Sorokolit | 2nd: Betsy Ford, Elaine Eadon | 3rd: Heather Robinson, Susan Olson, Mary Jane O’Hare, Heather Robinson | HM: Laura Haaren, Betsy Ford, Wendy Wilt
Class 20: Novice. Same as above.
Results: HM: Janet Rochford
GARDEN BOUNTY
Class 21: A display of vegetables and/or fruits grown by exhibitor, arranged in a basket not to exceed 16” in diameter. Herbs may be included as cut specimens and be in water and placed discreetly in arrangement. Key card must be a 4” x 6” white unlined card completed in black waterproof medium. A 4” x 6” photograph with identifying numbers may be used. T o be judged 70% on horticulture merit, 30% artistic merit.
Results: 1st: Machiko Maki (*Best in Show), Marion Moran, Heather Robinson | 2nd: Missy Falkenberg, Sarah Fleming
Class 22: Novice. Same as above.
No Entries
PAR
Class 23: An exhibit of exceptional horticultural merit, which does not qualify for entry elsewhere in the Horticulture Division. Entries in the Par class must have been owned and grown by the exhibitor for a minimum of one year. Cut specimens are not permitted.
Results: 1st: Betsy Ford | 3rd: Susan Sorokolit
