It's Your Time to Shine! Enter the GROW SHOW August 6-7 If you're like most of us, your eyes are focused on those tightly wrapped buds and ripening vegetables in your garden. Which ones could be winners on August 6? Long-time gardener and seasoned horticulture competitor Georgeanne Hughes of Glendale has lots of experience finding winners in her garden. Here are some of her time-honored tips: Five Tips for Entering Award Winning Flowers in the GROW SHOW:
- Carefully read the GROW SHOW schedule and rules (see link below)and then choose from your garden.
- Bring entries to the Garden August 6 between 8 and 10 am. Don't worry about botanical names. The volunteers (officially called passers) will happily assist with this at the GROW SHOW registration.
- Bring items free of bugs and bug damage. Snipping out bug damage is encouraged. This is called "grooming." The passers are very helpful with this as well.
- Be careful in transporting your entries in the car, so things don't fall over and break petals. Once your entries are registered, vases will be provided.
- Remember to bring potted plants if you have some great looking ones.
Five Tips for Entering Award Winning Vegetables in the GROW SHOW: - Pick specimens as perfect as you can manage.
- Wash and groom so that they look even more perfect.
- New and unusual varieties get noticed.
- Combination collections are fun to put together.
- Ribbons impress your children.
"The welcome and delight of presenting your entries is as much fun as you will have all summer," said Georgeanne,"the ribbons are fun to take home and are great conversation starters!" Design Divisions Interested in entering an arrangement? There is still time to enter design division classes. Six unique and inspiring classes await you. . . click here. Youth and Photography Divisions The GROW SHOW also features a youth division with two flower arrangement classes for young gardeners ages 5-12. Parents are invited to bring children to Berkshire Botanical Garden for a free, pre-show workshop Friday, August 5, 10-11 am where all supplies will be provided for creating entries for the weekend-long event. Please call the Garden at 413-298-3926 to reserve a space. New this year in association with Berkshire Museum Camera Club is a garden photography competition with three divisions open to all. Photography entries are accepted at the Garden during regular business hours starting August 1 through noon on August 5. Entering all divisions is free, and exhibitors receive a day pass to the Garden good for free admission during the Grow Show. A complete list of classes, divisions, rules and awards is available by clicking here. | 
