October Flower Show Themed “Fall Across Alabama”

“Fall Across Alabama” is the theme of the Northeast Alabama Federation of Garden Clubs (NEAFGC) October flower show at the DeKalb County VFW Fairgrounds. Once again, garden club members will showcase their floral designs, hoping for blue ribbons and the coveted top award. A newish division, Botanical Arts, will highlight wreaths, collages, pot-et-fleur (fancy name for a design with potted plants and cut flowers), dried hydrangeas, unusual branches, and fairy gardens. The public is invited to enter ribbon-worthy horticulture. No garden club membership is necessary. The DeKalb County VFW Fair offers an online and a printed catalog with all the class listings (dekalbcountyvfwfair.com).

Broad categories include Arboreals, Annuals, Perennials, Cut Foliage, Vines, Bulbs, Herbs, Succulents, Container-Grown, and Hanging Plants. Horticulture can be registered on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Sunday, Oct. 13, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the fairgrounds. An entry card listing the common name as well as the scientific name is required for exhibiting. With Google and plant identification apps and websites, it’s easy to find the Latin names of plants. However, if that beautiful flower name is still unknown, bring it anyway. Our friendly, knowledgeable folks at the check-in table will help figure out that illusive identity!

Tips for preparing horticulture for the flower show:

• Cut specimens the day before the show in the morning or late evening.
• Place immediately in a gallon bucket of warm water, let sit overnight.
• Cut stem at an angle and longer than the required length so it can be re-cut later.
• Groom by trimming off spent flowers and wilted or yellowing leaves, and wipe off any dirt, webs, snail slime, etc. Leaves may be trimmed following the shape. Use pinking shears for serrated edges. A cotton swab will get pollen off petals and leaves.
• Using a product to make leaves shine is not allowed, but rubbing with a piece of wool does the job.
• Check the pot for dirt, debris, slugs underneath, ants, or roots hanging out of the bottom; many a blue ribbon has been lost for lack of due diligence.

For Transporting:

• Re-cut specimen under water to correct length, and place singly in a bottle. Multiple bottles can be loaded into a wine box for transporting.
• Potted plants can be secured by cutting a hole in a box or piece of foam and placing the pot into the hole. That box can then be placed in another for added protection.

With a youth-only division, kiddos can bring horticulture and participate in Botanical Arts. Sections are divided by age (pre-school-7; 8-13; 14-18). Classes include making a collage, decorating a gourd, or creating a fairy garden.

The August meeting was all about the club’s preparation for the upcoming Mentone Fall Festival and reviewing the schedule for the flower show. Come by the Rhododendron Garden Club (RGC) booth for purchase of member-grown plants and deliciously decadent desserts.

The “Follow Your Art” booth in August was undoubtedly a successful, fun day. Monies earned are used for scholarships and to fund the Moon Lake shade garden between the amphitheater and the gym. Check out the amphitheater stage decorations (another RGC project) and visit the garden. The scholarship fund for students interested in pursuing an agriculture-related career is a dear and worthy cause. In 1959, the Garden Club of Alabama Horticulture Award was established and is now an endowed scholarship with the Auburn University College of Agriculture. One of the six current recipients of the endowment is a delightful Fort Payne resident.

This month’s meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. in the library. Vermiculture will be the topic of the day, presented by President Rhea Pirch. Worm castings — yum.