Symphony of Fall
A Horticultural Specialty Flower Show
A Horticultural Specialty Flower Show
October 6-10, 2026
Bay County Fairgrounds Pavilion
Presented by
FLORIDA FEDERATION OF GARDEN CLUBS, DISTRICT II
DEEP SOUTH REGION
THE NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INC.
In cooperation with the
CENTRAL PANHANDLE FAIR IN BAY COUNTY, INC.
AWARDS
The National Garden Clubs, Inc. Standard System of Awarding will be used. Top Awards will be presented where merited. Page numbers refer to the Handbook for Flower Shows, Revised 2017 edition.
Division I- Horticulture
1. Grower's Choice Award may be awarded in Section A, B, C or J. (HB p.41)
2. Award of Merit may be placed in Sections D, E, F, G (HB p. 41)
3. Arboreal Awards may be placed in Sections H and I. (HB p. 40)
4. The Award of Horticulture Excellence may be awarded to an exhibit scoring 95 or above and judged to be the highest in the Horticulture Division. Winners of the section awards are eligible for Award of
Horticultural Excellence. (HB p. 25)
Only one First (90 or above-blue), Second (85 or above-red), and one Third (75 or above-white) may be classed
in each Class or Sub-Class. Honorable Mention (75 or above yellow) may be given to meritorious exhibits. Judges will place Top Awards in the classes in which they judge. A flag will be placed on all horticulture Blue-Ribbon exhibits scoring 95 or above. Blue ribbons must be signed and dated. Judges are requested to review any red, white and yellow exhibits in horticulture to determine if they scored 90 or above and have
an accredited judge indicate on the ribbon that is 90+, sign, and date. Note: Central Panhandle Fair and DII provide
the ribbons for all exhibits and use "white" for third, and "yellow" for fourth place. (HB p.25)
SCALE OF POINTS FOR HORTICULTURE
(HB p 129)
Conformance--5
Form--20
Color--20
Grooming--10
Maturity--20
Condition/Blemishes--15
Staging--5
Correct & Complete Name--5
(or Scientific Identification)
Total: 100
GENERAL RULES
Classes are open to all amateur gardeners. Exhibitors do not have to be a member of any garden club or group. The show will comply in every respect with the requirements and objectives for a Horticulture Flower Show as established by the National Garden Clubs Inc., The Handbook for Flower Shows, 2017 Revised Edition, and any changes given in the National Gardner shall be used as the authority. Judges' decisions are final. The classification committee must approve all exhibits. The committee may disqualify any entry not conforming with the schedule or of inferior quality.
Exhibitors must keep horticulture fresh for the entire show. The committee has the right to remove any exhibit that is not properly maintained. Exhibits must be on place and exhibitors out of the building by 10 AM, Tuesday October 6, 2026. Chairpersons allowed on the floor during judging include Flower Show classification, clerks, judges, and hospitality. Judging will be from 1:00 PM to 3 PM on October 6, 2026. Entries must be picked up from 11 AM to 1:30 PM on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
HORTICULTURE RULES
Potted plants will be accepted on Monday, October 5, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Cut specimens will be accepted only on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Only one entry is permitted in each class or sub-class.
Entries must be show-quality, well-groomed, with no oiling, and in clean, clear containers provided by the exhibitor.
Potted plants must be in pots which do not detract from the natural flowers or foliage, and must not exceed an inside diameter of 10 inches.
Due to limited space, exhibitors will be limited to 10 potted plants.
Each plant must be identified by its binomial name or its curently accepted scientific identification to be eligible for a Top Exhibitor Award.
When schedule calls for a specific number of stems or blooms, a greater or lesser number will disqualify the entry.
Final authority on entries rests with the Classification Committee.
Each exhibitor must enter his or her own exhibits.
All plants exhibited must be grown by and in the possession of the exhibitor for at least THREE MONTHS.
No wiring, taping, or support may be used unless the plant normally clings or vines.
Wedging is provided by the committee.
Unless otherwise specified, all potted piants must be grown one plant to a pot, excluding plants that normally self-multiply. (ex: sansevieria).
The Classification Committee may sub-class by variety and/or color. Entry cards are available at the fair on day of entry.
Specimens on the Invasive Plant List are not accepted.
DIVISION I- HORTICULTURE
"SYMPHONY OF FALL"
SECTION A: Container Grown Plants "Cello." Grown for the beauty of the foliage. Points shall not be deducted for
blooms, fruit, or berries. Pots should be non-decorative and not exceed 10 inches inside diameter. Size of specimen allowed is no more 24 inches in diameter and 30 inches in height. Sub-class by variety and/or cultivar. Eligible for Grower's Choice Award. (HB p 41)
CLASS
1. Aglaonema
2. Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
3. Aloe
4. Aspidistra
5. Begonia
6. Calathea (Peacock Plant)
7. Codiaeum (Croton)
8. Colocasia (Elephant Ear)
9. Crassula (Jade Plant)
10. Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
11. Dracaena
12. Epipremnum (Pothos)
13. Kalanchoe
14. Peperomia
15. Philodendron
16. Sansevieria (Mother-in-Law's Tongue)
17. Schefflera
18. Solemnization (Coleus)
19. Spathiphyllumn (Peace Lily)
20. Syngonium (Arrowhead)
21. Other
SECTION B: Flowering Potted Plants "Viola." Container grown. Specialty pots may be used. Size allowed: approximately 24 inches in diameter and 30 inches tall. Eligible for Grower's Choice Award. (HB p. 41)
CLASS
22. Capsicum spp. (Ornamental Peppers)
23. Orchidaceous spp. (Orchids)
24. Saintpaulia spp (African Violets, single crown)
SECTION C: Fruit/Vegetable Potted Plants "Timpani." Container grown. Size allowed: approximately 24 inches in diameter and 30 inches tall. Eligible for Grower's Choice Award (HB p. 41)
CLASS:
25. Tomato
26. Squash
27. Peppers
28. Other
SECTION D: Cut Flowering Annuals "Clarinet. " One stem, bract, or spray unless otherwise indicated. Include
foliage only if it grows on the stem. Stem shall be a minimum of 8 inches and a maximum of 30 inches unless the plant is characteristically small in size. Sub-class by variety, cultivar and/or color. Dwarf varieties are not size limited. Eligible for Award of Merit. (HB p. 41)
CLASS
29. Ageratum (Annual Floss Flower)
30. Balsamaceous (lmpatiens)
31. Celosia
32. Cosmos
33. Gaillardia
34. Helianthus (Sun Flower)
35. Rudbeckia
36. Salvia
37. Tagetes (Marigold)
38. Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
39. Zinnia
40. Other Annuals
SECTION E: Cut Vegetable/Fruit Annuals "Oboe." One stem, bract or spray unless otherwise indicated. Include foliage only if it grows on the stem. Stem shall be a minimum of 8 inches and a maximum of 30 inches. Subclass by variety, cultivar, and/or color. Eligible for Award of Merit. (HB p. 41.)
CLASS
41. Tomato
42. Peppers
43. Okra
44. Other
SECTION F: Cut Flowering Biennials or Perennials "Flute." One stem, bract, or spray. Stem shall be a minimum of 8 inches and a maximum of 30 inches. Sub-class by variety, cultivar, and/or color. Eligible for Award of Merit. (HB p. 41)
CLASS
45. Coreopsis
46. Echinacea (Corn Flower)
47. Gerbera jamesonii (Gerber Daisy)
48. Helianthus (Perennial Sunflower)
49. Justicia (Shrimp Plant)
50. Pachystachys lutea (Yellow Shrimp)
51. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)
52. Salvia
53. Solidago
54. Other
SECTION G: Cut Flowering Bulbs, Rhizomes, Corms or Tubers "Violin." One stem, full bract required. Foliage is not included unless it grows naturally on the stem. Eligible for Award of Merit. (HB p.41)
CLASS
55. Crinum
56. Gladiolas
57. Gloriosa lilly
58. Lycoris
59. Other
SECTION H: Arboreal "Trumpet." Branches from evergreen or deciduous shrubs or trees grown for the beauty of the foliage, flowers, fruit or berries. Cut specimens of maximum length of 30 inches and maximum diameter if 24 inches. Miniature or dwarf specimens should be noted on the entry card. Eligible for Arboreal Award. (HB p.40)
CLASS
Grown for FRUIT or BLOOM (MUST have fruit or bloom)
60. Callicarpa (Beauty Berry)
61. Clerodendron
62. Duranta
63. Hydrangea
64. Ilex
65. Odontonema
66. Plumbago
67. Other
SECTION I: Arboreal "Harp." Directions as above in Section F. Eligible for Arboreal Award. (HB p.40)
CLASS:
Grown for FOLIAGE (May also have fruit or bloom.)
68. Acer
69. Fatshedra
70. Acuba japonica
71. Duranta
72. Loropetalum
73. Euonymus
74. Fatshedra
75. Juniperus
76. Loropetalum
77. Other
SECTION J: Combination Plantings. "Mandolin." Dish gardens. A grouping of 3 or more botanically different plants with similar cultural requirements such as water, light and humidity. Specialty pots may be used. Size allowed: maximum approximately 30 inches in diameter and 24 inches in height. Natural accessories are permitted but plantings must be in scale with plantings and container, with theme appropriate to the plants. Eligible for Grower's Choice Award (HB p. 41.)
CLASS
78. Blooming
79. Non-blooming
80. Combination
For further guidance please email jodimoore9194@gmail.com