USING A SHOW SCHEDULE
How to use a Rose Show Schedule
How to use a Rose Show Schedule
Web Master: David McKibben dhmckibben@hotmail.com
Page was lasted edited on 5/16/2008
Copyright © 2008 Pittsburgh Rose Society All rights reserved
Pittsburgh Rose Society
ROSE SHOW SCHEDULES
People new to the Rose Society struggle with the term “Show Schedule.” First
of all, the term means “list” or “plan.” It is not a “timetable,” although the
schedule will give the times for entries and judging. What the schedule really
does is allow you, as an exhibitor, to organize your roses. The published
schedule also provides the rules and regulations of the show. Read the first
pages carefully. Not following these rules will disqualify your entry from
competition. You can still place the rose on the display table but it will not be
judged for quality and distinction, nor be eligible for a ribbon or award.
The purpose of the show is twofold: one is to provide an exhibit of the best
grown roses in the area, and the second is to reward the competitive exhibitors
with ribbons and awards. People exhibit for different reasons. Some just want
the thrill of competition. They want the top prize and their roses are their
competitive weapons. Others show for the promotion of the rose itself. Both of
these groups are needed to make a successful show. Want better way to learn
about what is a good rose specimen for you to grow than to see how the bloom
displays.
Remember, there are literally thousands of rose varieties out there. There are
over 2,500 red roses recognized as individual varieties alone. It quickly
becomes obvious that organization is needed. That is what the Schedule is
designed to achieve. Without this plan, the show table would be a hodgepodge
of blooms with no rhyme or reason.
What you need to know:
Before you even cut the stem or spray to bring to the show, you must know the
name of the rose. From this basic bit of knowledge you can construct all the
rest. If you don’t know the name but want to bring it along because it is a great
specimen, OK. But it will not be entered but placed at the side for display only.
If you are lucky, someone at the show may be able to identify it for you.
Speaking from experience this does not happen often.
If you have never brought blooms to share before, the first thing from the
schedule you will need to determine is to which Class your rose belongs. This
is the first step to sorting out the entries. Go to “Horticultural Classes” in the
schedule and find the description that fits your rose. If you know the name but
not the type, get a copy of the American Rose Society’s (ARS) Handbook for
Selecting Roses. If you belong to the ARS this book comes to you annually.
Someone at the preparation area will have a copy if you don’t have access to
one yourself. For example, perhaps you have a ‘Queen Elizabeth’ you wish to
enter. But you don’t know the classification. Go to the name and you will see:
‘Queen Elizabeth,’ Gr., medium pink, 38 petals, 1954, 7.8. The Gr. is what
you are looking for. This stands for Grandiflora. The color is medium pink. The
rest of the information you will not need; it is given to guide those who wish to
purchase the rose. The 7.8 is the members’ rating of the rose. The higher the
number, the better it is regarded by the membership.
Now you know the color (medium pink) and the Class (Grandiflora). If this were
the September 2007 show, the schedule would tell you that your rose is in Class
1D. It should be placed with all the other Class 1Ds on the show table. The
basic classes rarely change, but get a copy of the schedule for the show you are
entering to be sure.
The schedule also gives all the trophies and Challenge Classes that are open
for entry. The more roses you grow, the more likely you will be to have roses to
enter in these various competitions.
The best way to learn about this activity is to do it. If you grow roses, bring them
to the show. There will be many people there willing to help you get your prized
bloom(s) on the display table.
People new to the Rose Society struggle with the term “Show Schedule.” First
of all, the term means “list” or “plan.” It is not a “timetable,” although the
schedule will give the times for entries and judging. What the schedule really
does is allow you, as an exhibitor, to organize your roses. The published
schedule also provides the rules and regulations of the show. Read the first
pages carefully. Not following these rules will disqualify your entry from
competition. You can still place the rose on the display table but it will not be
judged for quality and distinction, nor be eligible for a ribbon or award.
The purpose of the show is twofold: one is to provide an exhibit of the best
grown roses in the area, and the second is to reward the competitive exhibitors
with ribbons and awards. People exhibit for different reasons. Some just want
the thrill of competition. They want the top prize and their roses are their
competitive weapons. Others show for the promotion of the rose itself. Both of
these groups are needed to make a successful show. Want better way to learn
about what is a good rose specimen for you to grow than to see how the bloom
displays.
Remember, there are literally thousands of rose varieties out there. There are
over 2,500 red roses recognized as individual varieties alone. It quickly
becomes obvious that organization is needed. That is what the Schedule is
designed to achieve. Without this plan, the show table would be a hodgepodge
of blooms with no rhyme or reason.
What you need to know:
Before you even cut the stem or spray to bring to the show, you must know the
name of the rose. From this basic bit of knowledge you can construct all the
rest. If you don’t know the name but want to bring it along because it is a great
specimen, OK. But it will not be entered but placed at the side for display only.
If you are lucky, someone at the show may be able to identify it for you.
Speaking from experience this does not happen often.
If you have never brought blooms to share before, the first thing from the
schedule you will need to determine is to which Class your rose belongs. This
is the first step to sorting out the entries. Go to “Horticultural Classes” in the
schedule and find the description that fits your rose. If you know the name but
not the type, get a copy of the American Rose Society’s (ARS) Handbook for
Selecting Roses. If you belong to the ARS this book comes to you annually.
Someone at the preparation area will have a copy if you don’t have access to
one yourself. For example, perhaps you have a ‘Queen Elizabeth’ you wish to
enter. But you don’t know the classification. Go to the name and you will see:
‘Queen Elizabeth,’ Gr., medium pink, 38 petals, 1954, 7.8. The Gr. is what
you are looking for. This stands for Grandiflora. The color is medium pink. The
rest of the information you will not need; it is given to guide those who wish to
purchase the rose. The 7.8 is the members’ rating of the rose. The higher the
number, the better it is regarded by the membership.
Now you know the color (medium pink) and the Class (Grandiflora). If this were
the September 2007 show, the schedule would tell you that your rose is in Class
1D. It should be placed with all the other Class 1Ds on the show table. The
basic classes rarely change, but get a copy of the schedule for the show you are
entering to be sure.
The schedule also gives all the trophies and Challenge Classes that are open
for entry. The more roses you grow, the more likely you will be to have roses to
enter in these various competitions.
The best way to learn about this activity is to do it. If you grow roses, bring them
to the show. There will be many people there willing to help you get your prized
bloom(s) on the display table.