Floral Design Mechanics
From the 2021 Archives: The Playscapes Floral Design Challenge Class
As a dual Floral Design and Horticulture judge, I have entered four of these classes in flower shows over the years; I find that component classes are always most interesting and challenging to me. To see what different exhibitors do with the same materials is really amazing...it’s a real chance to be creative and think outside the box!
The Playscapes Judges’ Component Challenge Class from 2021 was one where, at the time of registration, each of the four exhibitors were sent seven identical components. In the final designs, the components had to be visible but could be altered in any manner. Additional components, identical or different from the seven supplied, could also be incorporated with mechanics and plant material. Plant material could be fresh and/or dried.
Nancy D’Oench, Middletown Garden Club, and I had great fun planning for the challenge! We thought about what could add to the theme of Around the Green and thought a children’s playground an appropriate idea. Nancy, the wordsmith, came up with the brilliant word Playscape! For initial inspiration, I went to the Litchfield Playscape and took several photos of the equipment there and sent them to Nancy for her study and thoughts. The COVID-19 virus kept us apart, Nancy was isolated in Old Saybrook and I was in Litchfield, but I cautiously ventured out to see a few other playscapes in the area for additional inspiration. I then ventured to home supply and craft stores in search of components that were shapes which suggested materials that could be used to interpret the theme. I chose several items from each of the stores that could be cut, bent, shaped, combined, glued, painted, etc. To add to the challenge, each item had to be scaled to the backdrop of 24”x36” — a real challenge for the exhibitors — it would be a test of their creativity and talents!
We wanted the exhibiting judges to be geographically diverse as well as fearless, so we extended four invitations across the country and all four readily accepted the Challenge...we were thrilled!
On a freezing, windy December day, Nancy and I met in the parking lot of a restaurant — masked and socially distanced with trucks barreling by, the wind blowing us away. I pulled out of the trunk of my car many sample components. We discussed the possibilities of each one until we decided on the seven to be sent to exhibitors. Back home, I then purchased eight of each of the items, went to the UPS store, and had the items wrapped and sent to the four exhibitors. It was very exciting! We contacted them via email about the details of the class and took questions and comments. I also sent a set of the seven components to the two women who were going to be passing* the class so they would have a good idea of what the exhibitors had to use and what to look for in their designs when passing* them prior to judging.
Blog by Sylvia Abbott, Litchfield Garden Club, Zone II & 2021 GCA Medalist
*Passing: All entries in floral design, horticulture, photography, and botanical arts in a flower show must be seen and approved for conformance to GCA show rules and class requirements by a panel of knowledgeable people (passers) experienced in each division. A set of passing criteria is used, depending on the division and schedule. Once an exhibit is passed and put into position, it may not be touched.