Ray Rogers

Town and Country Garden Club

Judges’ Comments:

“A sweet cyclamineus with a proper downward-looking pose.”

“The perianth segments are not uniformly reflexed and appear to show age.”

Plant Material: Narcissus 'Rapture', daffodil

Length of ownership: One-and-a-half years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Bulb grows in sandy, moderately fertile soil against the south side of my house. Receives several hours of sun. Watered upon planting, during dry spells when in leaf, and in bud and bloom.

Jane Hammond

Dolley Madison Garden Club

“An 'Avalanche' of sturdy blooms.”

“Judges see a slight curling of perianth segment edges indicating some age. The stem would have exhibited better against a black background.”

Plant Material: Narcissus ‘Avalanche', daffodil

Length of ownership: Seven months

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Narcissus bulb was planted in October in a potting mix which contains trace elements from both oceans and forests so it is rich in organic materials. The bulb was grown outdoors so that natural dormancy could occur and once there was evidence of growth and emergence, I began to water when needed and applied fertilizer when bloom began to emerge.

Colleen Grant

Albemarle Garden Club

Judges’ Comments:

“Dramatic spray of well-formed and well-distributed fresh vigorous blooms. Perfect presentation against a black background.”

Plant Material: Narcissus ‘Avalanche', daffodil

Length of ownership: Three years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Hillside, part sun, clay soil.

Laila Tiefenthaler

Fairfield Garden Club

Judges’ Comments:

“High second. Three prime flowers with captivating porcelain texture.”

“Flowers are so close as to impinge on each other and are affecting the lay of the perianth segments. Daffs can be delicately manipulated and separated to show off the individual flowers.”

Plant Material:  Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’, daffodil

Length of ownership: Four years

Propagated by Exhibitor: Planted bulbs in fall of 2017, bulbs are planted close to foundation of house, well-drained soil, almost full sun in spring.

Growing conditions: Bulbs are planted in inner garden close to house, well-drained soil and mostly sunny in spring and summer, planted in south east direction.

Glenn Shaw

Greenwich Garden Club

“Stunning blooms on regal stem.”

“Perianth segments show slight creping.”

Plant Material: Narcissus ‘Golden Echo’, daffodil

Length of ownership: Three years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions:  Full sun border

Donna Cornish

Garden Club of Lexington

Judges’ Comments:

“This tulip specimen is a stand-out! Crisp bloom atop a strong stem accompanied by fresh leaves notable for their yellow-striped edges.”

Plant Material:  Tulipa sp., tulip

Length of ownership: Nine months

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Full sun in moderately dry soil. Managed with irrigation system.

Jane Hammond

Dolley Madison Garden Club

“This viridiflora tulip ‘Spring Green’ (white petals with some green) is growing with a straight strong foliage.”

“The petals and form of this bloom are atypical for this variety which usually has a more classic “tulip” form.”

Plant Material: Tulipa ‘Spring Green’, tulip

Length of ownership: Seven months

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: I planted this tulip in October in a bulb lasagna which contained multiple other spring blooms. Pot was @ 14" wide by 8" deep. The soil medium was a potting mix that contained rich organic matter and sand. The bulb was grown outdoors so that natural dormancy could occur. Once there was evidence of growth I began to water sparingly.

Molly Adams

Garden Club of Lookout Mountain

“The side views show the classic coloration and form of this species tulip.”

“Condition of leaf and stem indicates growing problems.”

Plant Material:  Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane', tulip

Length of ownership: Six months

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Full sun

Jane Dunn

Greenwich Garden Club

"Kissed with golden highlights,the tangerine orange petals of this double early tulip absolutely glow."

“Doubles are shown at best advantage only slightly opened.”

Plant Material: Tulipa 'Orca', tulip

Length of ownership: Six months

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions:  Potted up bulb in organic potting soil in fall. Placed in unheated structure. Moved to cold frame mid-February. Watered as needed.

Sally Seeds

Cherokee Garden Club

“Robust, intersectional Itoh peony with vibrant yellow flower.”

“This particular variety is usually a semi-double with a prominent golden center with red-tipped carpels, showy red stamens and red flares. This exhibit is a full double, not showing a typical center as noted above.”

Plant Material: Paeonia x 'Sequestered Sunshine', Itoh peony

Length of ownership: Six years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Full sun and outdoors. Deciduous, die back after first hard freeze.

Gina White

The Little Garden Club of Memphis

“This bloom is a textbook example of the 'Nike' cultivar. Truly Victorious. This variety is noted for its extremely delicate petal tissue.”

Plant Material: Paeonia suffruticosa 'Nike', tree peony

Length of ownership: Twelve years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions:  Part sun with organics applied two times per year.

Jane Dunn

Greenwich Garden Club

“This hyacinth is perfectly tightly packed with bloom. One could almost inhale the fragrance.”

“Slight loss of form at base of spike.”

Plant Material:  Hyacinth orientalis 'Delft Blue', hyacinth

Length of ownership: Thirteen years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Dappled to full sun, good drainage, organic mulch in spring, natural watering.

Carol Price

The Garden Club of Houston

“Fascinating cultural story accompanying this Louisiana iris. Nice stem with a bud and two open white flowers. Stem is elegantly posed.”

“Photography of flowers captures the whiteness but leaves the leaves appearing black.”

Plant Material: Iris hexagona, ‘Reverchon Snowfall’ Louisiana iris

Length of ownership: Two-and-a-half years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions:  In 2019, we dug a bog in our front yard (in full sun) and filled it with Louisiana iris. The plants survived Tropical Storm Beta in September 2020 and the Ice Storm Uri in February 2021. The bog is watered regularly, and the plants thrive without any fertilizer or pesticides added. The recent freeze did not deter the Louisiana iris at all.

Colleen Grant

Albemarle Garden Club

“Graceful yet strong stem shows a nice distribution of bloom.”

“Flowers show some thinning on one view and the close-up view is not in focus, hindering the judges from a good close-up look.”

Plant Material:  Leucojum aestivum, summer snowflake

Length of ownership: Six years

Propagated by Exhibitor: No

Growing conditions: Shade, clay soil. Planted under old Virginia pine trees.