Reflections On  Exhibiting Hibiscus  Hibiscus blooms come in what seems to be every color and hue. Shapes and size vary, and one is amazed at the major and subtle differences that occur within Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis. Perhaps, it is this infinite variety that most astonishes people attending a hibiscus show for the first time. But even "old growers" who have raised hibiscus for years will tell you that they too continue to be amazed at the seemingly endless variation on the theme of five base petals. Because of the remarkable variety, attending a hibiscus show is always an adventure in discovery. New cultivars can take off into fanciful new areas of floral beauty that were totally unexpected. And long appreciated cultivars can achieve new levels of color and perfection that one had hardly thought possible. Although their beauty and diversity may have first attracted us to hibiscus, hibiscus shows arose from the discovery that sharing something beautiful only magnifies its beauty. Those of us who find ourselves captivated by the splendor and infinite diversity of hibiscus have found that there is no greater pleasure than sharing the wonder and satisfaction we get from growing these lovely blooms. At first, we were content to share our excitement with family and a few friends. But with time, we could contain our joy no longer. We had to begin sharing our blooms with "total strangers." Exhibiting one's flowers is a marvelous way to spread a little floral happiness into the world. And we encourage everyone with a hibiscus in his/her garden to enter flowers. Remember, blooms don't have to be the most exquisite or the products of the newest cultivars. Indeed, the old garden varieties have a charm and beautify of their own. What is ultimately important is the satisfaction of knowing that one has participated in nurturing something beautiful. And that by sharing it, one has magnified its capacity to give joy to others. Join Us! Share Your Flowers

Exhibiting Blooms at an AHS Show   Exhibitor Categories Amateur: A non-commercial exhibitor showing blooms for two show seasons. After showing for two show seasons, the Amateur must move up to the appropriate classification. Amateurs must be present to enter their blooms Collector: Non-commercial exhibitors with up to 75 named varieties. Open Collector: Non-commercial exhibitors with over 75 named varieties. Commercial: An exhibitor licensed by a government entity to sell plants. Award Ribbons Gold: awarded to perfect blooms Blue: awarded to 1st place blooms Red: awarded to 2nd place blooms Sweepstakes: awarded to exhibitor with the most perfect blooms in class. Tricolor: awarded to best single or double flower in class Best of Show: awarded to those blooms that are judged best in the 4 divisions: single, double, miniature, seedling. Eligibility: Membership in the AHS is not necessary in order to exhibit blooms at shows, but one must have a plant in one's possession for at least 30 days before a bloom from it may be entered in a show. Registration: Show up early with your blooms on show day and register at the table provided with forms for the four exhibitor classifications, along with the appropriate exhibitor cards. Figure out which class you fall into and sign up to get an exhibitor number. This number must be included on each exhibitor card you complete for each bloom you enter. Miniature Blooms: All miniature blooms (blooms 5" or less) use the same exhibitor card regardless of one's exhibitor classification. Miniatures compete among themselves, not against the big guys. Bloom holders are provided and someone will show you the ropes. Submitting Blooms: Bring your blooms to the submission table. Bloom runners will take your entries from this table to the judging tables, where each will be judged as worthy of a Gold Seal or a Blue or Red Ribbon. All Gold Seal blooms become eligible for Head Table honors during final judging. Blue and Red Ribbons are awarded to blooms that are not quite up to perfect standards. Submitting Unknown Blooms: If one does not know the name of a cultivar, and inquiries of fellow exhibitors don't yield a clue, "Unlisted" may be written on the card for "Name of Variety." Gold Seal Room: In the Gold Seal room, off limits to all but show officials, the Show Director will group all Amateur singles together and all Amateur Doubles together. He will do the same for all singles and doubles of the other three classes. Miniature singles and doubles are also separated accordingly. During final judging of all Gold Seal blooms, a bloom from each exhibitor classification and configuration, along with a miniature single and double, receiving the most votes become eligible for the Head Table. There can be run-offs during this process. Best of Show Blooms: From the four singles judged "best of classification," the one receiving the most votes becomes the "Best of Show" Single. Same procedure is followed for doubles. The two miniatures (one single and one double) compete for "Best of Show" Miniature. When a bloom receives the "Best of Show" award, the bloom in that classification receiving the second highest number of votes moves up to become the "Best of Classification," such as "Best Open Collector Single" or "Best Amateur Double." Judging Seedlings: Seedlings are new cultivars that have been recently hybridized and not yet released to the general public. Seedlings are not entered in exhibitor classifications, but have their own classification divisions. They are judged as singles, doubles or miniatures. Unlike other categories, there is no "move up" of a second-ranking seedling bloom. Head Table: The Head Table consists of blooms winning in their appropriate categories: Best of Show: Single, Double, Miniature and Seedling Best Amateur: Single and Double Best Collector: Single and Double Best Open Collector: Single and Double Best Commercial: Single and Double Best Miniature: Single and Double Best Seedling: Single, Double and Miniature Sweepstakes for each of the four classifications (those exhibitors winning the most Gold Seals in their class). New Orleans Innovation:  In New Orleans we have introduced a "people's choice award." Beside each winning flower on the head tables is an ID number. The public is invited to vote for their favorite flower by placing the flower's ID number on the vote forms provided and placing them in the election urn. At four o'clock, the votes will be tallied and the appropriate ribbon awarded to the winner.   BE SURE TO VOTE !!!