2024 Rock Garden Plant Show Schedule and Rules
 

Schedule
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Entries received by show committee
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Plant sale and show open to public
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Judging of exhibits

Rules

1.  Nonmembers of the Allegheny Chapter of NARGS are encouraged to enter but will not qualify for high cumulative score monies or trophies.

2.  There are no limits on the number of entries per class.

3.  The term "rock garden plant" shall mean any plant suitable for the rock garden – be it a bog garden, shade garden, native garden, or alpine house.

4.  All plants entered for competition must be hardy to Zone 6 or lower.  

5.  All plants entered for competition must be the property of the entrant and must be in their possession for at least two months (60 days).  

6.  All plants entered for competition shall be identified on the entry card. Inaccurate identification shall not be grounds for disqualification.

7.  The judges are the final authority for awards.

8.  No exhibit shall be removed from the floor from the time of judging to the close of the show without express permission of the show chair.

9.  The Allegheny Chapter will not assume responsibility for exhibits left on the tables after the show ends. 

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Classes of Entries
A committee will be available to assist exhibitors in the proper identification and placement of their entries.
Class #1   One pan rock garden plant in flower
Class #2   One pan native plant in flower, suitable for the rock garden
Class #3   One pan primulaceae in flower, including primula and        androsace
Class #4   One pan bulbous or rhizomatous plant in flower, suitable for the rock garden
Class #5   One pan succulent including sempervivum, sedum, cactus, and
crassulaceae
Class #6   One pan rock garden plant grown primarily for foliage, including hosta, saxifrage and ferns
Class #7   One pan dwarf shrub, tree, or conifer
Class #8   One bowl of cut flowers of rock garden plants, to be judged for quality, delicacy and artistic arrangement
Class #9   A trough of three or more distinct species rock garden suitable plants arranged for effect
Class #10   Miniature Garden: A trough of three or more distinct species rock garden suitable plants along with accessories arranged to create a miniature garden landscape

Definition: A pan is any container; a trough is a container that simulates a stone trough.

Awards

Best Plant in Show – Clare Williamson Award

Entry judged best in show classes 1-6.  Sponsored by Dennis James, this award is presented in honor of a former Allegheny Chapter member.  Winner will receive Best in Show ribbon, traveling trophy at Annual Awards Banquet, and $25 gift certificate. Best Fern - Len Lehman Award

Best fern entry in class 6.  Sponsored by Lyn Lang, this award is presented in honor of a former Allegheny Chapter member for his leadership, mentorship and generously shared expertise as an educator.  Winner will receive a traveling trophy and $25 gift certificate.

Best Primrose - Al Deurbrouck Award

Primrose judged best in class 3. Sponsored by Nancy Knauss, this award is presented in honor of a former Allegheny Chapter member for his outstanding leadership and service as chair multiple terms. Winner will receive a traveling trophy and $25 gift certificate.

Best Dwarf Tree, Shrub, or Conifer in Show – Connie McKeever Award

Entry judged best in class 7.  Sponsored by Judy and Jim Adams, this award is presented in honor of an Allegheny Chapter member who grew choice dwarf conifers for many years.  Winner will receive traveling trophy and $25 gift certificate.

Best Cut Flower Arrangement – Judy Adams/Trish Abrams Award

Entry judged best in class 8.  Sponsored by Debra Meyer, this award is presented in honor of Allegheny Chapter members for the artistic skill they have displayed and inspired in the cut flower class.  Winner will receive traveling trophy and $25 gift certificate.

Best Trough in Show - Audrey Rauch Award

Selected from classes 9-10.  Sponsored by Patty McGuire, this award is presented in honor of an Allegheny Chapter member who pioneered the building and planting of troughs in the tri-state area.  Winner will receive traveling trophy and $25 gift certificate.

The Daffodil and Hosta Society of Western PA Award

Sponsored by the Daffodil and Hosta Society of Western PA.  This award is given for the Best Hosta or Bulbous Plant in the Show.  Winner will receive a traveling trophy and a $25 gift certificate.

Ribbons – 1st (blue), 2nd (red), 3rd (yellow) if merited in each class.  Honorable Mention may be given at the judges’ discretion.  More than one 1st (blue), 2nd (red), 3rd (yellow), or Honorable Mention ribbon may be given in a class depending on the specific merit of each plant.  Best in class shall be awarded to the 1st place entry judged as best within each class.

High Cumulative Scores Awards – Soergel’s gift certificates:  1st ($25), 2nd ($20), 3rd ($15).  Total is based on 5 points for 1st place ribbons, 3 points for 2nd place ribbons, and 1 point for 3rd place ribbons.  Also, 5 additional points for best in class plus an additional 5 points for best in show.

 

Awards Table will be comprised of the best entry in each class and other entries winning the following awards.  These awards will be selected from the best entries in each class, group of classes or within the Show as defined here.

1) Best Plant in Show will be selected from classes 1-6.

2) Best Primrose will be selected from class 3.

3) Best Fern will be selected from class 6.

4) Best Dwarf Tree, Shrub, or Conifer will be the best entry in class 7.

5) Best Cut Flower Arrangement will be the best entry in class 8.

6) Best Trough in Show will be selected from the best entries in classes 9-10.

7) Best Hosta or Bulbous Plant in Show.

 

All gift certificate awards will be given at the conclusion of the Show.  All trophies will be presented at the Allegheny Chapter’s Annual Awards Banquet. Traveling trophies will be held for one year and then passed on to the next winner.

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