Standard Flower Show Chairs 2024-2025: Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath
Standard Flower Show May 15, 2025
Flower Show Photos by Jeannette Michelson
The Garden Club of LBI’s flower show, Hats off to Les Fleurs, is now one for the Club’s record book. The May 15, 2025 flower show was held at Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in Loveladies. Free and open to the public, the show brought many visitors and guests to meander among the visions of beautiful flowers and displays while violin music played in the background along with light refreshments that were served. Since 1969, the year of our very first “Flower Show” our club has continued in this endeavor.
A “Flower Show” is the ultimate expression of a garden club. It allows its members to display beautiful flora in the way of plants and cuttings in the Horticulture Division along with floral designs showcasing members’ creativity and talent in the Design Division. This year in the Education Division, three timely topics were displayed to remind members and guests of the importance of taking care of our environment: Monarch Butterflies, Companion Gardening and Container Gardening.
New this year was Botanical Arts/ Artistic Crafts whose criteria goes beyond their beauty. It was imperative that the objects with a function while showing beautiful floral designs. Hats, visors, and notecards were decorated with flowers of many kinds and colors.
Then a very special addition was our “Youth” Division for youngsters from K to 8th grade. This division was not judged; but all who entered received an award of participation.
In a standard flower show, such as this, judges are invited from the Garden Club of New Jersey who assess the value of the entries in the different divisions with a blue ribbon for first place, red for second, yellow for third and white for honorable mention. In addition, special awards for certain categories are also given.
As in the 2022 show, members not entering the specific divisions were encouraged to again use small teacups and mugs for small designs and plants to be sold to the public in our Floral Boutique. They made delightful souvenirs for all who took them home.
Another special event this year was the raffle of a beautiful centerpiece. As each person came into the venue, they were given a raffle ticket in the hopes of winning that design.
The journey to preparing for a flower show is one that requires the efforts and commitment of all in a garden club to make it successful. In that stead, judges deemed The Garden Club of LBI’s flower show one that earned the show a score of 95. This means the club can now pursue and apply for a National Garden Club Award.
Though Hats Off to Les Fleurs is but a memory, though a beautiful one, it will stand the test of time as The Garden Club of LBI goes forward in its future shows!
Julie Eller & Cindy McGrath
Standard Flower Show Chairs
(Click on image to view full photo)
Click here to go to Division I – Horticulture