SEPTEMBER 10th to 13th 2026 - Phone: (905) 983-9510 - Email: [email protected]
volunteer

PLANTS & FLOWERS CLASS 52

2026 EXHITBITOR SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE

Entries to be postmarked by Saturday, August 29th or emailed to [email protected] no later than midnight on August 31st. Electronic entry submission is available at www.assistexpo.ca/orono-fair. Online entries will shut down at midnight on August 31st, and late entries for most classes (excluding animals) will not be accepted. In-person drop off during fair week will not be accepted either, we kindly ask that you enter online, email or mail in your entries.

Our Office Administrator will be available in the portable building on the grounds from 10am – 2pm, Saturday, August 29th and Sunday, August 30 for last-minute drop-offs of paper copy entries.

PLEASE NOTE: CLASS INFORMATION IS 2025 VERSION. 2026 INFORMATION CHANGES ARE IN PROGRESS

PLANTS & FLOWERS CLASS 52

TO REGISTER PLEASE FOLOW THIS LINK http://www.assistexpo.ca/oronofair

 

A sincere thank you to all our generous sponsors.

 Committee:  Valerie Van Schagen 905-718-0368, Shelley-Anne Zegers 905-983-5846, Aimie Harris 905-983-5162

Rules and Regulations: As per fair registration procedures, all exhibitors must hold a 2025 membership ($10) in the Orono Agricultural Society before entries can be processed.  Juniors, 17 and under, are exempt from paying the membership fee.

 

 Entries will be received Wednesday September 3th, 2025, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday September 4th, 2025; 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  Exhibits in this class must be in the hands of the arranging committee at or before the 10 a.m. deadline on Thursday September 4th, 2025. Judging will commence when all displays are admitted.  Note:  Juniors may enter the adult classes.

EXHIBITS MUST BE PICKED UP BETWEEN 3:30 AND 4 P.M. ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH.  NO ARRANGEMENT WILL BE SAVED FOR LATER PICKUP. Please read all rules/sections, carefully.

 

  1. Amateurs only.
  2. Only one entry per exhibitor will be accepted in any one section of this class.
  3. No award will be given if entries are not considered worthy; the Judge’s decision is final.
  4. All specimens and plant entries must be grown by exhibitors; flowers for arrangements excepted.  (May be purchased or from other sources)
  5. “Collection” means 3 kinds. In all collections, arrangement will be considered.
  6. Accessories are permitted in all decorative classes; no support wires allowed; decorative wires allowed.
  7. Arrangements are to arrive, completed.
  8. Natural flowers only; no silk or dried items unless stated.
  9. Decoratives/Arrangements must not exceed 15 inches (including container) in any direction unless otherwise stated.
  10. “Small” in design means not to exceed 10 inches in any direction (including container).
  11. Miniature designs are not to exceed 5 inches in any direction (including container).
  12. Specimens must be in clear, colourless, glass containers.  For tall specimens such as hydrangeas, gladioli or sunflowers, a wide-bottom, narrow-neck bottle such as an old milk or wine bottle is recommended for stability.  Weights or plugs can be used to help stability.  If entry is “tippy”, it will not be accepted. No plastic water/pop bottles.
  13. Flowers and plants should be free of disease and insects.  Spent blooms, ragged leaves, water stains, dust and other foreign or unsightly material should be removed.  All dahlia buds should be removed.  Foliage is to be included in all specimen entries unless stated otherwise.
  14. For sections requiring more than one specimen, uniformity of size, form, colour and stage of development is important.
  15. To attach the entry tag to the containers, it is best to punch a hole in the top left corner of the tag, loop an elastic through this and affix on the container.  The committee will have hole punches and extra elastics if required.  Tape does not generally stay put and the tag comes loose.
  16. The Orono Agricultural Society follows the Ontario Judging and Exhibiting Standards. A copy can be obtained at: www.gardenontario.org
  17. No entry fee will be deducted from prize money.
  18. No Cannabis plants or stems, leaves, flowers, buds, seeds of Cannabis plants will be permitted as specimens or as part of any decorative entry.

 

 

CUT FLOWERS

Prize Money:  $6, $4, $3

Specimens

  1. Miniature rose – 1 stem or bloom
  2. Rose – single bloom, any variety
  3. Floating Rose – in a suitable clear bowl floating freely (without foliage)

 

Tips for Gladiolus: Large Standard, florets over 3.5”, Miniature Florets

Are 3.5” and under. General Rule: 1/3 open florets, 1/3 buds showing colour, and 1/3 closed.

  1. Gladiolus – large/standard, yellow, 1 spike
  2. Gladiolus – large/standard, purple, 1 spike
  3. Gladiolus – large/standard, white or cream, 1 spike
  4. Gladiolus – large/standard, any other colour, 1 spike
  5. Gladioli – large/standard, display of 3 spikes, same or different colours
  6. Gladioli – miniature, display of 3 spikes, same or different colours
  7. Dahlia – any type,1 large bloom, over 8 inches diameter
  8. Dahlia – ball type, 1 bloom
  9. Dahlia – cactus type (pointy), 1 bloom
  10. Dahlia – a display of 3 blooms, any variety
  11. Asters – different colours, 3 blooms
  12. Asters – same colour, 3 blooms
  13. Echinacea (cone flower) – 3 stems
  14. Rudbeckia – 3 stems
  15. Sedum – 1 stem
  16. A perennial specimen not listed, named, if possible, 1 stem or spray
  17. A variety of 3 perennials in a vase
  18. Zinnia – pompom, 3 blooms
  19. Zinnia – large-flowered, (2-4 inches), 3 blooms
  20. Zinnia – any other variety or type, 3 blooms
  21. Cosmos – 3 stems
  22. Salvia – 1 variety, same colour, 3 stems
  23. Snapdragons – same or different colours, 3 stems
  24. Petunias – single, 3 sprays
  25. Marigold- 3 blooms under 2 inches
  26. Marigold – 3 blooms over 2 inches
  27. Tuberous Begonia – 1, floating in a bowl, with leaf
  28. Nasturtium – 1 vine-like stem or spray
  29. Coleus – 1 stem, any colour or variety
  30. An annual specimen not listed, named if possible, 1 stem or spray

 

POTTED PLANTS

Prize money: $6, $4, $3

 

Name the flower if possible.  Plant is to be potted at least two months ahead.  Do not use decorative pots. NO HANGING BASKETS. Pots not to exceed 8 inches diameter at the top.  BRING A DRIP TRAY TO PLACE UNDER THE POT IF NECESSARY.

 

  1.  African violet – single or double flower, single crown
  2. Any other flowering house plant, in bloom, named if possible
  3. Small house plant under 10 inches in height, from table to tip
  4. A house plant grown for foliage
  5. Most unusual plant named, if possible
  6. A potted, named culinary herb
  7. A potted cactus
  8. Orchid – Phalaenopsis

 

Decoratives/Arrangements

Prize money:  $10, $6, $4

 

42.“Treasures of The Desert” – a design using cacti and succulents in a container. Soil/sand and                            other natural items allowed.

43.“Royal Tea” a design in a cup and saucer. Purple and White.

  1. “All Alone” a design featuring a single bloom.

45.“Windswept” a design suggesting motion

46.“You’re from Canada Eh?” – a design using red and white flowers in a decorated container

 

 

SPECIALS

 

 Hosta Specials       Prize: $10, $6, $4

Gail Rickard Memorial Special, sponsored by the Flower Committee

  1. Hosta leaves – 3 stems, all different
  2. Hosta leaves – 3 stems all the same variety, size.

 

 Prize: $10, $6, $4         

  1. “People Use the Darndest Containers” – an arrangement in an unusual container

 

 Prize: $10, $6, $4

  1. A display of cut annuals displayed in a vase.

 

Minnie Zegers Memorial Special       Prize: $10, $6, $4

  1. “Roadside Treasures”: a design using Native wildflowers, grasses, vines, berries etc.

 

 Prize: $10, $6, $4

  1. One stem, no taller than 20” from table to tip

 

Inez Harris Memorial Special       Prize: $10, $6, $4

  1. “Our Feathered Friends” – Create a bird habitat using natural or recycled items.

 

 Prize: $15

  1. Most fragrant rose. Note: This is a separate category, NOT judge’s choice from rose section

 

Anita and Earle McBride Memorial Special       Prize: $10, $6, $4

  1. Hydrangea, ball type, one branch, any colour, maximum length 18 inches from table to tip
  2. Hydrangea, any type (other than ball), any colour, one branch (length as above).

 

Narda Hoogkamp Special   Prize:  $10, $6, $4

  1. Reminisce/Meditation – arrangement in Zen Garden style.

 

Lorna Atkins Special   Judge’s Choice       Prize: $15

  1. Best house plant in show

 

Olive Millson Memorial Special   Judge’s Choice       Prize: $15

  1. Best specimen in show

 

The Garden Path, Orono Special – Judge’s Choice       Prize:  $30

  1. Best artistic display or arrangement

 

Apple Blossom Shop Special       Prize:  $30

  1. Exhibitor with the highest number of points

 

Flower Committee Special       Prize:  $10

  1. New exhibitor with the most points

 

JUNIOR FLOWERS

Open to all children under 12. No membership necessary

Must adhere to Adult Rules already outlined.

Prize money: 1st – $6, 2nd – $4, 3rd – $3

 

  1. Arrangement in a 9” pie plate. Small plant material, moss etc. succulents or other small plants. Artistically arranged.
  2. Any indoor, potted plant, named if possible. Under 8” in diameter.
  3. “Fun with Foliage”, arrangement in a 500ml mason jar. Foliage only.
  4. Marigolds, 3 blooms over 2” (5cm)
  5. “Funny Face” Sunflower head, less than 15” in diameter, decorated with small fruit/vegetables to create a face.