I feel much better today, I'd say at 80%. I had to take one nap, and I'm having trouble keeping food down, but I think that may be under control now. Yeah! So I have enough energy to do a more ambitious post about the Flower Show.
This is another of the Standard Flower Show contests. This was called "A Fare to Remember," and the description is "A functional design for a dining table or buffet based on a World's Fair.
Fourth place was "Liberty, Carried West." The intent (I'll share most of it for this one) says, "Liberty, carried west,... reinterprets the Liberty Float from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, reflecting the bell's transfer from Philadelphia to San Francisco, symbolizing national unity and recovery following a 1906 earthquake." This was entered by an individual.
The judges said it was colorful, balanced, and artfully arranged. They took issue with the size of the centerpiece, noting that it made the table less than functional for dining which was part of the rules.
Yeah, that centerpiece is lovely but would be awkward at an actual dinner. I'm sure we've all been victims of the obstructing centerpiece.
Third place is "Tabletelling: A World's Fair Memory." The intent says, "Remembering the feeling after the 1964 New York World's Fair inside a warm, bright room... Mid-century lines and florals hold that bright space-age optimism." This was another entry from one or maybe two individuals.
The judges said, "The repetition of spirals and crossing angles bring to life the mid-century sense of space-age optimism." But they thought there were too many lucite containers with greens that interrupted the rhythm.
I guess I didn't catch all the lucite containers because there aren't many in the picture, and anyway, I think they echo the famous globe of the NY Fair which is pictured on the poster. You know I'm not a huge fan of orange, but I loved the use of color in this exhibit. It's just crackling with energy. If I'd done it, I might have tried to connect the elements more with lucite tubes and spheres- maybe along the edges. Yes, MORE spheres and angles!
And this is just glorious!
Second place went to the Chestnut Hills Garden Club with "Beneath Eiffel's Towering Marvel." The intent says, "On the longest summer day, Pierre awaits his intended at the Paris Exposition... the selected blooms... were chosen for their meaning in the language of flowers."
The judges said the arrangement was colorful, pristine and meaningful. "Pierre's intended will be swept away." They liked the textures, but thought the off-white hydrangeas detracted.
I guess I didn't like the hydrangeas either because I didn't include them in a picture! Haha. I thought the suggestion of the Eiffel Tower and outdoor dining was very well done.
The blue ribbon went to the Garden Club of Wilmington with "Blooms: Bridging Tradition into Future." The intent is "Inspired by memories of World's Fair Osaka 1970, a former visitor merges the minimalism of Japanese esthetics with Western convenience."
The judges said, "remarkable contrasting textural harmony... artful...supports the compelling narrative." They particularly liked the floral sushi.
Here's the sushi.
I particularly liked this decoration with the red-twig dogwood and the spiral wreath, except I wanted the twigs to be vertical.
So what do I think? Hmm. it's tough. I really thought the NY Fair with the orange and yellow was spectacular, and fit the era exceptionally well. I would have capitalized more on the spheres and angles as I mentioned. I really wasn't wowed by the Osaka one- there was nothing there that said "World's Fair;" it was a Japanese table anywhere, any time, but the floral sushi was cool, and they used a larger variety of plant materials (which wasn't mentioned by the judges, but I think it's a factor they consider.)
I did get to the grocery store and did some editing. Sorted mail and papers from while I was gone and answered a bunch of emails. Hopefully, tomorrow there will be no reasonable excuses for not getting a lot accomplished.
 | See PFS 2026- Begonias |
