ELMHURST GARDEN CLUB

Presents

A CENTURY OF GARDENING

A Flower Show Celebrating our 100th Anniversary

Elmhurst Public Library
125 Prospect Elmhurst, Illinois

Open to the Public
Saturday, August 15,2026, 12:00pm to 4:30pm
Sunday, August 16, 2026, 1:00pm to 4:00pm

 Flower Show Committee

President - Carol Doyle
General Chair - GeorgiaDolan
Design - Marie Starsiak, Ann Livingston, Penny O’Neill
Horticulture - Louellen Rossi,Joyce Murphy, Pat O’Dwyer
Photography - Georgia Dolan
Staging - Cyril Chrabot, Donna Fredrickson, Bev Schripsema
Schedule - Donna Fredrickson
Library - Jez Layman

Join us as a Participant

Read the following schedule of classes and rules. Choose a class or classes that you would like to enter. Fill out the Registration Form at the end of the Schedule. Bring your floral designs, plant specimens or photos to the library on August 15.

Flower Show Schedule and Registration Form

 General Rules of the Show

1)      The show will be open to Elmhurst Garden Club members and their children,residents of Elmhurst, students attending York High School, and Elmhurst Library employees.

2)      Entries should be brought to the Large Meeting Room, on the first floor, at Elmhurst Library on Saturday, August 15, from 10:00am - 11:30am.

3)      Show will be open to the public at 12:00pm until 4:30pm on Saturday, August 15. OnSunday, August 16, the show will be open to the public from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.

4)      Exhibits must be removed on Sunday, August 16, at 4:00pm.

5)      Only one entry may be exhibited in each class, however, an exhibitor may enter as many classes as desired.

6)      Elmhurst Garden Club will care for and water exhibits if necessary, but we cannotassume responsibility for damage or loss of exhibits or personal property of the exhibitor.

7)      Artificial flowers are not acceptable in the show.

8)      Properties furnished by the exhibitor should be marked (out of view) with the exhibitor’s name.

Design Rules

1)      Fresh cut plant material in the Design Division need not be grown by the exhibitor.

2)      Designs must be the work of the exhibitor.

3)      No treatment of fresh plant material, such as paint or glitter is permitted.

4)      A 3”x5” entry card, listing plant material should accompany the design entry. A title and short design description may be added, but it is optional. Entry cards will be available at the registration table.

5)      All designs must fit the specific space and size assigned to the Class.

Horticulture Rules

1)      All entries must have been grown by the exhibitor and been in possession of the exhibitor for a minimum of two months.

2)      Indoor container plants must have been in exhibitor’s possession for two months prior to the show.

3)      Foliage is to be included with a cut specimen bloom only if it is naturally attached to the bloom stem.

4)      Elmhurst garden club will provide specimen bud vases on the day of the show, or you may use your own clear bud vase if you wish.

5)      On the entry card, the exhibitor must identify the name of the plant, or plants if there are multiple plants in a container.

6)      No exhibits can exceed a L15” x W15” x H18” space

Photography Rules

1)      Photos must be 5” x 7” in size with a 8” x 10” mat, not framed

2)      Photos must be the work of the exhibitor

3)      Exhibitors may exhibit only 1 photo per class

4)      Photo will be displayed on the wall at eye level

5)      Photos may be in color or black and white

6)      Photos require an entry card with the plant material listed and the location where photo was taken

7)      Please put your name on the back of the photo and card.

8)      Photos must be picked up on Sunday, August 16 at 4:00pm.

9)      Photos not picked up will be discarded

Flower Show Exhibit Classes

DIVISION I - DESIGN

Section A - Little Wonders

Petite floral designs that fit within a L12”xH12”xH12” space

Class 1 The Rose

A floral design featuring roses. Modern or heirloom roses can be be used along with sprays and individual stem varieties
An asymmetrical mass rose floral design

Class 2 A Fairy Garden

A floral design featuring lush woodland greens with delicate pastel blooms and whimsical accents.
Traditional mass floral arrangement

Class 3 A Garden Flower

A single flower floating in a clear glass or crystal bowl. No line material permitted and flower must fit inside the bowl.
A single flower floating in a glass bowl.

Class 4 A Tea Party for two

A floral design reflecting a table design for a tea party, reminiscent of the 1920’s.
Flowers can be within a vintage style vase, or vintage teacup or silver teapot. Perhaps featuring flowers popular in the 20’s.
A traditional mass floral arrangement

Section B - Through the Decades

Larger floral designs that fit within a L15”x15”x15” space

Class 5  A Victory Garden

A floral design reminiscent of the 1940’s, featuring but not dominated by fruits and/or vegetables
A mass floral design incorporating fruits and/or vegetables

Class 6  ‘Cool’ Cat

A floral design reminiscent of the 1950’s., featuring a hip stylish design and perhaps using someflowers popular during this decade like carnations, daisies gladiolas, and lilies, or using ‘cool’ pastel toned colors like white, pink or peach A tradition floral line design

Class 7 Psychedelic Flower Power

A floral design reminiscent of the 1960’s, featuring a floral design with pops of bold color and perhaps using flowers popular in this decade such as lilies, chrysanthemums, sunflowers, daisies, wildflowers

A free form floral design with color and movement

Class 8 The Next 100 Years

A futuristic modern floral design using innovative nonconventional elements

Section A - Cut Specimen Plants

Single stem in a clear bud vase

DIVISION II - HORTICULTURE

Class  9  Flowering Annuals

Examples: Marigold, zinnia, cosmos, geranium, amaranth, dahlia

Class 10 Flowering Perennials

Examples: Rose, coneflower, hydrangea, black eyed Susan,

Class 11 Focus on Foliage

Examples: Hosta, coral bells, sedum, ferns, coleus,

Section B - Edible Plants

Display on a white paper plate
Large: One specimen
Small: Two to three specimens

Class 12 Vegetables

Examples: Tomato, cucumber, eggplant

Class 13 Fruit

Examples: Apple, watermelon, blueberries

Class 14 Herbs

Examples: Basil, parsley, rosemary
Can be exhibited in a glass bud vase

Section C - Indoor Container Grown Plants

Size: Plant and pot together cannot exceed L15”xW15”xH18”

Class 15 Houseplant
Class 16 Terrarium
Class 17 Dish Garden
Class 18 Succulents

Section D - Plants Grown from the Elmhurst Library Seed Bank

Class 19 Special Cut Specimens

If you picked up a packet of seeds being offered at the library, planted them in your garden, and they grew, pick one specimen, and bring it to display at the library in a bud vase.

DIVISION III - PHOTOGRAPHY

Class 20 Photos of Illinois Native Plants
Class 21 Floral Macro Photography

Taking close-ups and capturing minute details

Class 22 Landscape Photos

To download this schedule and list of classes, click here.

A Horticulture example