Do you have a beautiful plant that you have lovingly cultivated and cared for that brings you such pride you want to show it off? Don't let your abundance of questions keep your pride and joy from taking the show. Although there is no way to guarantee a first place finish, there are ways to increase the odds of doing well in a flower show. Even if you're not sure about entering a plant for this years' show, this talk is guaranteed to give you valuable tips and the inspiration you might need to take a chance at a Blue Ribbon.

Learn first hand from Art Scarpa and Carrie Waterman, both horticulture judges and Blue ribbon winners many times over, what judges are looking for in a blue ribbon winner and what the best exhibitors do to prepare their plants for competition. Art and Carrie team up to give a lesson in what wins ribbons at a horticultural competition. They will discuss all aspects of preparing your plant for presentation including grooming, exhibit composition, nomenclature, rules and requirements, and etiquette.

Once you've been given the inside scoop on winning a ribbon, what better place to put your skills to the test than at BLOOMS! at the Boston Flower and Garden Show? BLOOMS! features an Amateur Horticulture Competition open to all individuals, plant societies, and garden clubs. This year Mass Hort is delighted to welcome back junior exhibitors, age 16 or under, with a selection of Junior Horticulture Classes. Submissions for the BLOOMS! Am Hort competition must have been in your possession no later than December 11, 2011 and will be accepted for admission at the show on Monday, March 12^th, 2012. Check out the Am Hort Schedule by going to the Mass Hort website at http://www.masshort.org/Blooms-and-the-Boston-Flower-&-Garden-Show , and clicking on the link to Competition Schedules.

Registration is $8 for members and $12 for non-members.

Carrie Waterman counts, among her accolades, past Chairman of the Amateur Horticulture Competition at the New England Spring Flower Show (3 years) and the Boston Flower and Garden Show (1 year). She has served on the Am Hort Committee for the past 15 years as Schedule Chair, Classification (passing) Chair, Judges Chair, and Awards Chair.

Art Scarpa has been a grower for over 25 years of all types of indoor and outdoor plants. He maintains a 600 sq. ft. hobby greenhouse. Art is the founder of the Cactus and Succulent Society of Massachusetts, a certified judge, lecturer, many times over competitor and blue ribbon winner in plant show competitions as well as a member of many plant societies.