Division I Horticulture

Full of Promise

Over 300 specimens were entered in the 2018 Division I, Horticulture competition. The Sections consisted of “To the Point,” cacti and succulents; “Firecrackers,” miniature cacti and succulents; “Surprise Blooms,” orchids; “Buried Beauty,” forced bulbs, tubers, rhizomes; “On the Patio,” container-grown foliage; “Repotted,” container-grown flowering; “Garden Bones,” arboreals; “Fluttering Foliage,” dwarf or miniature arboreals; “Kings of the Hill,” container-grown heritage plants; and “Ducklings and Dogwoods,” combination planters.

Pictured are the top award winning horticulture exhibits.

SECTION A, Horticulture Award of Excellence and Mary Lou Smith Award, Christopher Allen, Mammillaria bombycina

Elisabeth Swain Propagation Award, Bronwyn Schoelzel, Cymbidium Dag ‘Dorothy’

SECTION B, Elfin Award, Julia Metcalf, Albuca spiralis – Corkscrew albuca

SECTION C, Mary Lou Smith Award, Christopher Allen, Dendrobium kingianum

SECTION D, Mary Lou Smith Award, Dottie Fox, Hippeastrum ‘Red Lion’ – Red Lion amaryllis

SECTION E, Grower’s Choice Award, Bronwyn Schoelzel, Begonia ‘Snoopy’

SECTION F, Grower’s Choice Award, Christopher Allen, Sinningia leucotricha

SECTION G, Arboreal Award, Maria Nahom,

SECTION H, Elfin Award, Sharon Bender, Thuja plicata ‘Whipcord’ – Whipcord arborvitae

SECTION J, Grower's Choice Award, Peggy Townsend, Dish Garden

Section I, Grower's Choice Award, Trish Manfredi, Aechmea fasciata - Urn bromeliad

Division II - Design

Beauty Anticipated

Section A , Afternoons Cool and Balmy – Eligible for Club Competition Award

Class 1, RED HOT COALS, Functional Table Design

Kathleen Ginotti, Winner of NGC Club Competition Award, and First Place in Division II, Section A, Class 1, Red Hot Coals category, President, Kensington Garden Club

Karen Handal, 2nd Place 90+ President, Garden Club of Old Greenwich

Shirley Jackson, 3rd Place 90+, President, Evergreen Garden Club

Lynda Brown, Honorable Mention, President, Manchester Garden Club

Section B – Plum Fun – Eligible for Petite Award

Section C, Spring Melodies – Eligible for Table Artistry Award

Class 5, GYPSY VIOLINS, Functional Alfresco Table Design

Ginni Donovan, Winner of National Garden Clubs's Table Artistry Award and First Place winner in Division II, Section C, Class 5, Gypsy Violins category.

Kristine Urbanik, 2nd Place 90+

Kymrie Zaslow, 3rd Place

Beth Brunone, Honorable Mention

Class 7, UP SCALE, Semi-Formal Functional Table Design

Cheryl Damiani, First Place winner in Division II, Section C, Class 7, Up Scale category.

Lynda Tingley, 2nd Place

Ginni Donovan, 3rd Place

Alison Feaster, Honorable Mention

Class 6, VANILLA NOTES & COFFEE SWIRLS, Exhibition Table

Amber Parr, First Place winner in Division II, Section c, Class 6, Vanilla Notes & Coffee Swirls category.

Trish Manfredi, 2nd Place 90+

Marilyn Burkhart, 3rd Place

Carol Ferraro, Honorable Mention

Section D, Earth Songs – Eligible for Designer’s Choice Award

Class 8, MARCH WINDS, A Design

Debbie MacDonald, First Place winner in Division II, Section D, Class 8, March Winds category.

Pat McNelis, 2nd Place

Peggy Townsend, 3rd Place 90+

Sharon Bender, Honorable Mention

Class 9, PIROUETTING BIRDS, Floor Design

Mary Lyons, First Place winner in Division II, Section D, Class 9, Pirouetting Birds category.

Margaret Colby, 2nd Place 90+

Lawrence Huzi, 3rd Place

MaryAnne Wood, Honorable Mention

Class 10, RUSHING WATERFALLS, Cascade Design

Maria Nahom, Winner of National Garden Club's Designer's Choice Award and First Place winner in Division II, Section D, Class 10 Rushing Waterfalls category.

Tony Poitras, 2nd Place 90+

Deborah Vallas, 3rd Place

Leslie Martino, Honorable Mention

Section E, Sweeping Vistas – Eligible for CT Judges Design Award

Class 11, Sapphire Blue Skies, A Design

Ronnie Schoelzel, First Place winner in Division II, Section E, Class 11 Sapphire Blue Skies category.

Karin Pyskaty, 2nd Place 90+

Jerry Dawson, 3rd Place

Wendy Howard, Honorable Mention

Class 12, Velvet Green Hills, All Foliage Design

Larry Huzi, Winner of FGCCT Terry Stoleson Creative Design Award and First Place winner in Division II, Section E, Class 12 Velvet Green Hills category.

Margareta Kotch, 2nd Place 90+

Tracy Zeller, 3rd Place 90+

Lois Nichols, Honorable Mention

Class 13, Sparkling Ponds, A Design

MaryEllen Unger, Winner of National Garden Clubs Award of Design Excellence, CT Award of Design Excellence and First Place winner in Division II, Section E, Class 13 Sparkling Ponds category.

Patricia Dray, 2nd Play 90+

Carmelina Villani, 3rd Place 90+

Deb Osborne, Honorable Mention

Section F, Dazzling Profusion – Eligible for Designer’s Choice Award

Class 14, UNFURLING FIDDLEHEADS, A Design

Cathy Ritch, First Place winner in Division II, Section F, Class 14, Unfurling Fiddleheads category.

Eunice Lasala, 2nd Place 90+

Cheryl Cappiali, 3rd Place

Mary Pura, Honorable Mention

Class 15, BUTTERFLY’S DRUNKEN DANCE, A Design

Peggy Townsend, First Place winner in Division II, Section F, Class 15 Butterfly's Drunken Dance, Cherry category.

Donna Nowak, 2nd Place 90+

Jan Cernoch, 3rd Place

Susie vonEggers, Honorable Mention

Class 16, CHERRY BLOSSOM PINK & APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE, Low-Profile Design

MaryAnn Tyma, Winner of FGCCT Designer's Choice Award and First Place in Division II, Section F, Class 16, Cherry Blossom Pink & Apple Blossom White category.

Martina Doshan, 2nd Place 90+

Carolyn Bernard, 3rd Place 90+

Tony Poitras, Honorable Mention 90+

Division III, Education Awards

Gardening Wealth

This year’s Educational Theme, “Gardening Wealth,” supported the concepts championed by The FGCCT’s theme, “Plant Connecticut.” Those are: conservation of water, caring about pollinators, and considering organic gardening. The five Classes upon which educational displays were based included: Plant Connecticut; Connection to the Land; The Farmers Almanac; Commitment to the Land; and Root, Shoots, Buckets and Boots. Below are all the entries in this competition. To view the list of award winners in this division, click here