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Garden Forum sponsors flower show on Father’s Day
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The Garden Forum of Greater Youngstown has sponsored flower shows almost from its beginning. Founded in 1930, the organization sponsored its first flower show in 1932.
On Sunday, the forum hosted its summer show at Davis Education and Visitor Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens of Mill Creek MetroParks. A spring show was in May.
The forum will have a holiday design program with a luncheon in November. The Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society will sponsor the National Mid-West Dahlia Show in September.
Irene John, forum treasurer, said the June event, called the summer show, coincides with Father’s Day. The event even has had themes relating to that occasion.
“Honeymoon” was the theme of this event with Dianna Mullins as flower-show chairwoman. The show attracted 78 entries in horticulture and 12 in design.
Mullins said the flower shows are open to members of the 34 garden clubs in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties that are members of the Garden Forum and to the public. For the garden clubs, Mullins explained, the forum is “the umbrella organization.”
The forum, she said, provides speakers for clubs, programs and sponsors flower shows.
“We’re always looking for new speakers,” Mullins said.
Mullins, who has judged many flower shows, said “perfection” is what judges seek. She said requirements for award-winning entries are “nice looking habitat, even spacing of leaves, good color, cleanliness, no bugs and no brown tips.”
Judges at Sunday’s show were Bev Patrick, Rose Marie Roth and Mullins.
Tables, covered with with cloths, were set up in the Davis center near the windows to showcase the horticulture entries. All were staged in green-colored bottles, which lent a uniform look to the array. Entries gave the Latin and common names of the plants.
Mullins, who cultivates some 39 types of clematis in her garden, entered in the collection category and won best there along with best of show. (The other judges evaluated her entry.) Another collection featured ferns.
“I’ve played in the dirt for years,” said Mullins, who has been involved with the forum for a decade. “I find gardening relaxing,” she said. She added gardening was “therapeutic” after the death of her husband.
“My Dad always had flowers growing. I got it from him,” John said of her interest in gardening with a preference for perennials. ““I just hope God lets it grow,” she said.
In the design group in another area of the Davis center, Millie Campean of Gleaners Garden Club won best of show with a Hawaiian-themed entry. It featured alstromeria flowers, hosta, driftwood and palm spathe.
“In this, you look for creative designs and use of color,” Mullins said.
Mullins said the forum’s next big project will be two shows at the Canfield Fair. This year, 27 judges will evaluate some 2,000 entries in horticulture and design.
“Home Grown Fun” is the theme for the fair and flower show.
For information on the Garden Forum, call Fellows Riverside Gardens at 330-740-7116.