Thanks Linda :-)

I am planning on going, unless there is yet another freak ice storm (I thought one every few years was supposed to be the limit, but we've had several this year already)...
My email sometimes goes into people's spam, so it's entirely possible they never got it...
Now, do I bring baked goods, or would that be weird for a firstie?

Cheers,

Karin

Hi Karin
Brrr! You are quite the photographer! Hope you make it to your show! (Cookies sound to me like a nice thing to bring if you expect to go home with a bunch of plants or leaves!)

I have just been on an adventure at my local grocery store, looking for Solo Cups (brand name). Could not find them, so will "make-do" with 2 oz condiment cups with lids which they did have. Also, 3 oz Dixie paper cups, and 9 oz thin plastic cups I will cut down to 3 oz size. Also got some Silicone cupcake bakers to use as decorative holders and support for the plastic cups. Also got some children's tiny party cups of about 1.5 to 2 ozs. that are plastic. Also got drops from the Pet Shop that are used in aquariums to remove chloramine and gave an extra bottle of drops to an AV buddy. The pet shop folks said that the drops can't be used for human drinking water. I will try to do some research on-line to find out why not. Made a "house call" to a friend and passed along tips I learned on the forum.

The cups are for leaves I put down in August that are finally ready to separate from Mama leaves and put into their own pots. Getting them ready to bring a bunch to the club meeting.

I have learned so much on this forum about what to expect from clubs, that I am really looking forward to attending my first meeting! I sent them a bunch of plants for their sale last Fall but was not able to go myself. They have sales twice a year, but have not had not a show in a long time. So they have planned a show date for next Fall. Gives me plenty of time to prepare.

If it wasn't for this Forum, I never would have considered entering a show. But they said they will need plants to be entered.

Joanne

Karin,

Just show up! The usual protocol is to have one or two people bring the snacks for the meeting. If you decide to join, you can sign up for a meeting. They usually have a short business meeting, an educational program and then usually a raffle to raise money. These are mature or highly-desired plants. There are also door prizes which is a free drawing or you just take what you want. These will consist of leaves, babies, etc. This is a generalization, of course, but most plant club meetings run this way.

Beautiful photo! And a thaw is on the way. Tuesday-wind chill-45 below. Saturday-50 degrees. Hurry up, Spring!!!

Joanne,

It's nice to reach the point where you feel comfortable showing your plants, isn't it? :)
Enter as many of your plants as you can even if they aren't 'perfect'. It helps to have a show be as 'showy' as possible! Make sure you check out the winners and see if you can deduce why some have won and some have not. It is a great learning experience!

Linda

Linda, Thanks! I got motivated because of what I read on some of the older threads on this forum about first-timers showing plants, being encouraged, and winning ribbons.
It is really the "fault" of this forum, because before I joined, I was in blissful ignorance of all my lopsided plants I never thought to turn, etc., etc. Then I started sending for what people suggested, and, lo and behold, they grow into perfectly symmetrical whorls. I have a couple of Rob's minis that will be perfect to transport. I also have a few vintage plants it might be fun to show. For example, Wisteria just bloomed, very sweet.
I think "our" (I haven't even joined yet!) club is very low-key.
Now that I have become the "plant lady" (family's new nickname for moi), I think the club will be a good outlet in many ways. I know, I know, next is dogs! The club members do all seem to have "Named" as well as "hybrids" and plain ole' mutts. (Although I haven't joined yet, I have met some members and others send me email.)
Joanne

I am pretty much decided on going today, especially since one of the points on the agenda is meeting "local" commercial growers - which means if I attend even only one meeting, this should tell me where I can buy new av's...
Trying not to expect too much of/if anything - I've worked with horticultural and art societies before, and though they all work along the same principle (within their field), some are really cordial and others are totally snooty. I assume it's the same with any society. Just hoping for the better of course...
Anyhow, I'll let you know how it goes :-)

Oh, and Joanne, having your family call you 'plant lady' is one thing, I had random people in my apartment building asking me for plant advice, just because I had some plants on my balcony, and I guess my grow shelf was visible in the window. 'So what do you do with orchids...?' - 'actually, I just watch them decline slowly...'. And my family calls me 'chocolate froggy' ;-) you get 3 guesses as to why.

Karin

@Joanne: I've been searching high and low for 1.5-2 oz plastic cups!! May I ask what brand the children's party cups are and which store? Thanks.

Hi, UV,
I got them at Safeway, in a section where they have children's novelty party items. Not in the plastic cup section. They are tall and narrow and deeply colored. Some blue, some red, etc. They are probably meant for small amounts of candies. I will check the brand name on the package when I get home tonight. I noticed that they were manufactured in the U.S.
I did not measure the volume yet. I knew I should have probably done that before posting about them.
I just got them last night. I was going to measure the volume this a.m. by pouring water into the 2 oz. then pouring it into the other ones. I will follow up around 10 p.m. PST tonight.

(I had a plant emergency this a.m. One of my older plants had some kind of bug on the flowers, so I pulled it all apart, pulled all the leaves off, washed them in soap and water, then wrapped the plant for the trash and out it went. I put the leaves in fresh water to wait until I can pot them up. I had to find a spot to quarantine them. Then I had to spray the area where plants are in the same room. By the time I finished, my "car pool" was tooting for me. I am guessing that I must have brought something home from one of the Ace hardward plants that perhaps was not quarantined for a long enough time.)
Joanne

Karin
We will look forward to reading your report! I just got a book from the library that looks really good. It is entitled African Violets The Complete guide by Joan Hill and Gwen Goodship. It has a section on preparing violets for exhibition. It is a slim volume with lots of hand-drawn illustrations and photos.
Oh, i just realized, it is an UK book.
Joanne

So I went, walked in, and got introduced to everyone. I was impressed by the knowledge amassed between a few individuals, but also a bit overwhelmed. There was a small exhibit of gesneriads (which I totally fell in love with) and a show of the worst (to-do) plants they could come up with. And then, the part I was most looking forward to, was a bit of a letdown. Apparently "meet the commercials" didn't mean visiting hybridizers from the area, but a movie about American growers. Still interesting, but not what I expected.
Verdict: I think I'll go back, but am not 100% sold.

Joanne, sounds like an interesting book - I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy...

Karin

Thanks for letting us know your experience. Joanne

Sounds as though someone is going to start growing gesneriads ;)

Update for Ultra_Violet,
The brand name of the 2 oz condiment cups with lids is Diamond. They are called Daily mini cups multi purpose.
www.diamondbrands.com 800-392-2575
Bar code 0 41426 80001 0
They were in the disposable cups and plates section of the large grocery store, Safeway. (But a little hard to find. Hanging on a display rack.) I suppose the lids can be used as mini saucers. They are wide and shallow in shape. They came in a package of 50. They look like they should work well for larger leaves because they are so wide.

The hard plastic smaller cups hold about 1.25 oz. They are called Mini Party Cups. Item No. 9370 Distributed by Good Living, Wiegman Rd, Hayward, Calif 94544
www.directcustomerservice.com
bar code 7 33046 02074 8
They are more tall and narrow.
They came in a package of 24 pieces. The store tag says "jello aisle." I found them in a section that had children's novelty party decoration items. I don't know if they will work, I just got them because they were there.

I will let you know if either one gives exceptional results.

A couple of months ago, I got seed trays from a hardware store/nursery. They consist of 24 small sections. They do not seem to be working too well. They are a little too tiny for the leaves, and too close together. They are more tall and narrow rather than short and wide. Probably a little too deep for leaves. The dome did not work, it was too close to the leaves. So I put it inside another domed tray.

I tried a mini creamer for a tiny leaf, but that did not work too well, either. It was difficult to get just the right amount of water. Too tiny for my hands.

I don't know if the paper Dixie cups will work at all, but they are the recommended 3 oz. size. I will try one or two and place them inside the 9 oz. thin plastic cups that I cut down in size. So if the paper begins to disintegrate, they will be supported and I can replace them.

Trial and error.

Joanne

@Joanne: Thanks so much for the very detailed info! I will have to pay a visit to the Safeway. I too will also experiment with them if I can find them.

Karin, the book is really good! I will try to get my own copy. Joanne