SHOW RULES AND REGULATIONS

THE SHOW

1.  General information
An orchid show will be presented by The Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens at the Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, Ontario, on February 27-28, 2010.

Presentation of awards/trophies will take place 5:30 p.m., after doors close to the public, on Saturday, February 27, 2010.

2.  Exhibit set-up and takedown

• Exhibitors must set-up exhibits on the Friday before the show.
• The main area of exhibition, the front Colonnade and the Auditorium Sales Area will be available from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 pm.  Storage area for orchid plants for displays will be provided.
• Registration will be open from noon to 9:00 p.m.  Subsequent entries will be exhibited but not judged. It is strongly advised that early registration of plants be forwarded by e-mail to Robert Brown at robert6938@rogers.com no later than midnight, Thursday, February 25, 2010.
• All exhibits must be left in place until 5.00pm, Sunday, February 28, 2010.

3.  Exhibition

• Each exhibitor agrees, upon registration, to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Show.
• Commercial exhibitors are required to place an exhibit in the Show.
• Group exhibit Class A1 is not open to commercial exhibitors.
• Display space must be reserved through the Show Chairman: Chris Foden, 889 Morley Avenue, Milton, ON, L9T 4Y2, fodens@sympatico.ca, Tel.905-876-4848.
•  Reasonable effort will be made to provide the space requested, but the Show Committee reserves the right to limit space allocated to individual exhibitors.
• There are no fees to the exhibitor for entries, nor assistance in setting up of exhibits.
• Neither the Royal Botanical Gardens nor the Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens is responsible for the loss of or damage to plants, blooms, corsages, containers, or other property of exhibitors.  However, every precaution will be taken to ensure their safety.

4.  Shipped in materials
All shipments of plants, cut flowers or exhibit materials to be displayed at the show, must be received no later than the Thursday, before the show.  These display materials must be sent postpaid to Orchid Society of Royal Botanical Gardens c/o Chris Foden (Show Chair Orchid Show). Please first contact via e-mail for acceptance of shipment – fodens@sympatico.ca.  In the event the exhibitor cannot be present, the Show Committee will display the material to its best advantage.  If return of the material is requested, it will be returned at the exhibitor's expense.  All exhibits not claimed by the exhibitor, or the disposal of which are not specified, will be distributed by the Show Committee.

5.  Display Specifications

• Standard rectangular tables are provided; however, any other cloths, backgrounds, foliage plants etc., must be furnished by the exhibitors.
• Foliage plants, moss, etc. may supplement exhibits, but no artificial or dyed moss, flowers, or foliage of any kind may be permitted, with the exception of artificial grass as a floor covering.  Plants in flower or cut flowers other than orchids will not be permitted in an exhibit.
• No cut flowers will be permitted in flowering exhibits, and no flowering plants will be permitted in cut flower exhibits.
• All plants or cut flowers exhibited must be properly labeled. Identification of the owner is not allowed until judging is completed.
• Any lighting used for effect is the responsibility of and must be furnished by the exhibitor.  Effect lighting, not colour corrected, may be turned off until after the judging.
• As hosting society, we will provide all cards displaying exhibitors’ names.  No other identification signs will be permitted.
• For the purpose of this show, ‘amateur’ is defined as any person who has not sold more than a total of five hundred (500) plants and/or blooms or ten (10) flower arrangements in the last year.

JUDGING

1.  General information

AOS Judging

An American Orchid Society (A.O.S.) sanctioned show must comply with the current rules of the American Orchid Society Handbook on Judging and Exhibition and any interim rules issued by the A.O.S. Judging Committee.  At the show, there must be three or more judges accredited by the American Orchid Society (A.O.S.).  The decisions of these judges will be final.

Show Ribbon Judging
Only properly authorized persons will be permitted in the show area during judging.  All judges and clerks are expected to familiarize themselves with the show rules.  All plants and flowers will be considered for recognition based on present quality, without regard to previous awards.  To maintain highly competitive standards, no trophies or other recognition will be awarded if, in the judge’s opinion, the flower, plant or exhibit does not warrant such recognition.  Entries not in accordance with the schedule shall be disqualified, and the Show Committee reserves the right to remove all inferior exhibits or any part of them.  Judges may subdivide or add additional classes or awards at their discretion.  Honorable Mention ribbons may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.  All questions regarding the interpretation of these rules or regulations shall be referred to the Judging Chair for a decision.  Any plants sold, which are part of an exhibit, shall not be removed from the exhibit before the show is closed.

2.  A.O.S. Awards
This show has been approved for A.O.S. judging.  All flowers, whether entered for ribbon judging or not, will be considered for A.O.S. awards unless otherwise marked by the exhibitor.  If the flowers have previously been exhibited at an A.O.S. approved function, they are considered to have been screened and therefore, are not eligible for further consideration.  They should be marked, "Not for A.O.S. judging".  This will not disqualify the flower from consideration in the proper ribbon or trophy class.  Submission of plants or cut flowers for judging shall obligate the exhibitor to accept any award granted and to pay any fees connected with such an award except where he has clearly indicated before the judging that his entry is not to be A.O.S. judged.

3.  Ribbon judging
First, second and third place ribbons may be awarded to the best entries in each class other than a trophy class.  An honorable mention ribbon award may be offered when, in the opinion of the judges, additional recognition is merited.  All plants and cut flowers must be correctly entered in the appropriate class, or reclassified by a judge, to be eligible for ribbon judging.  Exhibitors will enter their plants using computer-generated tags.  After completing the registration of the material, the computer-generated tag goes on the plant.  Entry lists should show plant parentage, clonal name, if assigned, and previous awards, if any, to the clone. (See section on Entry of Plant and Exhibits). Each plant should be entered into one class only except that an individual plant or cut flower may be entered in one of classes 10-112 and in classes 114 and 121 and in our newly established ‘Fragrance category.  An official copy of the correct entry classes to enter your plants is available at the entry desk.  Where a plant could conceivably fit into more than one class, the exhibitor shall enter it into the first applicable class listed.  A mericlone is considered a vegetative division of the original plant and must be treated as such.  If a plant is a mericlone, it should be so designated and the clonal name given.  Species classes will include natural hybrids.  Criteria employed in ribbon class definitions refer to characteristics prevailing for mature plants grown according to normal horticultural practices.

4.  Reclassifying entries
Improperly entered plants/exhibits may be either reclassified or disqualified at the discretion of the judges.

5.  Trophy eligibility
All trophies are open to all exhibitors in this show, if the exhibit is entered properly and show rules are complied with, unless otherwise specified in this schedule.

6.  Plant and flower trophies
In order to be eligible for any special trophies, plants and exhibits must be entered for ribbon judging.  No separate entry is required.

7.  Exhibit trophies
Each exhibit may be entered in ONE CLASS ONLY.  All exhibits must be entered to be eligible for judging.  The computer produced entry tag goes on the exhibit.  All exhibits are eligible for the A.O.S. Show Trophy and will be judged in accordance to the criteria in the current A.O.S. Handbook on Judging and Exhibition.

CLASSIFICATION

1.         Entries not in accordance with the schedule may be disqualified, and the Show Committee reserves the right to remove all inferior plants and/or exhibits at any time.

2.         In general, plants should be entered in the first applicable class.  If in doubt, see the Mid-America Classification Schedule.

3.         A meristem plant or cut flower may not be entered as a seedling blooming for the first time.

4.         For purposes of this schedule, the word "hybrid" means a cross made with the genus listed, unless preceded by the word "intergeneric", in which case, two or more different genera are used in the cross.

5.         The appropriate class for intergeneric hybrids shall be the first class for intergeneric crosses, which lists one of the genera making up the hybrids.  (See lists of genera belonging to each class at the registration desk.)

6.         The same exhibit cannot be entered in more than one class.  Any individual plant or cut flower can be entered in one of classes 10 –112 and in classes 113 and 114 and our newly established Fragrance category.

7.         For the purpose of this show, an amateur is defined as any person who has not sold more than a total of five hundred (500) plants and/or flowers in the last year.

8.         Colour Definition:

a.)  In general, blush colours and two-toned flowers should be entered in the "Other Colours" classifications with the exception of Phalaenopsis, which has a dedicated blush class.

b.)  Colour in Paphiopedilum hybrids is usually based on the dominant petal and lip colour of the flower.

• Equitant Oncidium hybrid classification is based on the lip colour and its markings.

ENTRY OF PLANTS AND EXHIBITS

1.         Read the show Rules & Regulations.  It is your responsibility to follow them or risk disqualification.

2.         The EXHIBIT NO. is the number on your designated area.

3.         Each Exhibitor within an Exhibit must have a separate OWNER NO. in order to enter plants for judging.

4.         Make a list of plants to be judged, giving parentage for all hybrids and showing the class number into which you wish them entered. Also, state any previous awards. PLEASE type or print LEGIBLY, our staff is not trained in hieroglyphics & will return any illegible entries.

5.         When the computer lists are returned please check for errors & fasten the tags to the appropriate plants.

6.         The current Mid-America class list for genera along with other references to assist you in entering your plants into the correct classes will be available at the plant registration desk.  WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK FOR HELP!!!

7.         Plant registration lists (form available at www.orsrbg.ca and follow the links to Annual Show) may be submitted by E-mail no later then midnight, February 26, 2009 to:- Robert Brown, E-mail: robert6938@rogers.com.

SPECIAL AWARDS

• American Orchid Society Awards:  FCC, AM, HCC, CCM, and others may be given to qualifying plants.

• The AOS Show Trophy may be awarded under the provisions of the Judging Handbook to the best display in show.

• The Canadian Orchid Congress Award may be awarded to the most meritorious exhibit of orchids by an individual.

• Best of Show may be awarded at the discretion of the judges upon the merit of such an entry.

• Best Display Trophies may be awarded to the best exhibition in each of classes 1 – 4 of the group exhibits and Educational exhibits.

• Best Educational Exhibit

• Best Visiting Society Display

• Best Display by an Amateur

• Best Display by a Junior (16 yrs & under)

• Best Cattleya Alliance Species

• Best Cattleya Hybrid

• Best Paphiopedilum Species

• Best Paphiopedilum Hybrid

• Best Phragmipedium Species

• Best Phragmipedium Hybrid

16. Best of Class 045

17. Best Vanda Alliance

• Best Phalaenopsis / Doritis Species

• Best Phalaenopsis Hybrid

• Best Brassia

• Best Oncidium Alliance Award

• Best Cymbidium Alliance

• Best Dendrobium

• Best of Classes 101-105

• Best Lycaste (Class 106)

• Best of Classes 107 - 109

• Best of Classes 110 – 112

• Best Fragrance

• Best Specimen Plant

• Best in Show

ART REGULATIONS

1. No more than two entries per category may be displayed.

2. All entries must be the work of the exhibitor – all original.

3. Work previously exhibited at a RBG Orchid Show is not eligible.

4. Paintings and photographs must be framed and ready to hang, name and address on back.

5. All artwork must be on display from Friday, February 26, 2010 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

6. The exhibitors must remove their artwork promptly at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

ART / FLORAL DISPLAY AWARDS

1.   Best Painting/ Mixed Media

2.   Best Watercolour

3.   Best Three Dimensional Craft

4.   Best Photograph or Digital Art

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES