Motspur Park Horticultural Society
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Autumn show
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2025
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Entries are submitted between 09:30 and 11:00
- Judging commences at 11:15.
- The Show opens to the public at 14:30.
- Cups and certificates are presented at 16:00.
Everyone is welcome, both members and non-members, either to submit
entries or just to come and see the exhibits, have a cup of tea and a
piece of homemade cake, and maybe win something on the tombola.
Entries should be emailed to motspurparkhorticulturalsoc@gmail.com
SECTION 1- CUT FLOWERS
All cut flowers should be presented in a vase of water.
You may use cotton wool, tissue, or kitchen roll to support the
blooms.
Daisies
| Category | Quantity | |
| 1 | Michaelmas Daisies | 1 stem |
| 2 | Yellow Daisies | 3 stems |
| 3 | A vase of mixed Daisies | 5 stems |
Dahlias
| Category | Quantity | |
| 4 | Medium decorative (170 - 220mm) | 3 blooms |
| 5 | Medium cactus or semi cactus (170 – 220mm) | 3 blooms |
| 6 | Small / miniature decorative (115 -170mm) - 3 blooms | |
| 7 | Small cactus / semi cactus (115 - 170mm) | 3 blooms |
| 8 | Miniature ball dahlias (52 – 115mm) | 3 blooms |
| 9 | Pom-Pom dahlias (not exceeding 55mm) | 3 blooms |
| 10 | A single flowered dahlia | 3 blooms |
| 11 | Any other dahlia not mentioned above | 1 stem |
| 12 | A vase of mixed dahlias | 5 stems |
Miscellaneous Cut Flowers
| Category | Quantity | |
| 13 | Clematis - 2 blooms | |
| 14 | 1 specimen spike or spray (excluding gladioli & hydrangea) | |
| 15 | 1 specimen bloom (excluding Dahlias or Roses) | |
| 16 | Fuchsia | Six florets any variety/ies |
| 17 | Mixed garden flowers | 1 container (may contain foliage) |
| 18 | A vase of annual flowers | 5 stems |
| 19 | Gladiolus - 1 stem | |
| 20 | Hydrangea | 1 stem |
| 21 | A vase of perennials | 5 stems of one variety (e.g penstemon) |
| 22 | Rose, large flowered | 1 bloom |
| 23 | Ros, cluster flowered | 2 stems |
| 24 | Roses | Mixed 5 stems |
| 25 | Herbs | 1 cut stem of 3 different named kinds - one container. |
| 25a | Foliage | 5 cut stems |
HOUSE PLANTS (Except classes 31 & 32)
The size of the container refers to the diameter of the rim of the pot.
| Category | Quantity | |
| 26 | Pot plant in bloom | Over 6 inches (15cms). |
| 27 | Pot plant in bloom - Under 6 inches | |
| 28 | Pot plant foliage | Over 6 inches (15cms). |
| 29 | Pot plant foliage - Under 6 inches | |
| 29a | A Fuchsia | 2 liter pot |
| 30 | Cactus / Succulent | Any size pot |
| 31 | A Bonsai | Any size pot |
| 32 | A 12” hanging basket – to be displayed on an upturned flowerpot (a hanging rail is usually available). |
Section 2 - Fruit and vegetables
FRUIT
All fruit should be presented on a plate. Most fruit should be shown
with stalks attached. Please see ‘Hints’ for clarification.
| Category | Quantity | |
| 33 | Apples, dessert, one variety | 3 |
| 34 | Apples, culinary, one variety | 3 |
| 35 | Blackberries | 9 |
| 36 | Any other fruit, one variety |
VEGETABLES
All entries to be presented on plates or similar. Root crops are better
shown with tops on, trimmed to about 3 inches (75mm).
Tomatoes should be shown with the calyx attached.
Onions should be presented sitting on a cardboard ring not on sand.
Potatoes should be shallow eyed and free from blemishes.
| Category | Quantity | |
| 37 | Beetroots | 3 |
| 38 | Radish | 5 |
| 39 | Carrots | 3 |
| 40 | Runner Beans | 5 |
| 41 | French Beans (climbing or dwarf) | 5 |
| 42 | Potatoes | 5 |
| 43 | Onions under 8oz (225gms) | 5 |
| 44 | Onions over 8oz (225gms) | 5 |
| 45 | Shallots approx 1 inch (2.5cms) in girth | 5 |
| 46 | Courgettes | 3 |
| 47 | A marrow | |
| 48 | Tomatoes | 3 plump tomatoes |
| 49 | Tomatoes | 5 salad tomatoes |
| 50 | Tomatoes | 1 truss to include at least 3 ripe fruit |
| 51 | Tomatoes | 5 miniature |
| 52 | Tomatoes | 3 beefsteak |
| 53 | Any kind of vegetable not included above | |
| 54 | A basket/trug containing 3 different vegetables | |
| 55 | An odd-looking vegetable |
SECTION 3 - FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS
Materials and blooms may be purchased for this section. Dimensions
are for width, depth and height. Please note that floral oasis is no
longer permitted. Please see the ‘Hints’ page for more ideas.
| Category | Notes | |
| 56 | An arrangement in a teacup | Fresh plant material |
| 57 | An arrangement for a Christmas table to include a candle | Fresh plant material and accessories allowed - 24” (60cms) space. |
| 58 | A flower arrangement ‘The colour purple’ | Fresh plant material and accessories allowed, 24” (60cms) space. |
| 59 | A floating arrangement of flowers in a container not exceeding 12” (30cms). | |
| 60 | An Autumn Basket | May include produce; accessories allowed 24” (60cms) space. |
SECTION 4 -CRAFTS
Items in this section should not have been exhibited in a previous
show. Photographs should be unmounted.
| Category | Size | |
| 61 | An item of pottery handmade by the entrant. | |
| 62 | An animal fashioned from a fruit or vegetable. | |
| 63 | A circular wreath | Between 6”- 18” (15 – 45 cms) any media. |
| 64 | A photograph - 'A fruit or vegetable' - Maximum size 7" x 5" | |
| 65 | 4 photographs of 'Insects' | Maximum size 7" x 5" |
| 66 | A photograph - 'A picture made with leaves' | Maximum size 7" x 5" |
SECTION 5 - DOMESTIC CLASSES
All cakes etc to be presented on plates (doilies are optional) and
covered with clingfilm where appropriate or covered with a clear
plastic lid if the icing/decoration would be spoilt by clingfilm.
Chutneys and jams should be in glass jars with a waxed disc
covering the surface of the contents, then covered with a
cellophane disc held in place with an elastic band. Jars should be
labelled with the month and year of making.
| Category | |
| 67 | Jam or jelly |
| 68 | A jar of fruit curd |
| 69 | Fruit chutney |
| 70 | Marmalade |
| 71 | A soda bread - made by hand |
| 72 | A portion of beetroot humous |
| 73 | Men only - A lemon drizzle cake |
| 74 | A marmalade cake - made to the recipe given |
| 75 | 5 mince pies |
SECTION 6 - JUNIOR CLASSES 8 YEARS AND UNDER
All entries must be the child’s own work.
| Category | |
| 75a | A jam jar of grasses |
| 76 | An A4 painting or drawing of the seaside |
| 77 | An A4 poster advertising the MPHS either by hand or using the computer |
| 78 | 3 flapjacks |
SECTION 7 - JUNIOR CLASSES 9-11 YEARS
All entries must be the child’s own work.
| Category | |
| 79 | A jam jar of grasses |
| 80 | An A4 painting or drawing of the seaside |
| 81 | An A4 poster advertising the MPHS either by hand or using the computer |
| 82 | 3 flapjacks |
SECTION 8 - JUNIOR CLASSES 12-16 YEARS
All entries must be the child’s own work.
| Category | |
| 83 | A jam jar of grasses |
| 84 | An A4 painting or drawing of the seaside |
| 85 | An A4 poster advertising the MPHS either by hand or using the computer |
| 86 | 3 flapjacks |
Hints for Exhibitors
Please don’t be deterred from exhibiting in a show because you don’t know what is expected. Here are a few hints to help:
Read the Show Rules.
1. When showing flowers, freshness & quality are very important but don’t forget to keep them uniform in size. Matched blooms are better than uneven blooms.
2. Read Point 1!! Always have the correct number of exhibits as stated in the schedule. In the flower classes a bud counts as a bloom but stems of HT roses may have up to 3 buds.
The words ‘kind’ and ‘variety’ are used in the following sense - Roses,
Dahlias and Chrysanthemums are distinct ‘kinds’ of flowers while names such as ‘Peace’ or ‘Fragrant Cloud are varieties of roses.
3. Vegetables should be clean, fresh, tender and without blemishes. Tomatoes with calyx attached should be firm. Root crops are better shown with tops on. Cabbages, cauliflowers etc. should have roots removed but have about 2 inches (5cms) of stem
retained. Most fruit should have stalks intact – if in doubt please contact the Show Secretary.
4. Collections of vegetables are judged by giving points to each kind exhibited.
In floral arrangements please note that it is no longer acceptable to use green floral Oasis.
This was banned by the RHS in 2021. Some alternatives include gravel, decorative pebbles, glass beads, twigs, a biodegradable form of oasis, floral frogs etc.
5. Remember that the judge will want to taste domestic exhibits. Jam, jellies and chutneys should be made during the last year and be in clear, neatly labelled containers bearing a note of the contents. Jars or bottles bearing the name of proprietary produce must
not be used.
6. Cakes should be made 24 hours before a show and allowed to cool. All cakes should be presented on a plate (doily optional) and covered with clingfilm or with a clear plastic cover if clingfilm would spoil the icing/decoration of the cake.
SHow rules
1. All exhibits are entered free of charge. Individual class numbers must be stated. No member shall enter more than one exhibit in any class. Partners are not allowed to compete in classes 1 – 53, 59 - 67 in the Spring Show and classes 1 – 63, 67 - 79 in the Autumn Show.
2. All entries can be emailed to the Show secretary (motspurparkhorticulturalsociety@gmail.com) on or before the Thursday prior to each show.
3. The competitions are open to all members of the Society and to non-members. All exhibits, unless otherwise stated, shall be the bona fide product of the exhibitor and shall have been grown in their garden or allotment and shall have been in their possession for not less than eight weeks immediately prior to the show.
4. Exhibits must be staged between 09:30 and 11:00. Exhibit cards will be supplied by the Society, and these must be placed in front of the exhibits with the exhibitors name downwards.
5. Exhibits, wherever possible, should be named on cards (which are provided by the society). Judges will take this into account in close competition and especially where, as for Dahlias and Chrysanthemums, most named varieties are officially classified.
6. Only duly authorised persons may remain in the hall while judging is in
progress.
7. The judge’s decision will be final.
8. Exhibitors must provide their own containers.
9. The exact number of specimens of flowers, fruit or vegetables as required by the schedule must be shown, otherwise exhibits will be disqualified.
10. Prizes and points will be awarded by voucher:
1st prize – 50p.
2 nd prize – 35p.
3rd prize – 20p.
11. In the event of insufficient competition or indifferent produce in any class, the judges may withhold an award or awards.
12. The Royal Horticultural Society’s “BANKSIAN CUP” will be awarded to the exhibitor obtaining the largest total amount of points in the horticultural classes. (N.B. the winner of the Banksian Cup is precluded from winning it for the following two years)
13. Awards of Merit will be awarded at each show at the Judge’s discretion.