On March 25 and 26, 2011, the Naples Garden Club presented its 58th annual show at the Naples Botanical Garden. The theme was “Garden Party,” in honor of the Naples Botanical garden, where the show has been staged for the seventh time. The setting for this show couldn’t be more perfect. The Garden has 160 acres and is still taking shape. It intends to become one of the finest collections of subtropical and tropical plants in the world. Admission to the Flower Show includes admission to the Gardens, but there is so much to see at the Flower Show that visiting the Gardens is worth a whole extra trip by itself.
The entrance to the Naples Botanical Garden
This charming white scrollwork cart bursting with bromeliads greeted visitors on the way to the Design Division of the show.
The floral design that graced the entrance to the Standard Flower Show
This row of duo designs is part of the Asian Garden display, “Opposites Attract.” First, you see the Yin sides of the floral designs. In Asian philosophy, Yin is characterized as slow, soft, yielding, diffuse, cold, wet, and passive; and is associated with water, earth, the moon, femininity, and nighttime. Yang, by contrast, is fast, hard, solid, focused, hot, dry, and aggressive; and is associated with fire, sky, the sun, masculinity, and daytime. Look at the Yin and then the Yang sides of these floral designs. They are not just clever back-to-back floral designs, but in addition they typify the colors and qualities associated with Yin and Yang. I thought these designs were fascinating.
The Yin side
The Yang side of the same floral design
Yin
Yang
Yin
Yang
Yin
Yang
Designs of the Ikebana International Naples Chapter. Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers aesthetically.
The Yang side of the same floral design
Yin
Yang
Yin
Yang
Yin
Yang
Designs of the Ikebana International Naples Chapter. Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers aesthetically.
Vintage Ikebana
This is one of my very favorite floral designs of the whole show. I’m vintage, too, so maybe that has something to do with why I like it.
Ikebana floral design
These are designs staged in a niche and include an item from a “Gift Shop” as an accessory. They are eligible for the Club Novice Award. You may see various colored ribbons in some of the photos: a blue ribbon is for first place, red is for second, yellow is for third, and white is for honorable mention. Each design is awarded points according to the National Garden Club Standard System of Awarding.
Gift Shop design with papyrus
Close-up of beaded frog in the design
Gift Shop design with orchids
The Caribbean Garden designs are eligible for the tri-color award.
Caribbean Garden design
Caribbean Garden design
Caribbean Garden design
The Naples Orchid Society Exhibit
These are “Swinging Hammocks,” a stretch design staged on a table.
The “stretch” design is in two units, one smaller than the other. It has a prominent component connecting the two units, which is referred to as the "stretch component." This component may extend in any direction, diagonal, vertical or horizontal and may minimally extend beyond the units. The stretch component must be imaginative, and appear to create a dynamic tension between the two units.
Swinging Hammock design
Swinging Hammock Design
Swinging Hammock Design
Children’s Garden Miniatures
Splashing Water Small Designs
Rock Climbing Miniature Design
“Reflecting Ponds” are Exhibition table designs featuring water
Reflecting Ponds table design
Reflecting Ponds table design
Florida Native Plant Society Exhibit
Mealtime Mosaic, a functional buffet table for six
Mealtime Mosaic
Close-up of the floral design
Tropical Cocktails, a functional table for two
Tropical Cocktails
The Naples Garden Club Ladies all wore flowery or pastel dresses that matched their elaborately decorated parasols. A very nice touch.
Fancy Flamingo
Combination Plantings
The Horticulture Division includes Container Grown Plants and Cut Specimens
The Horticulture Division includes Container Grown Plants and Cut Specimens
Bouquet of Bromeliads
Succulents
Flapjacks (common name) in a strawberry planter, a unique use for this kind of pot
Container Grown Plants
A tall basket of begonias
Asian-influenced design
Close-up of the design
Ornamental Foliage
Copper leaf ornamental foliage
Amazing bough from a Dwarf Apple Blossom Tree
Pink pot of orchids
Table full of orchids
Foliage Plant
Foliage Plant
Succulent
Special Exhibits, “Let’s Party,” Cake
A cake design using plant material
Gift Box
Hats in the Garden, a hat design using a premade hat and plant material
Hats in the Garden
Conservancy of Southwest Florida Exhibit
Bonsai Society of Southwest Florida Exhibit
In addition to the Standard Flower show, there were demonstrations and lectures going on throughout both days; vendors selling tropical plants, native plants, organic gardening products, jewelry, art and nature photography; and refreshments, mostly sandwiches, ice cream and drinks. An innovative and appropriate fund raiser was a silent auction to Adopt-A-Gnome. The little Garden Gnomes were hand-painted by volunteers, and proceeds went to benefit children’s educational programming. This was a beautiful show in a beautiful setting, and if I had a beautifully embellished garden hat, I would tip it to the ladies of the Naples Garden Club.
