VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Garden Center, Inc. held a Standard Flower Show on April 5. The show was open to all gardeners to enter their plants and flowers.

There were 278 Horticulture entries, 24 Creative Designs, 12 Artistic Crafts, 3 Educational Displays and 3 Commercial Displays. The buildings and gardens were transformed into colorful depictions of scenes representing the title of the show, “Off to see the Wizard.”

Show Chairman Rita Hightower and Garden Center President Vicki Fenstermaker, along with dozens of members, worked for months to produce a high quality, educational show for the community, the center said in a press release. “Flower shows teach which plants grow best in an area; newcomers can learn what to landscape with for outstanding results, have an opportunity to join one of six local garden clubs and meet gardeners who can give advice and help identify unknown plants,” the release said.

Commercial growers kindly shared their plants in displays to create mini gardens of great beauty. Mark Crawford, owner of Loch Laurel Nurseries, created a blooming extravaganza, “Witch’s Guard,” which had containers with camellias and a profusion of flowering plants to highlight the entrance to the Reception Hall. Jennifer Sumner, owner of Fancy Girl Farm, created “Talking Trees,” a display with blooming flowers along the walkway to the Reception Hall. Laura Lee Wilkerson, owner of Plants, Plants, Plants, created “Poppy Fields,” a big, bright display featuring 12-inch red paper poppies around the doors of the Chapel placed among the lovely plants owned by her business. All businesses received an Award of Appreciation for their displays.

Educational displays were presented and judged. John Mitchell was awarded a First Place Blue Ribbon for his “How to Create a Wildlife Habitat in your Community.”

The Design Division was staged in The Crescent, the historical home owned by The Garden Clubs. The lovely old home was an elegant backdrop for the floral creations.

The Design Excellence Award, the best design out of all entered, was awarded to Carolyn Begue, Holly Club. “Be a Lion Not a Mouse” was the title. This was Begue’s first time participating in a show; she was surprised to win the top award, the Garden Center press release said.

Ellen Mitchell, Camellia Club, won the Table Artistry Award for her design, “There’s no Place Like Home,” an exhibit table. Blue Ribbon winners in the Table Section were: Gwen Simmons, Dogwood Club; and Loralei Schwartz, Camellia Club.

In the Designer’s Choice Section Carolyn Begue won the Top Award with her same design, “Be a Lion Not a Mouse.”

Samantha Lund, Southern Lily Club, won a Blue Ribbon for her Floor design titled, “If I Only Had a Brain.” Rachel Wagner, Southern Lily Club, won a Blue Ribbon for her Reflective Design, titled “Dorothy Meets the Tin Man.”

The Botanical Arts Division was staged in The Chapel at the end of the Gardens.

Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts Award was won by Amy Stubbs, Southern Lily Club, with a decorated broom titled, “Ride the Sky.”

Kathe Hunnewell, Amaryllis Club, won a Blue Ribbon for her slipper decorated with floral material titled “Magic of the Witch’s Slippers.”

Dot Glennon, Southern Lily Club, won a Blue Ribbon for her decorated hat titled, “Horse of a Different Color.”

The Horticulture Division has been the backbone of Flower Shows for centuries and the reason most people attend shows, the Garden Center said. The Horticulture Division was staged in The Reception Hall next to the Crescent.

The following people won Top Awards in the Horticulture Division.

Jennifer Sumner, Southern Lily Club, won The Horticulture Award of Excellence, the top award in the show. Her blue delphinium was judged the best piece shown. This was her first time entering.

Ellen Mitchell, Camellia Club, won an Award of Merit for her gold-copper tea rose.

Susan Grooms, Amaryllis Club, won an Award of Merit for her English Ivy cutting.

Tricia Lazarus, Amaryllis Club, won an Award of Merit for her Amaryllis hybrid x Papillion.

Cynthia Johnson, Southern Lily Club, won an Award of Merit for her cut decorative foliage.

Suzan Dennis, Town and Country Club, won an Award of Merit for her asparagus fern cutting.

Susan Grooms, won an Award of Merit for her Ming fern cutting.

Debbie Altobello won an Arboreal Award-tree for her cutting of a “Little Gem” magnolia. This was her first time entering in years and she won a Top Award plus several other Blue Ribbons.

Tricia Lazarus, won the Arboreal Award-shrub with a cutting of her native azalea.

LauraLee Wilkerson, Southern Lily Club, won a Growers Choice Award for her container-grown fern.

Ingrid Savin, Amaryllis Club, won a Growers Choice Award for her container-grown herb-thyme.

Cindy Pegg, Amaryllis Club, won a Growers Choice Award for her container-grown orchid.

LauraLee Wilkerson, won a Growers Choice Award for her hanging basket of flowering petunias.

Vicki Fenstermaker, Amaryllis Club, won a Growers Choice Award for her container-grown planter with three species of cacti.

Susan Grooms, won the Collectors Showcase Award-ribbons, for the most Blue Ribbons.

Jennifer Sumner, won the Collectors Showcase Award-display, with five different colored snapdragons. This is a very prestigious Award.

Suzan Dennis, won the Collectors Showcase Award-collection, with five cut asparagus fern species. This is a very prestigious Award. All five specimens must score 90 or higher or all will be disqualified.

The following people won Blue Ribbons in Horticulture:

Amaryllis Club, 34: Lyndia Sinon-1, Ingrid Savin-2, Vicki Fenstermaker-5, Cindy Pegg-5, Tricia Lazarus-5, Susan Grooms-16.

Camellia Club, 15: John Mitchell-1, Loralei Schwartz-1, Mary Lee-2, Nelda Harris-4, Ellen Mitchell-7.

Southern Lily, 13: LauraLee Wilkerson-5, Samantha Lund-5, Jennifer Sumner-2, Cynthia Johnson-1.

Dogwood Club, 11: Charlie Oliver-3, Gwen Simmons-2, Tammy Sainz-2, Robbie Chambers-1, Linda Stikkel-1, Jan Thomas-1, Patricia Welch-1.

Town and Country Club, 5: Suzan Dennis-3, Jennie Eidson-2.

Community Members, 21: Angie Commander-1, Mary Tomlinson-1, Debbie Altobello-3, Gale Thomas-3, Jennifer Flanagan-5, Debbie Beck-8.

“The Flower Show is fun and educational, botanical names are on each entry,” the Garden Center said. “Show Committee members are working on ways to make the next show better and have more community involvement.”

The next Garden Center event will be 2-4 p.m. June 2. The Crescent, 905 N. Patterson St., will be open and there will be a plant sale. Everyone is invited.