The Bull Valley Garden Club is celebrating the village of Bull Valley’s 40th birthday the best way it knows how: with a flower show.
The standard flower show, called “Happy Birthday Bull Valley,” is the first of its kind hosted by the BVGC in more than 20 years, said event chair Bev Ganschow.
“Our club members decided it was time,” Ganschow said. “… It’s energizing, educational and instructional.”
She said the anniversary of Bull Valley’s incorporation, which took place in 1977, was the perfect occasion to celebrate. It made sense for the BVGC, the village of Bull Valley and Loyola University, which is hosting the event at its Retreat and Ecology Campus, to partner on the project.
“All three of us have a common mission and purpose of taking care of our delicate ecosystem,” said Ganschow. “Bull Valley Garden Club has really been focused on civic projects, preservation and conservation.”
A standard flower show is the official title of flower shows conforming to standards established by the National Garden Clubs. The purpose of a standard flower show is to educate club members and the viewing public, to stimulate interest in horticulture and floral design, to provide an outlet for creative expression and to convey to the community the objectives of the National Garden Clubs.
“The fun part is it’s all judged,” said Ganschow.
Garden club member Mary Moltmann said, “It’s always great fun to see what the judges choose. You could get ideas about flowers you’re growing.’
The show is divided into three divisions: horticulture, design and special exhibits.
The horticulture division will include annuals, perennials, biennials, roses, tubers, herbs, natives, vegetables, fruits, tree and shrub branches, hostas, container-grown plants and hanging baskets that were grown by the members. The horticultural division is open to any amateur gardener.
The design division will feature original floral designs created by the members that will fit into display areas of either 30 inches by 36 inches, 8 inches by 8 inches, or 5 inches by 5 inches.
The special exhibits division has several themes, and each entry in the class has a connection to that theme. Themes include: Attracting Bluebirds to Your Landscape, More About Monarchs, The Labyrinth Journey, Cooking and Garnishing with Edible Flowers and The Boone Creek Conservation Area.
BVGC will dedicate the show to Vi Glass, Lillian Hervert and Nancy Jung, who lived long and fruitful lives and were exemplary lifetime members and extraordinary gardeners who set high marks for all to follow. Awards in each flower show division have been established in their honor.
In celebration of Bull Valley’s 40th, the club will have a giant birthday cake on display with a photo montage of images of the village.
Entries are still being accepted for the horticultural division. To enter, email Judy Reilly jreilly038@gmail.com.
The flower show will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus, 2710 S. Country Club Road. The show will have free parking and free admission.