Flower Show: Our First Event of the Year

Sep 21, 2025
3 min read

"Great Escapes" Small Standard Flower Show

Results

Note: Photos of winners appear throughout the text and a slideshow of photos appears at the bottom of the page.

The Club Room became our favorite vacation destination over the two days of our September show, “Great Escapes.” Opening the show up to the community brought in many enthusiastic visitors.

Horticulture Results

Horticulture presented 26 classes with a total of 43 entries. Members were awarded 20 first places, 11 second places with 5 receiving a score of 90+, 8 third places, and 6 honorable mentions. Tied for the most overall points, Kathy Bachmann and Debbie Moran both scored 22, and Michelle Tomasik came in second with a total of 21 points.

Here are the award winners who were deemed the best of the best:

Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s lantana

Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s coleus ‘Red Ruffles’

Award of Merit: Barbara Meyer’s dahlia ‘Breakout’

Award of Merit: Kathy Bachmann’s sedum ‘Herbstfreude’

Award of Merit: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken’s rose ‘Crown Princess Margareta’

Award of Merit: Debbie Moran’s rosemary ‘Barbecue’

Collector’s Showcase Award: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs

And the overall winner of the Horticulture Division:

Award of Horticultural Excellence: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs

Garden Club of Montclair ribbons awarded during this show:

The Barbara Meyer Rose Award: Cynthia Corhan-Aitken’s rose ‘Crown Princess Margareta’

The Amy Hatrak Herb Award: Debbie Moran’s collection of five herbs

Here are photos of the award winners. Check out the rest of the stunning exhibits from our members’ gardens at the bottom of the page.

Flower Design Results

Flower Design featured three classes with four entries in each class for a total of 12 arrangements in all, encompassing both Traditional and Creative designs. The creativity and skill of the designers were on full display. A Designer’s Choice Award, the overall winner in Flower Design, was awarded to Florence Leysséne for her Multi-Rhythmic design.

“YOSEMITE” A Traditional Design

1^st― Lisa Schweitzer

2^nd― Sue Young

3^rd―Clare Kuch

HM ― Amy Poster

“MADAGASCAR” A Creative Design

1^st ― Cynthia Corhan-Aitken

2^nd ― Sarah Stransky 90+

3^rd ― Fran Ackerly

HM ― Tova Narrett

“COSTA RICA” A Creative Multi-Rhythmic Design

1^st ― Florence Leyssène

2^nd ― Olga Bequillard 90+

3^rd ― Karen Fricke

HM ― Susan Straten

Botanical Arts Artistic Crafts Results

“Escape Travel Treasure” was the theme for this division which called for a necklace souvenir made of plant material. Imaginative and meticulous, these works of wearable art were a hit with the public.

1^st ― Fran Ackerly

2^nd ― Karen Fricke 90+

3^rd ― Pamela Turre

HM ― Celia Radek

Thank you to all the Members who made 'Great Escapes' a success!

Melody Brown and Pamela Turre, the Properties team, for helping to break down the space.
Florence Sinofsky for setting up a beautiful breakfast and lunch for the judges and committee members. Debbie Moran for preparing the delicious judges' lunch, accompanied by Florence Leyssène’s wonderful salad.
Karen Whitehaus for running interference with the building team and making sure everything was ready.
The helpful clerks, Karen DeLuca, Sarah Olson, Lisa Schweitzer, and last minute fill-in, Sarah Stransky.
Always willing and talented photographers, the talented Sue Young, Floss O’Sullivan, and Susan Yu.

The Flower Show Committee Members

Debbie Moran, Schedule author, Staging and Signage Chair, chef extraordinaire, patient giver of advice and help, and tablecloth washer.
Florence Leyssène, Design Classification, Judges, and Botanical Arts Chair, and able sous-chef.
Maureen Sprong, Horticulture Entries Chair (and her husband Gary for delivering baked goods!)
Jacoba Coes, Horticulture Classification Chair and break down helper.
Heidi Muschick, Horticulture Placement Chair.
Barbara Baletti, Flower Design Chair.
A very appreciative THANK YOU to our Communications Committee members, Amy South, Tracey Reilly, and Sue Young, for creating such excitement and anticipation. We had a remarkable turn out both Friday and Saturday, and I'm confident that it was due to your talented efforts.
And the award for the furthest travelled goes to our Awards and Clerks Chair, Floss O'Sullivan!