Our 2025-2026 year drew to its official close with our annual meeting and awards ceremony held at the gloriously blooming Avis Campbell Gardens on June 10, 2026. Under the eagle eye of Awards Chair Tova Narrett, our members gathered together for the presentation of our annual awards and a 1920s feast catered by Florence Sinovsky and Janet Oscar and put together by their happy band of culinary elves.. We were also very happy to welcome Guita Behbin, Michael De Castro, Ali Kilduff, and Tracy White as full members, graduating successfully from their time as provisionals. The winners of our annual awards are now registered on our awards page. where you can see all the recipients back to 1980. See also a written record of tributes to our winners. Below, the photos of their smiling faces and candid shots taken of the event were snapped by our amazing photographers, Lauren Zodel and Sue Yu, with the elegant contribution of Barb Baletti. If anyone has been missed, blame the editor. We also need to thank all the members of the Awards Committee for their thoughtful selection of the recipients you see here. And how could we not thank the chair toters and table layers, especially the super powerful and ever helpful Benny? Photos of This Year's Award Recipients (Left to right): Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Louise D. Mann Award; Elsie Bristol (Advanced Plus) Award; Barbara Meyer Rose Culture Award; Special Tribute for Bricks Project Celia Radek: Howard Van Vleck Award Barbara Baletti: Till Beatty Allis Award (Left to right): Karen Fricke, Bauer Horticultural Award; Garden Club Award for Flower Design, Advanced; Lisa Schweitzer: Elsie Bristol Novice Award Kathy Bachmann: President's Trophy for Flower Design, Intermediate (Left to right): Denise Silverman: President's Award for Horticulture Ana Zalles Moore: Special Tribute for Avis Campbell Gardens Deborah Hirsch: Special Tribute as Historian Peter Hirsch: Bloomie ― Rototiller Award (Left to right): Susan Benner, Cynthia Corhan-Aitken, Michele Trevenen (not shown): Special Tribute for the Bricks Project Clare Kuch: Bloomie ― the Everything, Everywhere, All the Time Award Grete Scheidl: Bloomie ― the Golden Trowel Award Jamie Chase: Emerita and 35-Year Member Not shown. Michele Tomasik was awarded the Botanical Arts Award. Photos of the Full Event As always, click on any photo to open them all up in a slideshow.

Designers taking a break after setting up their creations. Photo: © Andy Foster Another wonderful year, with breathtaking designs. Our biennial event at the Montclair Art Museum is, once again, a triumph with well over half the designs created by our own members. CLICK HERE for a PDF showing each entry together with the piece of art that inspired it as well as the fascinating thought processes of each designer. This document uses the exciting photographs of Andy Foster to give you a sense of the harmony between art and floral design. It's better to look at it on a laptop or IPad rather than a phone to ensure that you see all the details.. For those of us who just want to savor our members' designs, see the photos below, in no particular order. Click on one to bring up a slideshow. Each is captioned with the name of the designer.

From Wednesday, May 15 though Saturday, May 18, 31 members of the Garden Club of Montclair as well as other exhibitors interpreted works of art at the Montclair Art Museum, as they do every two years. CLICK HERE to view a document detailing the astonishing designs of our members and, in their own words, the creative process that led to their creation. It's better to look at this PDF on a computer to see the full glory of the art and the designs, and to read the words of the floral designers describing how they got there.

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Flower Design Schedule The theme for 2026-2027 is "Music Blooms Throughout the Year." See summary chart of monthly schedules below with details underneath the chart. See Flower Design Rules for 2026-2027. Check Workshops for assistance. See also NGC Handbook for Flower Shows . No December competitions. See Flower Show 2024 . See Flower Show 2022 . See Clerking Guidelines. Need a refresher prior to GCM's monthly competitions? We have online videos to help, featuring Florence Leyssène and Debbie Moran, NGC accredited Master Flower Show Judges. Classical Music October 19, 2026 Register with Barbara Baletti by October 15. Tea Table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. Provisional An American Traditional Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp .70-71 S taged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 14”W x 12”D x 18” H. Only fresh plant material can be used. Novice An American Traditional Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , p p.70-71. Staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 22”W x 24”D x 24”H. Underlay optional. Only fresh plant material must be used. Intermediate An American Traditional Triangular Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp . 70-71. Staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x 32”H. Staging panel and underlay required. Only fresh plant material can be used. Advanced A Cascade Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , p .65. Staged on a 42” high pedestal with a 14” square top. Frame of reference: 14”W x 14”D; height determined by exhibitor. Advanced Plus A Creative Design using ONLY foliage (fresh and/or dried) as plant material. Foliage can be manipulated. Non-plant material may be used but is subordinate to the foliage. Flowers, fungi, husks, kelp, moss, seaweed, sheaths, spathes and bare stems/branches cannot be used. Staged on a 36” high pedestal with a 16” square top. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x height determined by exhibitor. Underlay optional not to exceed 14” pedestal top. Country Music November 16, 2026 Register with Barbara Baletti by November 12. Tea table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. Provisional An American Traditional Vertical Line Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp.70-71 . Staged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 24”W x 12”D x 18”H. Only fresh plant material can be used. Novice An American Traditional Vertical Line Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp. 70-71. Staged on a table 30" high. Frame of reference: 18”W x 24”D x height determined by exhibitor. Underlay required. Only fresh plant material may be used. Intermediate An American Traditional Line Mass Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp. .70-71 Staged on a pedestal 36” high. Frame of reference: 14”W x 14”D x height determined by exhibitor. Advanced A Creative Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp. 71-72. Emphasizes some type of fiber work, fiber art, or actual fibers within the design. Fiber may be visible in any portion of the design, including staging panel and/or underlay. Fiber may be man-made (acrylic, nylon, polyester) or natural (cotton, wool, hemp, or any fibrous material). Fiber art may include but not limited to crocheting, embroidery, felting, knitting, quilting, weaving, wrapping, etc. Fiber used must be listed on a 3’x5’ card. Staged on a table 42” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x 36"H. Advanced Plus A Creative Horizontal Design with a dominant strong horizontal rhythm. See Handbook for Flower Shows , p .74. D Balance is typically asymmetrical and achieved by unlike forms, sizes, and colors. This design is not a traditional centerpiece . Staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 30”W x14”D x14”H. Jazz January 25, 2027 Register with Barbara Baletti by January 21. Tea Table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. Provisional An American Traditional Design in the Form of a Triangle See Handbook for Flower Shows pp. 70-71. Staged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 14”W x 12”D x 12"H. Only fresh material can be used. Underlay required. Novice A Petite Traditional Design See Handbook for Flower Shows p. 73. Staged on a table 42” high. Frame of reference: 10”W x 8”D x 12H. Underlay required. Intermediate A Petite Tubular Design See Handbook for Flower Shows p. 77 R. Staged on a 9” square cube on a 30” high table. Frame of reference: 9”W x 9” D x 9”H. Underlay optional. Advanced A Panel Design See Handbook for Flower Shows p. 75 K. Staged on a 42” high pedestal with a 16” square top. Frame of reference: 20”W x 20”D height determined by exhibitor. Underlay required not to exceed 16” pedestal top. Advanced Plus A Creative Design featuring mixed-media components (2 or more) integrated into the design to emphasize Color, Form, Pattern, and Texture. Mixed Media component are non-plant material components . They are manufactured components which include (but not limited to) paper, yarn, rattan, caning materials, fabric, cardboard, leather, wire, plastic, etc. Mixed Media differs from Multi-Media as it does not include sound or video projection. Mixed Media used must be listed on a 3” x 5” card. Staged on a table 42” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x 36” H. Staging panel and underlay required. Rock and Roll February 22, 2027 Register with Barbara Baletti by February 18. Tea Table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. All exhibits eligible for the Barbara Meyer Rose Award. Provisional An American Traditional Line Design See Handbook for Flower Shows pp. 70-71. Staged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 14”W x 12”D x 18"H. Only fresh plant material can be used. Novice An American Traditional Horizontal Line Design See Handbook for Flower Shows pp. 70-71 Staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 30”W x 14”D x 14”H. Underlay optional. Only fresh plant material can be used. Intermediate A Parallel Design See Handbook for Flower Shows, pp. 70-71 Staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x 32”H. Staging panel and underlay required. Advanced A Multi-Rhythmic Design See Handbook for Flower Shows p. 75 J. Staged on a 42” high pedestal with a 16” square top. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x height determined by exhibitor. Underlay optional. Advanced Plus A Creative Hanging Design with unrestrictive movement. It cannot be static. The design must freely rotate, suspended from a hook in a frame. Design must not stop moving when encountering the sides of the frame. Staged in a black frame 22”W x 36”H on a table 30” high, frame to be supplied by club. Latin Rhythms March 22, 2027 Register with Barbara Baletti by March 18. Tea Table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. Provisional An American Traditional Mass Design of your choice See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp.70-71 Staged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 14”W x 12”D x 18”H. Only fresh plant material can be used. Novice An American Traditional Mass Design of your choice See Handbook for Flower Shows , pp.70-71 Staged on a 36” high pedestal with a 14” square top. Frame of reference: 24”W x 18”D x 32”H. Staging panel and underlay optional. Only fresh plant material must be used. Intermediate A Multi-Rhythmic Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , p. 75 J Staged on a 42” high pedestal with a 16” square top. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x height determined by exhibitor. Underlay optional. Advanced An Exhibition Table See Handbook for Flower Shows , p. 76 Not meant to be functional, created artistically to suggest the service of food with no requirements as to the type or number of table appointments. Frame of reference: 24”W x 18”D x 36”H. Staged on a table 30” high. Staging panel and underlay required. Advanced Plus An Assemblage Design See Handbook for Flower Shows , p. 77 A three-dimensional abstract design consisting of plant material and “found” unrelated disparate objects. Found objects are non-art objects, not made or manufactured for decorative purposes. Staged on a table 42” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 18”D x 36”H. Staging panel and underlay required. The Final Coda April 26, 2027 This month’s competition is open to all design levels. Each exhibitor, regardless of design level , will create a design, freedom of style and type, to be staged as instructed below. The design requirements for all exhibitors include: selecting one of this year’s monthly musical themes (Classical, Country, Jazz, Rock and Roll, or Latin) choosing a specific song/piece of music from that musical genre and citing the artist/composer creating a design interpreting that piece of music. Exhibitors must list the following on a 3” x 5” index card to display next to their design: Musical Genre Song/Composition Title Name of Artist/Composer Register with Barbara Baletti by April 22. Tea Table: TBD All tables are covered with ivory tablecloths. Wall background is an off-white curtain. Only compostable floral foam permitted. No green Oasis permitted. Designer's choice of plant material and components unless specified in schedule. Provisional Design staged on a shelf 43” from the floor. Frame of reference: 14”W x 12”D x18”H. Novice Design staged on a table 30” high. Frame of reference: 20”W x 24”D x height determined by exhibitor. Intermediate Design staged on a table 42” high. Frame of reference: 24”W x 24”D x 36”H. Staging panel and underlay required. Advanced Design staged on a 42” pedestal with a 14” square top. Underlay optional Advanced Plus Design staged on a 36” pedestal with a 16” square top. Underlay optional.