Fairs Calls on ‘Green Thumbs’ to Submit Entries for Garden Show Before May 17

Have you got a green thumb? Consider entering the Garden Show at the San Diego County Fair.

Two divisions for the competition will bring together landscapers and “green thumbs” this summer for the San Diego County Fair’s Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show.

In total, about $54,000 in prizes are available. Participants can enter competitions for large-scale landscape displays and compact container plants.  

The larger landscape division exhibits should incorporate conservation standards, the use of organic practices and sustainability, colorful plant material suitable for San Diego County, and – when fitting – elements reflecting the Fair’s 2024 theme, “Let’s Go Retro.” All judging is by landscape architects, award do,nors, and Garden Society members. 

The Adult Landscape division is open to all California residents, including amateurs, nonprofit organizations, businesses, associations, and garden clubs in the horticultural, agricultural, or floricultural industry. 

The Student Garden Landscape division is open to youth ages 9 – 19 and belonging to 4,-H, FFA or other youth groups or individual students. Display must be designed and executed by the student group members or individual students. 

The Container Plants division is open to all California residents. Classes include youth ages 9 – 19 and novice, amateur, or professional classes. A novice is defined as an exhibitor who has not been to the 2024 San Diego County Fair competition.

Container plants include miniature “fairy” gardens, Pinterest-inspired plant projects, window bo,xes, and plants potted in vintage containers; as well as individual specimens of potted, hang, ing or mounted ferns, tropical plants, bromeliads, tillands,ias and succulents. 

CONTAINER PLANTS: 

Big inspiration can come in small containers. Exhibitors should “think outside of the box,” and get to planting in a creative container. Container plants are judged on overall health and quality of plant material, clean foliage, no dead leaves, water spots, disease, or pests. Entries need proper plant labeling, including botanical and common names visible to the public, and decorative container selection and condition, including shape, texture and color, overall balance, symmetry, originality, and artistic creation.  

• First Place – $30 and Blue Ribbon 
• Second Place – $25 and Red Ribbon
• Third Place – $20 and White Ribbon
• Fourth Place – $15 and Pink Ribbon
• Fifth Place – $10 and Yellow Ribbon
• Honorable Mentions  

Container Plants Important Dates: 

LANDSCAPE EXHIBITS:

Each adult and student landscape exhibit will be judged using a point system. The number of points earned will determine the amount of the Monetary Award received. The points earned will be posted at each exhibit for transparency. 

For the student exhibits, the Danish System of judging will be used, where exhibits are judged on their merit and not against each other. All student exhibitors receive a ribbon and cash award, and there may be multiple entries that get the same ranking.  

ADULT LANDSCAPE DESIGN AWARDS: Classed in order from amateur to professional  

• Class 001 – $5 per point up to $2,500 
• Class 002 – $5 per point up to $2,500 
• Class 003 – $6 per point up to $3,000 
• Class 004 – $8 per point up to $4,000 
• Class 005 – $10 per point up to $5,000 

STUDENT LANDSCAPE DESIGN AWARDS:  

• First Place – $500 and Blue Ribbon 
• Second Place – $475 and Red Ribbon
• Third Place – $450 and White Ribbon  

Landscape Important Dates: 

Special Awards are also given as part of the Garden Show judging; the largest single prize amount is $1,000 for the landscape exhibit that best represents the Fair’s 2024 theme, “Let’s Go Retro.”  

COORDINATOR’S AWARD: Presented by the Garden Show Coordinator for an exceptional lands exhibitibit that has made an outstanding contribution to the Show. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy. Rosette and $500. 

DON DIEGO AWARD: Presented to a landscape exhibit by an “amateur” with the best design, aesthetic appeal, and plant quality. Open to Division 2001, Class 001. Perpetual Trophy, Ros,ette, and $500. 

EDGAR ENGERT EDUCATIONAL MERIT AWARD: Presented to the landscape exhibit which incorporated outstanding educational information and the creative use of plant materials to encourage and inspire the home gardener. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, Ros,ette, and $500. 

LIGHTING AWARD: Presented to the landscape exhibit which incorporates outstanding landscape lighting. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, Rose,tte, and $500. 

NEW EXHIBITOR AWARD: Presented to the landscape exhibit display with the best design, aesthetic, appeal, and plant quality by an exhibitor who has not exhibited in the last 5 years at the Garden Show. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, Ro,sette, and $500. 

NOTEWORTHY PLANT SPECIMENS: Ribbons will be awarded for outstanding plant specimens in entries throughout the Garden Show. Open to all Divisions. 

OUTSTANDING STUDENT LANDSCAPE AWARD: Presented to the best landscape exhibit by a student or youth group. Open to Division 2002. Perpetual Trophy, Rose,tte, and $250. 

PAUL ECKE, JR. GARDEN SHOW THEME AWARD: Presented to the landscape that best represents the Fair’s 2024 theme, “Let’s Go Retro.”  Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, First Place – $1000; Second Place – $500; Third Place – $350. 

PAUL ECKE, SR. TROPHY: Presented to the best overall landscape exhibit as deemed worthy by the judging panel. Awarded in memory of Paul Ecke, Sr., the Father of Commercial Floriculture in San Diego County. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, Rose,tte, and $500. 

WATERSMART LANDSCAPE AWARD: Presented to the exhibit that best exemplifies a WaterSmart Landscape through eye-catching colors, textures, and designs. Demonstration of low-volume irrigation is highly desirable. A WaterSmart Landscape demonstrates that you can have a beautiful garden that is water-efficient. Open to Division 2001. Perpetual Trophy, Ros,ette, and $500. the

All rules and regulations and how to enter the Garden Show competition are here. 

The Garden Show Awards Ceremony is at 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 11 in the Garden at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.