LOCAL SOCIETY INFO

Clich here to download the 2008 Gladiolus Show Schedule


Local Society Listings

All America Gladiolus Society
Sam Fisher
11734 RD 33-1/2
Madera CA 93638-8465
559-645-5329
British Gladiolus Society
Susan Fawcett
197 Aston Clinton Rd.
Aylesrory
Bucks HP22 5AD
Canadian Gladiolus Society
Jack L Hartwell
2947 Bellwood Drive
Newcastle, ON
Canada L1C 1L9
Central New York Gladiolus Society
Camille Bach
8717 Eddy Road
Canastota NY 13032-0091
315-334-7121 (work)
Commercial Growers Division
Diana Langshaw
14625 East C Ave.
Augusta, MI 49012
269-731-4259
Connecticut Gladiolus Society
John Maciag
109 N Washington St
Plainville CT 06062-1921
860-747-9736
Eastern New York Gladiolus Society
James Hall
303 Root Rd
Ballston Spa NY 12020
518-885-8745
Empire State Gladiolus Society
Norma Spencer
6496 Oatka Rd
Perry NY 14530-9550
585-237-3581
Genesee Valley Gladiolus Society
John Newberry
165 Browncroft Bvld.
Rochester NY 14609-7834
585-224-9694
Idaho Gladiolus Society
Julie Dillion
4561 Bluegrass Ave.
Boise, ID 83703
208-853-3642
Illinois Gladiolus Society
Diana Wagner
Rt. 1, Box 137
Memphis, MO 63555-9766
660-465-8911
Indiana Gladiolus Society
Janet Goldsberry
8423 N. 800W
Elwood, IN 46036-9051
765-552-7033
Inland Empire Gladiolus Society
Lowell Dubbels
230 Shiloh Drive
Colville, WA 99217
509-684-5407
elnan@ultraplix.com
International Gladiolus
Hall Of Fame

Jane Bruce (treas.)
3609 Magnolia St.
Evans, CO 80620
970-339-3746
mjttv@aol.com
Kalamazoo Gladiolus Society
Marjorie Sprinkle
5157 N Shore Dr
Delton MI 49046
269-623-2045
Maine Gladiolus Society
Dorothy Martin
1387 Augusta Road
Belgrade, ME 04917-3732
207-495-2244
Marathon County Gladiolus Society
Nola Lotzer
2020 Neupert Ave
Schofield WI 54476
715-359-4537
Michigan Gladiolus Society
Joyce Wank
5228 N 38th
Augusta MI 49012
616-731-5108
Minnesota Gladiolus Society
Patti Reynolds
7116 - 39th Ave N
New Hope MN 53427
763-537-6512
Nanaimo Gladiolus Society
Heinz Sperber
778 Chartwell Blvd.
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Canada V9K 2H6
250-752-0839
New England Gladiolus Society
Barbara Robinson
471 North Road
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
978-443-3035

Northwestern Ohio Gladiolus Society
Laurie Harris
1198 TR 185
Bellefontaine, OH 43311
937-592-4633
hekkl5@embarqmail.com

Pennsylvania Gladiolus Society
Laura Kairis
190 Elm St.
New Brighton, PA 15066
724-843-7030
Regina Gladiolus Society
Ellen Aitken
706 Callander N.
Regina, Saskatchewan,
Canada, S4X 2B4
306-789-1846
iaitken@sasktel.net
Sacramento Gladiolus Society
So. California Gladiolus Society
Southern Tier Gladiolus Society
Mary Learn
7194 RT 54
Bath NY 14810-9587
607-776-7992
Utah Gladiolus Society
W. Massachusetts Gladiolus Society
Vernon B Wells
11 Steiger Dr
Westfield MA 01085
413-568-5403
Western New York Gladiolus Society
Norma C. Spencer
6496 Oatka Rd.
Perry, NY 14530-9550
585-237-3581
spencerglads@aol.com
Winnipeg Gladiolus Society
Donna Lee
162 Dubois Pl
Winnipeg MB R3V 1N1 CANADA
204-261-8431
Wisconsin Gladiolus Society
Nola Lotzer
2020 Neupert Ave
Schofield WI 54476
715-359-4537
nolotzer@charter.net
 

My Feeling about Decorative Glads
~ Norma C. Spencer

There is currently much ado about the beautiful varieties of gladiolus described as "decorative." In his article "Decorative Glads Are WE Ready For Change" for Glad World (summer 2006), Lowell Dubbels, chairman of the Decorative Gladiolus Committee offered an interim definition: "A Decorative Gladiolus is a variety that's use is for beautification of landscapes and gardens, and is of size and proportion to be useful in beautifying the garden and the home in simple arrangements. It is unique in exhibiting outstanding beauty and appeal through various attributes such a vivid color and floret form combinations which would not detract from overall beauty. Other attributes would be moderate height, strong but graceful stems and good floret attachment to withstand adverse weather. In addition possess health and productivity making it useful to the commercial grower as well as the homeowner." In addition we hear all the time about more promotion of the gladiolus. I believe the less traditional gladiolus promote the gladiolus flower just as the more formal show spikes do. I wonder just how many growers just grow formal gladiolus to show them. I think it may be fewer and fewer who do just this.

We currently grow many varieties that I consider "decorative"; Red's Huckleberry, Wild Thing, Blueberry Wine, Candy Cane, Shadow Dancer, Elderberry Wine, Autumn Watercolor, Razzleberry, Chi-cha-ko, Raspberry Swirl, Chocolate Ripple, Deanna, Floret of Fern, Hot Lips, Jazz Age, Moon Shadow, Natasha, Ocean Ice, Randolph, Scintillating and the new Pandora's Box to name a few. The public rave about these varieties and we can't grow enough of them for our farm markets and roadside stand. These glads have built our reputation for a variety of "unusual" glads. I have tried to talk a customer into taking a Lady Lucille for her bouquet expounding on its great traits while I demonstrate that it will easily hold 12 open florets without a wilt and guess what? They may put it into their purchase probably to please me or even shut me up while all the rest of their bouquet is made of decoratives.

I have noticed is some show schedules that decorative gladiolus can be exhibited in classes such as "exotics," "novelty," "garden variety," or just "decorative." When we participate in shows we like to see the decorative varieties on display as well as the formal show spikes. Exhibitions of these glads bring up the controversial issue of how to judge them. I believe that the decoratives must be judged by the merit system and not according to the judging criteria used for formal spikes knowing that they do not most likely have the bud count or ability to hold enough open florets according to size as formal glads. We need to be fair to these decorative glads for they do contribute much to our shows. It looks to me to be too confusing for the modern gladiolus grower trying to promote the gladiolus to the public to go through a separate judging sheet, classification schedule and symposiums to accommodate the decorative glad when there aren't that many shows in the United States. Our purpose is not only self gratification by competing in shows but to mainly show the public who visit just how many different gladiolus there are available and that each in some way has a beauty and appeal to someone if not all who gaze upon them.

I would like to see every show incorporate a place for decorative glads and judge them as a decorative (not against formal guidelines). My feelings go as far as to think there should be a Champion decorative in the three sizes. I want the public to see all the colors, color combinations, lacination, ruffling and uniqueness that decoratives display. I will continue to show my decoratives in any way I can and keep our roadside stand full of their beauty.

~ Norma C. Spencer, member of 7 Gladiolus societies.


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