The 2024 Annual Lily Show was July 6th-7th in RBG’s Atrium
Declan Whelan, Show Chair
Comprehensive Show Schedule Long Form HERE
Report from Chair, Declan Whelan
The Ontario Regional Lily Society held its Fifty Seventh annual show in the Atrium at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario on July 6 and 7, 2024. There were 86 stems entered throughout 19 different classes. The show also included a full floral design section of 30 designs, including four special Duo-designs, described in the separate report on the floral designs. We also had a photography contest this year which was very popular with the public. Many thanks to RBG for allowing us use of the Atrium and for much help with the event.
Horticultural Section
President’s Award: for the best stem. – Anthony MacFadyen for ‘Tinkerbell’
James C. Taylor Sweepstakes Award: to the exhibitor receiving the most first place ribbons in the show. – David Maltby with 14 firsts
Royal Botanical Gardens Award: for the best stem of a named hybrid clone entered in Section A, classes 1 to 7 (Asiatic, Martagon, Euro-Caucasian or American hybrids or Longiflorum lilies). – Anthony MacFadyen for ‘Tinkerbell’
E. Frank Palmer Award: for the best stem of a named hybrid clone entered in Section A, classes 8 to 13 (Trumpet and Aurelian or Oriental hybrids). – David Maltby for ‘White Henryi’
Charles Robinson Award: for the best stem of a named hybrid clone entered in Section A, classes 14 to 18 (Other hybrids, division VIII). – Brian Bergman for ‘Northern Delight’
North American Lily Society Award: for the best three stem entry in Section B, classes 19 to 21. – Brian Bergman for ‘Touchstone’, ‘Pink Jazz’, ‘Northern Delight’
T. Ross Martin Award: for the best stem in Section C, classes 22 to 29. – David Maltby for ‘Golden Sceptre’
Isabella Preston Award: for the best stem, of an unnamed seedling lily grown from seed by the exhibitor in Section E, classes 32 to 36. – Declan Whelan for a green trumpet
William D. Evans Award: for the best stem, of an unnamed seedling lily grown from seed by the exhibitor in Section E, class 37 intended to promote interdivisional breeding and to encourage hybridizing of American, martagon and Euro-Caucasian hybrids. – Brian Bergman for 07-0-19
Fred H. Hayes Award: for the best stem of a lilium species in Section F, class 32 or in Section H, classes 40 and 41. – Eric Duma for lilium henryi
Gordon Brown Award: for the best stem exhibited by a novice exhibitor in Section G. – Kathleen Lang for ‘Night Rider’
Design Section
Best In Show Award: for “Best In Show” in the Design Division. – Lil Taggart
Barbara Laking Memorial Award: for “Judge’s Choice” in the Design Division. – Helen Selemidis-Hill
Class 1 ‘Milan’ – Mary-Ann Vercammen
Class 2 ‘Tokyo’ – Helen Selemidis -Hill
Class 3 ‘Victoria Falls’ – Elizabeth Schleicher
Class 4 ‘Toronto’ – Elizabeth Matheson
Class 5 ‘London – London Eye’ – Linda Hawker
Class 6a ‘North Island, NZ’ – Lil Taggart
Class 6b ‘South Island, NZ’ – Kathleen Lang
Photo Contest
Best Photo – David Maltby
The Horticultural Division Photo Highlights
Our Award Recipients
2024 Design Show Report – Lilies Around the World
Often, Mary-Ann and I are amazed at how the inspiration comes for our Lily Show Design Schedules. This year, however, was exceptional. As we sat on a Zoom call to develop the schedule, Mary-Ann mentioned that she had seen an interview on TV with a hat designer in Perth, who was the only Canadian designer invited to the Milan Hat Exposition this year. Since this was the year we were putting a floral hat in the schedule, we decided that our theme would be “Lilies Around the World”. We quickly came up with at least a dozen options. The following classes were selected, with style of design, location in the Atrium etc and the schedule was finalized.
Prior to the Show, I visited Rochelle Laroque in her Perth Studio, Queen Bee Millinery. She was delighted that we used her as inspiration. She provided several photographs that she uses on her website (see exhibit 1) which I used on a display board that we posted in the design area at the top of the stairs going into the Atrium.
She also showed me several of the hats she had entered in the Milan Exposition. Since the theme this year was H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and her hats, Rochelle designed five hats for the Milan event. The hat which included a purse was her favourite design. (see attached exhibit 2)
Let’s now go Around the World with Lilies.
Class 1 – Milan – a Floral Hat
There were six lovely hats at the entrance to the Atrium which also attracted the visitors and photographers in the crowd.
First prize went to Mary-Ann Vercammen for her beautifully expressive design using diaphanous mauve tulle as a counter-balance to the large pink Stargazer Lily. (See attached Exhibit 2). The Second place hat was also eye-cathcing, as Allison Osterman used small flowers as buttons in her design. In her research, she discovered that Milan was also a centre for button design and manufacturing.
Class 2 – “TOKYO” – a design in the Asian manner
Several of the Exhibitors from the Garden Club of Hamilton are currently studying Ikebana, so this was a natural class for them to put in their first entries in our Lily Show. Helene Selemides-Hill, a Garden Clubs of Ontario Design Judge, placed first for her “Less is More” style of traditional Ikebana design. She was also awarded Judges’ Choice for this lovely design.
Class 3 – “VICTORIA FALLS” – a design
Elizabeth Schleicher’s monochromatic white design was evocative of a waterfall. Her use of the tall container reflected the height of the real Falls. All exhibitors used various white flowers to intimate the rushing water of Victoria Falls.
Class 4 – “TORONTO”.- a Parallel design
A Parallel design was chosen for this class to reflect the various heights of the skyscrapers in downtown Toronto. Elizabeth Matheson’s parallel design placed first as it exhibited all the various aspects of a true parallel design, with various heights of the taller segments, good spacing between, as well as exceptional placements at the base of her design.
Class 5 – “LONDON – London Eye” – a design
Linda Hawker from the Garden Club of London, utilized an interesting approach to her circular design. The centre of the wheel was a white plastic construction which we had learned how to make in a recent design workshop. it added the element of motion to the design. supporting the implied movement of the white lilies around the wheel.
A Duo design is fully explained in a separate article on this design. (see p.12). This style is new to our Lily Design Show. Three designers created designs for both Class 6a and Class 6b while one design was created by two people interpreting one side each.
Class 6a – “NORTH ISLAND, NZ” – a DUO design
Using primarily dried tropical plant material. Lil Taggart demonstrated the subtropical climate of the North Island. He use of the dried palms provided an excellent divider for her North and South designs. Lil was awarded Best in Show for this design.
Class 6b – “SOUTH ISLAND, NZ” – a DUO design
Kathleen Lang was awarded first place for this class. With the South Island being mountainous, including the Southern Alps, and temperatures colder than the North Island, Kathleen expressedin her design how the South Island could be devoid of vegetation but plentiful with rocks.
Overall, we had quite a wonderful Design Show with great convenors, exhibitors and Design Committee. Many thanks to everyone for ensuring our attendees had a delightful time exploring all of the designs while they were amazed at the lily specimens.
Keep an eye out for next year’s design schedule. It will be completely different and exciting.
Anne Harbord,
Co-Chair Design
ORLS Lily Show 2024
The Design Division 2024
Duo Designs – a Step Forward
The Design segment of the ORLS Lily Show is a key component of the success of these shows in attracting visitors to the Royal Botanical Gardens.
This year, the Design Section co-Chairs, Anne Harbord and Mary-Ann Vercammen, proposed adding a Duo Design to the schedule to attract even more interest to the Lily Show with the following class:
New Zealand – a Duo design
A) North Island
B) South Island
A Duo design can be constructed by one or two individuals. The designs were exhibited on a pedestal in one container, or to have the appearance of one container. There is normally a separation between each design, which may or may not form a part of each design.
The definition of a Duo design which is in our Ontario Judges and Exhibiting Standards Book is:
A two-sided design in one container or appearing to be in one container. Each side is different from the other and each is exhibited in a separate class. It is recommended that separate judges be used for each class.
The designs were exhibited on a pedestal in the centre of the Atrium with a space of four feet square for the design. This allowed for great people flow to see the designs as well as accessibility for walkers and wheelchairs. The first prize winner in the Class was Lil Tovey with her effective use of large palms as the divider. (photo by Elizabeth Schleicher).
Many of the designers were available throughout both days to speak with the general public who came to see the Lily Show. There were many designers on the floor who explained about the structure of the designs and the judging practices. We are looking forward to utilizing some of the more advanced designs in future shows.
Anne Harbord
Co-Chair, Design
2024 ORLS Lily Show