Judging Sprays

This Program Services Committee

presentation created by

Jolene Adams

ARS Guidelines for JudgingPoint Scoring

• Form = 25 points– The overall shape of the inflorescence– The form of each individual floret

• Color = 20 points– Hue – gradation of the color– Chroma – purity of the hue, saturation– Brightness – clearness of the color

• Substance = 15 points– Amount of moisture and starch in each petal

Point Scoring, cont.

• Stem and Foliage = 20 points– Straight stem of proper length– Intact prickles– Appropriate girth to support the bloom or

spray– Upright peduncle of appropriate length– Foliage should frame the bloom, be

symmetrically stacked, evenly spaced

Point Scoring, cont.• Balance and Proportion = 10 points

– Those properties of the specimen that combine the relative sizes of bloom, stem and foliage into a visually pleasing exhibit

• Size = 10 points– The actual dimensions of the bloom or

inflorescence– The size of each individual floret– Except for Miniatures, superior size in an

excellent specimen is to be rewarded

Dictionary Definitions for ‘Spray’

• Cluster of blooms growing from the main or a lateral stem which contribute to the total inflorescence

• Flower arrangements consisting of a single branch or shoot bearing flowers and foliage

• Old English for "small branch," 1297, possibly related to the word spræc "shoot, twig"

• A natural division of a rose stem• Two or more blooms on a stem• An inflorescence or cluster

Celsiana

a panicle

a simpleumbel

raceme

Form – 25 points• The overall shape and configuration of the spray

itself– The effect must be pleasing to the eye– Symmetric from both the top and side view

• regular outline (circular, oblong, rectangular, etc.)• flat, domed, etc. from the side view• no gaps or irregular spaces between florets

• The form of each floret– All florets should be of the form that is typical of the

variety– All florets are judged like one-bloom-per-stem blooms

Form – HT, Gr

• All florets of Hybrid Tea and Grandiflora sprays should be of “exhibition form” if that is typical of the variety

• For HT and GR, the “ideal” spray of exhibition form florets would take preference over a spray showing stages of bloom

Peace

Form – all others

• Sprays may be “naturally grown”, i.e., not disbudded (may have “green” buds)

• Disbudding may be done to improve the overall appearance of the spray

• Each spray of an inflorescence need not arise from the same leaf axil as long as the overall effect is pleasing

• Florets must be typical of the variety, do not need to be “exhibition” form

NewportFairy

Iceberg

Blueberry Hill #1

Blueberry Hill #2

Color – 20 pointsSubstance – 15 points

• Petal color must be typical of the variety• Color of florets must be evenly matched or well

blended for visual appeal• If fully open, stamens must be fresh and visible• Petal crispness and freshness must be evaluated

Celine Forestier

Stem and Foliage – 20 points

• The spray should not “nod”• Stem and foliage should be clean• No torn leaves or leaflets• The stem should be of adequate length to support

the inflorescence

Balance and Proportion – 10 points

• Not as much stem is required to balance the spray• Two sets of leaves below the lowest lateral cane

are sufficient• Leaf sets from lateral axils within the sprays are

typical• A massive spray seldom makes a good exhibit – it

is out of balance

Size – a “BIG” 10 points

• Individual florets– Hybrid Tea – big is better

– Floribunda, Polyantha – typical of the variety or larger

– Miniature – petiteness counts

– Mini-Flora – big is better

– Shrubs, Climbers, OGRs – typical of the variety or larger

• Geometrics• Structure of the inflorescence

ARS Awards for Sprays

• Best Hybrid Tea Spray• Best Grandiflora Spray• Best Miniature Spray• Best Mini-Flora Spray• Best Floribunda Spray – or –

– Gold Medal, Floribunda Sprays (Queen)– Silver Medal, Floribunda Sprays (King)– Bronze Medal, Floribunda Sprays (Princess)

Examples

What do you see that is ‘good’ about each exhibit?

What do you see that is ‘not good’?

Lime Sublime

Dortmund

Bill Warriner

F.J. Grootendorst

Lady of the Dawn

Altissimo

Stretch Johnson

Playgirl

BACK: Nicole, Fabulous!, and Sexy RexyFRONT: Europeana, Lavaglut

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