TIP
SHOW TIPS FROM THE BEST
Important tips from expert camellia grower and exhibitor, Don Lesmeister.
Everything you wanted to know to win trophies at the camellia shows
DO NOT JUDGE YOUR BLOOMS IN THE YARD, TAKE THEM TO A SHOW!
1. GET READY
- Start your bloom entry plan the week before the show.
- Pin back leaves with clothes pins, disbud and prune if necessary.
- Move container plants to protected areas.
- Read show schedule.
- Clean boxes and get tools (brushes, tweezers, cotton etc.) ready.
2. CUTTING/HANDLING BLOOMS
- Remove leaves next to bloom from plant.
- Get cup/Perlite/sand and preservative ready-use correct cup size.
- Put bloom in preservative.
- Put bloom in container surrounded by cotton, batting, etc. (Do not use newspaper or Easter grass.
- Do not clean blooms until you get to the show.
- Remember to bring a leaf for each camellia with you!
3. EXHIBITING TIPS
- Walk the show…See what the competition is. Decide to enter single or trays etc.
- Gather up necessary trays.
- Clean bloom
- Put out entry card, place bloom & cup on table so only bloom names shows.
- Slide leaf under damaged petal if flower is red. (does not apply to white or pink blooms)
- Put damaged blooms in rear of class.
- If your bloom is BEST, put next to next best bloom.
- If your bloom is NEXT best, put far away from best bloom.
- Tilt the bloom slightly so it “smiles” at the judges.
- If bloom is not fully open, push gently with cotton Q-tip, blow on the petals to fully open.
- Use cotton balls to stage bloom.
- Place bloom in middle of table if there are few entries.
- Stage every bloom as if it were the ONLY one you have.
- When finished, go over show again to review competition/single or tray entries and collections.
4. OUT OF TOWN TRIPS
- Gas up the car/check oil/clean windows etc, a couple of days before the show.
- Get directions to the show location.
- Don’t drive in the slow, bumpy, truck lane of the highway.
- Bring heavy coat or blanket in winter as you do not want to turn the heater on.
Good Luck!
2026 Button contest
Theme for 2026: Bloomin' Beauties
You may enter no more than three drawings. Please print your name and phone number on the back of each drawing
This year's button must include three (3) Nuccio camellia varieties (all the same variety or different varieties) and should have leaves attached . See photo gallery for examples.
Final button size will be 1 3/4 inches in diameter
You may use as many colors as you like but simple is better as button is very small. The cleaner the button the better, be creative.
Final drawings to be done on 8 x 11 inch bond or art paper.
Email luannwatkins62@gmail for guidelines and a list of Nuccio camellia varieties.
Deadline: October 31, 2025
A $100.00 prize will be awarded to the first place winner along with a few buttons for yourself. Winner will get program recognition with the design being displayed on Camellia schedule and merchandise and the button being sold to the public.
The Sacramento Camellia Society will have proprietary right to the artwork of the winner.
The winning button will be used in conjunction with our annual Camellia Show to be held at the Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H St. Sacramento, CA
Questions ?? Call Julie Vierra 916-371-2174 or email j4sfgiants@sbcglobal.net
Thank you and Good Luck!!
