Exhibiting roses in baskets

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How to Display Roses in Baskets

In this method of exhibiting roses, the baskets are usually made of wicker-work, and in various fancy styles.

They are used to demonstrate the decorative value of roses, and when tastefully and effectively filled with blooms, they generally form an attractive feature of the show. Sometimes the size and shape of basket to be used is defined in the schedule, in which case care must be taken to conform strictly to the printed conditions, otherwise the exhibit may be disqualified. If the schedule specifies that only rose foliage must be used with the flowers, no addition of fern fronds, asparagus foliage, smilax trails, grass inflorescence, or gypsophila flowers must be made.

If, on the other hand, there is no such stipulation to the contrary, then any of the latter materials may be used, in conjunction with or without the natural rose foliage. The use of ribbons is not usually favoured by judges ; anyway, it is the general practice to ignore these when judging the exhibit. Lightness and gracefulness of arrangement, as well as a soft pleasing tone of colour, count strongly in favour of an exhibit.

The blooms require to be cut with long stems, to be supported unobtrusively with fairly stiff wires, and to have their ends fixed firmly in moist sand or moss. The blooms, too, should not be too fully developed, but shown in the bud and half-open state.