Amateur Growers Will Get Chance at ’98 Garden Show

The 1998 Los Angeles Garden Show, to be held in early October, will feature a new “Flower Festival” at which amateur gardeners can exhibit their favorite plants or flower arrangements.

Any nonprofessional can exhibit, show organizers say, and although entries will not be judged or given awards, it is a great chance to show off one’s favorite plant to thousands of show-goers.

There will be five categories of exhibits in the “Flower Festival”:

* Cut flower arrangement.

* Single horticultural specimen in bloom and growing in a container.

* Distinctive foliage plant growing in a container.

* Group of plants growing in a single container.

* Single cut stem of a horticultural specimen displayed in a glass carafe.

To enter, write or fax the show’s organizers and ask for an entry form. Then simply bring the plant with you on the first day of the show. The arrangement or plant must be able to last for all four show days.

Write to the California Arboretum Foundation, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA 91007-2697, or send a fax to (626) 447-3763.

Professional garden designers are invited to design and install Style Gardens reflecting this year’s theme, “Gardens of the Silver Screen.” Style Gardens can be for homes, patios or condos.

For more information or an application, call the California Arboretum Foundation office at (626) 447-8207.

The 1998 show will be at the Arboretum of Los Angeles in Arcadia from Oct. 8 to 11 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.