Congratulations "Jon" AKA "Amorecuore" here on Daves Garden

Congrats to our good friend Jon on his first time ever showing. He Won Best in Category Amateur single, Creme De La Creme, Johnathan Julian, Plantation, Fl. Great Growing Jon. You Dazzle us with your blooms and it's paid off. Keep them coming!!! We know you had to take pics so where are they LOL

Robert


Conrad/Sunrise Chapter Show; 4/25/09.

Best of Show;
Single, Boo Temp, Connie and Fred Roush, Sunset Chapter.
Double, Amber Eve, Carlos and Nola Reynolds, Lake Harbor, Fl.
Miniature, Hurricane Lily. Eddie Griffith, West Palm Beach, Fl.
Seedling, Ana Lynn Sport. Carla and Nola Reynolds.

Best in category ,
Amateur single, Creme De La Creme, Johnathan Julian, Plantation, Fl.
Amateur double, Bob's Delight, Clida Leger, Weston, Fl.
Collector single, Tahitian Rainbow, Jim Bridges, Harry Goulding Chapter,
Collector double, New Idea, Elaine Scoby, Pompano Beach, Fl.
Open collector single, Hot T, Carlos and Nola Reynolds.
Open collector double, Time For Magic, Fred and Connie Roush.
Commercial single. Jason B, Conrad Nursery,
Commercial double, Love Pat, Tried and True Hibiscus, Englewood, Fl.
Miniature single, Carolina Breeze, Eddie Griffith, West Palm Beach.
Miniature double, Blue Bayou, Elaine Scoby, Pompano Beach, Fl.
Seedlings;
Regular single, 457-04, Carlos and Nola Reynolds.
Regular double, 315-05, Carlos and Nola Reynolds.
Mini. double. 441-04, Carlos and Nola Reynolds.

Amateur exhibitors, 6. Total entries 544. Gold seals 257. Percent gold 47.
67 seedlings entered.
Sweepstake winners;
Amateur Clida Leger, Conrad chapter, Pretty In Pink.
Collector, Elaine Scoby, Volcano Rain.
Open collector, Carlos and Nola Reynolds.. Dancing Fire.
Commercial, Tried and True Hibiscus, First Impression,

LOL. Thanks Robert for posting this. I'm WAY too modest to have posted this myself. You're not going to believe that I was running so late this morning, pampering the blooms, and didnt realize until I was halfway there that I forgot to bring my camera. I almost missed the cutoff time for entering blooms because the Mount Botanical Gardens in West Palm Beach is large to me and it was jammed packed with people. I have to admit when I looked at the Best Of Show Winners it was very obvious to me why they all won. I don't think I've ever had any blooms like the quality of those. A picture would have helped, but you have to see them in person to really admire their perfection. I met some really nice/friendly quality people that made me feel very comfortable. It was great to be able to put a face/personality alongside the names we see here and around the internet.

Much appreciated Robert,

Jon

Congratulations Jon!

Way to go Jon! :~)

Congratulations Jon! That's really exciting!

Thanks much. I had thoughts about not going through with it this morning. Just glad I didn't chicken out and decided to just enter the 3 of the 7 blooms I thought were of decent quality. The other two blooms were "High Voltage" and "Tigerama".

Jon

Congrats, Jon!! How exciting that must have been for you. As beautiful as all of your blooms are that you post, its no surprise that you'd do very very well. I can't imagine what the Best Of Show blooms must have looked like if you say it was obvious they were that good. Was it the variety that was chosen, or did they look like blooms on steroids? What made them so special?

Congrats again, well deserved.

Thanks Kathy. I had a feeling that if I had a chance it was going to be with "Creme De La Creme" because the bloom is consistently large sized has a good texture/holds up pretty well. It's also a Hibiscus created by Charles Black at Hiddenvalleyhibiscus in California and few have been sold. It's not a cultivator that many people, especially here in Florida have probably seen before.
You have to get lucky and have good blooms open at just the right time. Obviously the more plants you have increases your chances when it comes to the timing thing. You fill out a form for each bloom with the cultivator name and your name and address. Then theres a portion on the form that folds over and covers your name. The judges are judging just based on the blooms in front of them. The color of the form you fill out determines what division you are entered in (amateur, collector, open collector or commercial).
The best in show blooms just stand out because of many characteristics. The large sized blooms are REAL large, the coloration is vivid and the form texture is perfect/unblemished. Everyone here has probably had some perfect blooms at some point and time and I'll bet you remember them. Those are the ones we probably all take pictures of so that we will remember them.

Jon

Here's an example of what I mean. This is a Hibiscus "Misbehavin" bloom that is opening today. It's still a beautiful bloom, but its not the same quality of some of the other Hibiscus "Misbehavin" blooms posted on here.

Jon

WOoHOo, congratulations! From the list of winnners Robert posted you really did well. Those are some pretty impressive growers you were up against.

Congratulations........

Thanks. To be honest I couldn't compete with those growers and luckily didn't have to. I was classified in the amateur division. I think a person is able to compete in the amateur division for their first two years. You then move up to the collector or open collector division depending on how many different cultivators you have. I still have a LONG way to go to be able to compete in those divisions. This is why anyone new to this out there should give it a try if you haven't in the past. You'll be happy you did. I was just glad to be able to see some awesome blooms in person and there's nothing like seeing blooms in person when it comes to deciding what cultivators you want to add to your "wish lists".
Here's a photo from today of Hibiscus "Big Boss". It's one I picked up yesterday after seeing it live and in person at the show.

Very pretty Jon,

Big Boss is a great bloomer too. I have to enter as commercial or grower and right now I do not have near the blooms that some of the others do. Had been able to greenhouse mine maybe. I dont think I'd have a chance in.... well you know where to even get a seal. (LOL) I may try it though. BTW heres your Prize Winning Bloom.

Robert

Way to go Jon! Love to hear about fellow DG'ers doing good!!!!

I just bought my first tropical hibiscus a few weeks ago. I am finding that they are very contagious especially hanging out on this forum and seeing every one's blooms. Please keep the pictures coming!!!

Patty

I, too, have just gotten hooked on the newer hibiscus after growing the same ol' for many, many years. I just didn't know any flower could be so beautiful and HUGE as these. I currently have 5 Bahama Bay plants and every time one blooms it's like Christmas/Birthday/Easter all combined. And mine were not expensive at all and I didn't get them by mail just at an off-price nursery but w/the Hine's tag attached so they aren't knockoffs or whatever. They were in 3 gal. pots so you can see they were well grown and full of roots/ball. I have them planted in 5 gal. pots within pots under some really big oleanders so that they are in the shade most of the day but have nice bright light. Those babies are coming in the garage this winter if a freeze is predicted anywhere within 100 miles from us. Now, to go find some more good buys.

Ann

Ann, you are so fortunate to be able to buy the Hines plants. For some reason they are not available in many areas of the east coast. It is strange because the big boxes are full of other Hines plants. It sounds like you scored some beautiful hibiscus. Since the Bahama Bay plants are hybridized in Houston they should love it at your house.

Look what I came across after doing a "google seach" on prized tropical hibs! Congrats Jon, I guess you're an official Hibiscus celebrity, glad you're here on the Hibiscus forum at Daves!

ps hope you remember to take your camera with you now to the shows! lol

LOL. I was way too nervous at this show back in April to take any photos. Maybe at the next one in October I'll remain calm!!! There were 611 hibiscus blooms at that show. Now that's quite a few hibiscus to look at.

Congratulations, Jon. You certainly have plenty of flowers that look like big winners to me.
Can't believe how addictive this hobby is becoming.
Judy

I told Jon it's a good thing he lives so far away or else I'd have to make a midnight raid on his place. LOL Lots of pretty hibbies.

Thanks much Judy. It can be a very addictive hobby. It took me about a year to learn to pace myself and leave some space so that you can acquire some of the new varieties each year. It's also a good idea to try to work in as many colors as possible into your collection.

Congratulations Jon, Hope you keep winning in the future, you deserve it.

Wilfred

Congratulations Jon!