Department: 152-Gladiolus Show
SUPERINTENDENT
THE 5 VALLEYS DAHLIA AND GLAD SOCIEY
Show Chair: Deanna Richard
Floriculture Building (15)
2025 Important Information
AUGUST 2 - Entry Deadline
The online entry system is not available for the Floriculture department. Paper entry tags will be provided in the Floriculture Building starting Sunday, August 2. Each exhibitor is responsible for submitting their own entry tags. Parents must sign the entry tags for exhibitors under 18 years of age.
August 7 - Exhibit Delivery
Exhibit drop-off is scheduled from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 7.
Drop-off is in the Floriculture building (#15) at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.
August 7 - Judging
Judging will begin promptly at 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 7.
Judging will be conducted by accredited NAGC and National Garden Club judges, including student judges, following the rules of the North American Gladiolus Council and the National Garden Club, Inc.
The show opens to the public on Tuesday, August 5, at 11:00 AM and closes on Sunday, August 10, at 8:00 PM.
august 10-11 - Exhibit Retrieval
Exhibits may be picked up on Sunday, August 10, at 6:00 PM, after the Rose Show concludes, or on Monday, August 11, from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Any exhibits not retrieved by this time will be disposed of by the superintendent.
Rules & Reminders
Classification: The 2025 CAGC Classification List will be used to classify all entries.
RAY DITTUS AWARD: Points will be assigned to the top three recent introductions exhibited during the show.
Registration: Each exhibitor must register at the show to obtain an exhibitor number. Signing the register indicates agreement to abide by the rules outlined below.
All entries must be in place and ready for judging by 10:00 AM on Thursday, August 7, 2024.
The 2024 NAGC Classification List will be used for entry placement.
All spike entries must be grown by the exhibitor.
Exhibitors may enter multiple entries in the single spike, three-spike, and five-spike sections, provided the entries are of different varieties.
Gladiolus varieties must be correctly labeled with the name, floret size/class, and color number. Youth exhibitors are exempt from this requirement.
Stem Lengths:
100 floret size: up to 17 inches
200 floret size: up to 18 inches
300, 400, 500 floret sizes: up to 20 inches
Measurements are taken from the tabletop to the bottom of the first floret. Stems not meeting these standards may be penalized at the judge's discretion.
The 5 Valleys Dahlia & Glad Society will provide containers for single, three, and five spike exhibits. Exhibitors must supply containers for baskets, vases, and patina exhibits.
Vases and appropriate foam will be provided for all exhibits. Exhibitors may also use their preferred foam, or the lids provided.
Spikes will be judged according to the DECORATIVE STANDARDS outlined in the NAGC Judges Handbook.
Judging emphasizes beauty of form, color, ruffling, usefulness, and distinction of the spike, with less focus on mechanical perfection.
Judges' decisions are final. Awards for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place will be given if merited in all sections.
The show committee reserves the right to reject any entry.
The committee may make changes or additions to the rules as necessary for the proper conduct of the show. These changes will be binding as though originally published.
The committee cannot alter the judges' decisions.
Neither the 5 Valleys Dahlia & Glad Society, the Missoula County Fairgrounds, nor the NAGC will be held responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
The entry must be the work of or grown by the exhibitor unless otherwise stated.
Exhibitors may enter in only one (1) of the following divisions:
Youth: Up to 17 years of age.
Amateur: Beginners or family gardeners who may occasionally sell flowers or bulbs and have not won two (2) major awards on the Court of Honor.
Intermediate: Exhibitors who have won two (2) major awards on the Court of Honor in the amateur class.
Open: Exhibitors who have won three (3) or more major awards on the Court of Honor.
Division I: Glad Spike Show
CLASSIFICATION OF GLADS - is a three-digit number consisting of first the floret size class followed by the color class as shown in the tables below:
FLORET SIZES/CLASS
100 Miniatures under 1.5" across the floret
200 Small 2.5" to 3.5" across the floret
300 Medium 3.5" to 4.5" across the floret
400 Large 4.5" to 5.5" across the floret
500 Giant 5.5" and over across the floret
A decorative (D) is a glad that has the "wow" factor but is not judged with all the criteria of the exhibition glad. It is judged for novelty, beauty and appeal. Its floret size, bud count, buds in color and stem length are judged. See chart below.
Size Diameter Total Buds Open Florets Buds in Color Stem Length
(In inches) (Minimum) (Minimum)
100 Up to 2 1/2" 13 4 3 13"
200 2 1/2 - 3 1/2" 15 5 4 15"
300 3 1/2 - 4 1/2" 17 6 5 17"
400 4 1/2 - 5 1/2" 17 7 5 17"
500 Over 5 1/2" 17 5 4 17"
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE - YOUTH
Division I, Section DY-1 Youth: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DY-3 Youth: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DY-5 Youth: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE - AMATEUR
Division I, Section DA-1 Amateur: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DA-3 Amateur: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DA-5 Amateur: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE - INTERMEDIATE
Division I, Section DIN -1 Intermediate: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DIN -3 Intermediate: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DIN -5 Intermediate: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE - OPEN
Division I, Section DO -1 Open: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DO -3 Open: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section DO -5 Open: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – RECENT INTRODUCTIONS
Cultivators Introduced 2012 - 2022
Division I, Section RI -1 Recent Introductions: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section RI -3 Recent Introductions: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section RI 5 Recent Introductions: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – ALL AMERICA
Division I, Section AA -1 All America: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section AA -3 All America: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
Division I, Section AA -5 All America: Five Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – SEEDLINGS
Division I, Section S -1 Seedling: Single Spike
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – SEEDLINGS
Division I, Section S -3 Seedling: Triple Spikes
Class 100
Class 200
Class 300
Class 400
Class 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – BASKETS
Division I, Section B -1 Baskets
Basket containing a minimum of 13 spikes sizes 100 & or 200
Division I, Section B -2 Baskets
Basket containing a minimum of 13 spikes sizes 300, 400, 500
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – PATINAS
Exhibit using only 100 and or 200 size glads. Other foliage may be used. Glads may be altered to accommodate the vase or container.
Division I, Section P-1 Patinas
Exhibit containing only one (1) color.
Division I, Section P-2 Patinas
Exhibit containing two (2) or more colors.
GLAD SPIKE SHOW SCHEDULE – VASES
Division I, Section V-1 Vases
Vase of five (5) spikes
Division I, Section V-2 Vases
Vase of 5-16 spikes
Division II: Glad Design Show
Gladiolus flowers (glads) must be the dominant feature of the arrangement. However, other flowers, foliage, and accessories are permitted. Only fresh plant materials are allowed; no artificial flowers, foliage, or tinted glads are permitted. Backdrops are optional.
All materials in the design must be placed in a container capable of holding moisture, such as Oasis foam or a needle holder.
Each exhibitor MUST create their own design.
An exhibitor may submit only one (1) design per class but may participate in as many classes as desired.
Exhibits must remain on display for the entire duration of the event.
Flowers do not need to be grown by the exhibitor.
An Artistic Champion will be selected from the champions of each division.
All entries must be completed and ready for judging by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, August 7.
First and second place awards will be given in each class if merited.
THEME OF SHOW: “RIVER BOTTOM BASH”
Class 1: “River Line Dance” designers’ choice
Class 2: “Twin Rivers” designers’ choice
Class 3: “Bold and Beautiful” designers’ choice
Class 4: “Party in the Park” designers’ choice
Class 5: “High Life” designers’ choice