Gladiolus Exhibitions Announced For State

Gladiolus Exhibitions Announced for State

Local gladiolus growers and growers throughout Michigan and surrounding states, are expected to complete the planting of most of their bulbs this month for exhibitions in Coloma-Watervliet, Aug. 3 and 4; Grand Rapids, Aug. 10; and at the Michigan State Show at West Main Mall in Kalamazoo, Aug. 16 and 17, says Michigan Gladiolus Society president, Russell 0. Everhart.

Not only the growers are involved, he says, but flower arrangers from throughout the state will be vying for honors in many classes to show the great versatility of the flower.

Many local residents will remember magnificent displays in past years, he notes, at the Michigan League, the American Legion and the U-M Intramural Building (where entries were received from as far away as Hatsic, British Columbia). The most recent exhibits were in the gymnasium of the Veterans’ Hospital.

The exhibits feature the best of the old varieties, he says, in addition to new and exotic varieties and seedlings representing glads of the future in all sizes from one to ten inches across and in a wider range of colors than any other flower.

Everhart requests that those who wish to see the return of such exhibitions to Ann Arbor contact him at the Michigan Gladiolus Society, 1515 W. North Territorial, or by calling him at 663-8926.

The Michigan Gladiolus Society was organized in 1926 and has also co-sponsored a winter growers’ conference at Kellogg Center in East Lansing for many years.

During the past 30 years or more, he notes, entries and admissions have been free at the exhibitions.