Get ready for the 2026 horticulture & photography show

The Horticulture & Photography Show 

Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026

The Garden Club of Kent, 480 Ravenna Rd., Streetsboro

Entry instructions & schedule: 

https://gardenclubofkent.org/2026-horticulture-show

SATURDAY, AUG. 15 TIMELINE

 - Photography Entries: 8:00 am - 10:00 am

- Horticulture Entries: 8:00 am - 10:30 am

- Judging (closed session): 10:30 am - 1:00 pm

- Public Viewing & Awards: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

- Awards announced: 2:00 pm

The Garden Club of Kent's Horticulture & Photography Show will be held Saturday, Aug. 15! Around mid-August, be on the lookout for the best of your crops to enter into this great show.

All divisions allow for youth entries (16 years and younger). Follow the instructions for coding these entries as explained in the instructions on the Horticulture & Photography Show web page.

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO VIEW OUR SHOW FROM 1:30 TO 3:00 PM.  

After the judging is complete, you can join us to see all the entries, congratulate the winners and see who won the 2026 Gardens of Merit awards.  

FOR VEGETABLES, FRUITS & FLOWERS

Virtually every gardener can find at least one specimen to enter. Here are a few tips and reminders:  

• THE BEST SPECIMENS ARE PICKED AT PEAK THE MORNING OF THE SHOW OR THE EVENING BEFORE.  Write down the variety of your entry, e.g., “Hillbilly” or “Juliette” or “Brandywine.”

• ALLOW YOURSELF PLENTY OF TIME.  Horticultural entries will be accepted from 8:00 am until 10:30 am. Each entry takes a few minutes to prepare.  

• PACK UP YOUR STUFF AT HOME.  But plan to prepare entries at the Ode. Space and all needed materials will be available.  

• BRING AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF ADDRESS LABELS!  You will need two labels for each entry. Otherwise, it’s a lot of writing, and labels must be legible.

• REGISTER FIRST.  Sign in and get your submitter number.  

• READ THE ENTRY SCHEDULE CAREFULLY!  Ask advisors to check your entry for compliance with the Schedule.  Entries must meet the specifications.

• PLAN TO HAVE ALL ITEMS SUBMITTED BY 10:30 am SHARP!  Bring a helper if you plan to submit a large number of entries.

• FLOWERS: SOME VASES WILL BE AVAILABLE ...  but it’s better to bring your own vase, proportional to the size of the entry. Use a CLEAR glass vase. Marbles are okay. Wedging greens will be available to support stems in the vase. Your ceramic vase may be beautiful, but your entry will be disqualified if it's not in clear glass.

• VEGETABLES: READ THE SCHEDULE!  How much stem or leaf? Wash or just wipe? How many? Uniform in shape and size? Green beans without stems will be disqualified!

FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

• BOTH COLOR AND BLACK & WHITE PHOTOS ARE WELCOME.  Photos must be 5"x7" or 8"x10". Do not matte or frame. Bring photo entries to the Ode to Joy door facing the parking lot.

• TIPS FOR TAKING GOOD PHOTOGRAPHS:

- Read and follow the rules carefully. 

- Show the judges something they haven’t seen before. 

- When photographing your subject, remove distractions. 

- Aim for simplicity. 

- Pay attention to framing the subject. 

- Step outside your comfort zone. Seek inspiration outside the usual places.

HAVE FUN! And good luck!