The 2011, Fillmore Flower Show, “ Fantasy of Flowers in Fillmore” sponsored by Vision2020/Civic Pride Committee has come & gone leaving memories of willing volunteers, sweet fragrances, beautiful flower specimens, bouquets and arrangements in all their glory for those who attended.

This year brought 498 entries, nearly double what there were last year! Among the nationally certified judges, Barbara Schneider, Susan Diller & Una Lopez, comments were overheard about the quality of exhibitor finesse in Fillmore & that this was one of their favorite shows to judge.

Violin music on Saturday by Asher Smith brought an unknown lady attending to break into song because she knew the words to his music. Sunday classical pieces were played on the piano by Nathalie Miliken, adding ambience.
It was decided that this year’s “Best of Show” award would be presented in memory of Tillie Spitler. Conway & Tillie were major contributors in keeping the Flower Show organized & running par excellence over the years and Conway’s detailed record book, kept meticulously, gave us the courage to undertake the effort to bring back this worthy community event in 2009. Fillmore’s Historical Museum has a scrapbook with news clippings & photographs, documenting the show from around 1925 to the 1990’s.

2011 Flower Show winners by division were: Best of Show, Mark Ortega with his unusual potted plant, Abutilon.
Division I, (Rose: cut, single stem) Michelle Smith; Division II,(Iris: cut, single stem) Charlene Smith; Division III, (Other single stem, cut) Jim Stehly; Division IV, (Bouquets) Tim Klittich; Division V, (Arrangements) Janet Foy; Division VI, (Miniature Bouquets & Arrangements) Helen Archer; Division VII (Potted Plants) Mark Ortega; Division VIII, (Dish Gardens) Dorothy Hunt; Division IX, (Youth Arrangements) Jared Fairall; Division X, (Youth Compositions) Tim Klittich.

We, who work on the shows’ planning team, value the support of Fillmore city staff like Joe Zuniga, Evelia Hernandez, Annette Cardona and Patrick Maynard for helping us with the brochures, the use of the Senior Center location and the brochure layout. Cindy Klittich designed & printed the bookmarks for the youth entrants, the Boy Scouts for use of tables, S Club members for helping with set up & take down, Marcie Thompson & Sarah Hansen for hosting workshops & plant propagation, Ari Lawson for help with the Succulent Wreath sales at Railroad Days, Charlene Smith for leading a workshop, & all who stepped up to volunteer with set up & operation.

Others to be recognized and given “thanks” were: Otto & Sons for donated rose bushes, providing a welcoming entry with roses “For Sale”, giving the show 50% of the profit and a door prize, Carolyn Lasky with shared profits from her beautiful cymbidium orchids & a door prize, Attractions Spa gift certificate, AmPet with gift certificates, Element Computer with gift certificate, Patterson’s Hardware with Seed Tray Kit, King & King Ranches with fruit baskets, The Scented Path with gift certificate, and The Treasure Station with a gift.
It is hoped that all who expressed an interest in entering next year and getting their children or youth groups involved, will begin to plan and prepare their yards now with a little extra care to be ready for 2012.
And please, remember that you are all invited to participate in bringing the flower show and other worthy community projects like historical plaques, “Yard of the Month” awards and flower plantings in the downtown area to fruition. Come add your voice and effort to improve quality of life and esthetic appeal to our community.

Civic Pride Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 PM in City Hall.