Take the plunge… plan to enter the DHSWP Hosta Show on Saturday, June 3, 2005. This year’s show will be held at the Bidwell Training Center, North Side, Pittsburgh.

Here are tips to make the process easy!

1. If you are exhibiting for the first time, choose one of the white show tags with the blue dot on it! That way your entries will be eligible for the Novice Award.

2. Look up the name of your hosta in the current year's "AHS Hosta Show Classification List"; There should be several copies in the workroom. This will give you the section and class number needed to complete the entry tag. All cut-leaf entries are in Division I.

3. You must complete the bottom of the tag as well as the top portion as we use those to complete the show report.

4. If the hosta variety is not in the current classification list then it must be entered into Section XII, Named but Unregistered Hosta. Only one leaf is necessary. These entries are not eligible for any AHS awards or local awards but are intended to show the public some additional varieties which are available in the commercial trade.

5. Make sure that you follow "Rule 1" in the show schedule when filling out the tags.

Example: H. ‘Guardian Angel' Your entry will have points deducted by the judges if the name of the variety is not written in this way!

6. For Sections VI through X, follow Rules 2 and 6 in the show schedule. You must have two leaves in these sections and you will use the white show tags. You will measure the length and width of the leaf to determine the size and therefore the section. There will be a chart available in the workroom. This will be double-checked by the classification committee.

7. Division V is intended by the AHS to be for entries that could have been in Divisions II, III, or VII but the person has chosen for them not to be judged.

8. Youth entries should be in Division I, Section XI.

9. Be sure to ask if you have questions about filling out your entry tags or about displaying your entry in the best manner.

10. Once you have finished grooming your entries, carry them to the classification table for them to be checked for accuracy. The placement committee will put the entries in the appropriate places on the show tables.

Honest, there’s nothing to it! So, we'll see you at the Hosta Show,Saturday, June 3, 2006