AOS Judging
 

I have a specific question, but I'd also like to open this thread up to any comments from those with judging experience (judge or grower). Here's my specific question: What is the goal of showing a previously awarded plant? Would one hope to get a higher score or would the grower just be looking for a cultural award?

And in general, any tips or tricks for readying a plant to be judged? Thanks in advance.

I think that you would be looking for both. Getting a higher flower award is nice but getting the cultural award is better for the grower. My first and only award is a CCM of 81. With that said I will be trying to get a higher award with the same plant if it blooms as well this year.

Jayme

I was told that judges would only award a plant that was better than the highest award for that hybrid or species. For example, my Dtps. Malibu Merlot was nominated for an AOS award. When they took it to the table and looked up previous awards they found only one but that one had 29 flowers on a single inflorescence with a CCM/AOS and 83 points. Mine only had 13. So mine was not awarded. I sure would have liked to see the 29 flowers! I'll bet it was really something!

Showing a previously awarded plant means nothing if all you are trying to do is get a higher award. Sure, if you can get that higher award is great but the award indicates that it is a fine clone and recognised for that. It also indicates that if you flower this plant to its best, it stands a great chance of winning its class at a show to Champion of the show. This also depends heavily on the competition. The bottom line is that an award is granted to a plant "for that flowering", the award recognition remains but whether that plant flowers to that or better standard again is a major point of discussion.
As for the Dtps, the award you noted appears that it was for culture/flower count. No mention of a quality award. This being the case then this would indicate that the flower quality wasn't good enough for one to be awarded. This the only "higher" award it could achieve. Many plants of the same species or same name hybrids are awarded BUT reference is taken from previously awarded clones to see if the plant being judged is of equal or better than those clones. If its not equal or better than it shouldn't be awared. If the lowest previous award is a HCC with points close the AM award then a lower point HCC could be granted. Its all relevant to what has been seen before OR what has been seen before for that particular genus.

That's a good way to put it, I can understand that. I wondered if someone could "shop" for judges who have a history of high scoring, and if maybe this is why someone would take a previously awarded plant to be judged.

If I wanted to research awards or standard for a particular species or hybrid, would AQ+ have all that info?

AQ+ would have the info. I doubt you could shop for judges, although certain regions are reputed to be 'easier' on some types of plants than other regions. I won't go any farther than that in order to avoid politics...

Showing previously awarded plants could be for a number of reasons. I show previous awards just to make my display look nice. I don't bring the plants for judging specifically. We will sometimes consider elevating an award on a plant. For example if it has an HCC and is just amazing on the current bloom we might re-score it. The clonal name stays the same, but the award is different. Of course if it gets 79 points instead of 80 it is still an HCC, which kind of sucks. If it is particularly well grown it could get a cultural award, which is really more to the grower than the plant.

Thanks Rob. I've never had anything judged but I've been learning more about it lately. I always wondered about the subjectivity, especially with so many humans involved. I don't think it would be fair to look for an "easy" judging center to have an awarded mericlone re-scored. I guess it happens all the time.

Is AQ+ worth getting? I definitely can't afford OW but I'd like to see what the standards are for certain varieties.