On June 18th, 2016, my wife and I decided to visit a lily show sponsored by the Mid America Regional Lily Society presented at the Missouri Botanical Garden (Mobot) in St Louis.
The show area and number of entries wasn't mind staggering (like the Daffodil World Convention Show we'd attended earlier this spring, also in St Louis). The show consisted of two tables of entries, a table of winner entries, several art type table settings, and an educational exhibit on the way out. We met one of the exhibitors walking in the door, he escorted us for a while, showing off his enties mostly, he related he grows about 300 different lilies (but, wasn't a breeder). Nice guy.

My camera (as I've often lamented these days decides itself weather to produce good pics or not so good pics at/during any particular function or shooting session; this day during the show part isn't my best pictures, but is what I got that early afternoon. (Conversely, after this show we spent several hours viewing Mobot's exulted grounds taking several hundred more pics that for the most part were of substantial better quality; loading those into the database here is one reason I'v been so slow getting this piece into the Lily forum).
At any rate, here's what we got-
Tresor Twosome

Dot com., Pearl Jennifer, & Vivaldi


Nova Scotia. Heart Balance, & Robinson's Comet


Paul Bunyan, a couple of Night Flyer


Purple Life, Golden Valley, & Golden Splendor


Golden Splendor was one of my favorites there, but was apparently disqualified for 'not open' when the judges went by


Ice Caves (2) and Longidragon Trumpet (2)


Nymph, Silk Road, & Luminaries


Yelloween, Gluhwein. & Allyosee


Suncrest and Kentucky


Concluding part 1 (don't want to inadvertently hit the wrong key and lose it all)...

Checking my notes, I was actually approaching the end when I terminated part 1, so here's the remainder from the show...part 2:
Our presenter host's ribbons.

Well, I was well into concluding this whole show, when alas, lost it ...
Let me conclude by finishing what I started
without further adieu...
< long table views >


Winning table -


Artful entries -





plus this equals





Table setting entries -





Best species entry - L. michiganense


Single bloom table entries


Favorites


Well, that's it.

Needless to say, I forgot the educational ending display >

Fasciation -

Imperfect bud -

I had an observation and current society status discussion with a hostess at tour's completion. She told me she has serious reservations weather the show might return next year due to declining membership as evident by the low number of individual entry participants (probably less than 10). I told her, should they show, we would too.

Great pictures. Haven't ever been to an official lily show. Though it looks like great fun. Lots of stems to compare.

Any tips for showing?

Anthony the Tasmanian has had a lot of experience participating in lily shows. One thing for sure is getting the lily to the show when it's at the height of it's perfection. I'd probably attempt to do that by forcing.
It definitely was an enjoyable outing for the wife and me. After the show, she and I spent several hours (in sweltering heat) roaming and photographing more of Mobot's 74 acres of fascination. We try to get there about once a year, it's like a breath of fresh air (irregardless of heat or not). If it's in the winter we just go to The Climatron, an immense geodesic dome that houses their tropical collection.
A world class botanical park.

"Anthony the Tasmanian" I love it! Thanks for the giggle. And for sharing the show! I love lily shows. I think growing a great show stem is largely up to nature (beyond watering and feeding) while the hardest part is cutting and transporting and benching the exhibit without accidents. Many a show winner lost its head getting in or out of the car! Smeared pollen, snapped filaments, bent petals, crushed leaves... oh the woes! Presenting your lily in the best possible light for the judge can be a tricky art and many growers have their own favourite 'tricks'.

Edit: letting "Anthony the Cool-man" divulge his tricks. :D

I really enjoyed looking through your show photos. Never been to a lily show before.