Amateur & Professional Categories

Del Mar CA— Garden clubs, students and professional landscape and design companies are invited to enter the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show’s competitive outdoor display at the 2017 San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons | Vons. Online only registration at sdfair.com/entry must be entered by May 5. Fees range from $10-$300 per entry.
The Garden Show, presented by Think Blue, is the most popular exhibit at the Fair which last year welcomed more than 1.6 million guests in 26 days. This exhibit is open to all California residents including amateurs, non-profit organizations, businesses, associations and garden clubs in the horticultural, agricultural or floricultural industry. Youth categories are open to youth 9-19 years of age within 4H, FFA, other youth groups, and individual students.
This year’s Garden Show Theme “Happy Trails” encourages participants to incorporate a fun, western element to their displays. Several theme awards are offered in this area.
Entries are judged using the American Style of judging, unless otherwise stated. All judging is done in a closed, blind judging session. Entries are displayed for the 26 days of the San Diego County Fair and award-winning exhibitors are invited to a private awards ceremony at the Fair.
Landscape exhibit set up is May 9-24, and Container Garden Entry delivery is May 23-24. Entry teardown is July 5-7.