Frank Speziale photo

NORWICH – The Chenango County Flower Show brought a new challenge to the fair's exhibition hall and awarded many of those who participated.

The Chenango County Flower Show is open at the Chenango County Fair's Exhibition Hall until August 12, and both horticulture and design classes are on display.

Along with some of the reoccurring themes from prior years, this year event organizers brought something new to the show floor with floor designs.

"Floor designs are very challenging because the greenery has to start from the ground and shoot upwards, and most participants entered pieces that were over six feet tall," said Chenango County Flower Show's Head of Design Mary Musson.

According to Musson, the Chenango County Garden Clubs had tackled floor designs in the New York State Fair, but this was first time it was attempted in Chenango County.

"You have to use plant material, which can be dried or fresh, it can be very sparse, or it can be incredibly dramatic," she said.

Musson also praised the first place winner in that category, Jeanne Cline, for trying in that competition for the first time, and coming out on top.

There were a total of 196 horticulture exhibits and 27 design and two educational exhibits presented to a panel of New York State Federated Garden Club Judges.

Among those exhibits were specific pieces that won special awards including: