PAUL ECKE JR. GARDEN SHOW

CONTAINER GARDENS

COMPETITION TIMELINE

Eligibility

• Open to all California residents, including youth ages 9-19.
• Novices, amateurs, or professionals are eligible for participation. A novice is an exhibitor who has not shown prior to the 2025 San Diego County Fair competition. Novice status will be retained for the entire show.

CONTACT US

2025 LOCAL RULES

1. Completion of online entry registration shall be deemed acceptance of all rules. Acceptance includes permission to use your name, photograph, and exhibit for the news media.
2. Online registration is required in all departments and for one-day contests. Online entries are accepted until 8:00pm (Pacific Time) on the deadline day for online entry registration, unless otherwise stated.
3. Once registered, the description, title, and price may not be changed. Substitutions will not be allowed. Fair Management is not responsible for errors on entry forms which may lead to elimination or disqualification of an entry.
4. Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
5. Exhibitors must be living at the time the entry form and/or online entry is submitted.
6. All non-livestock entries must be the creative work of the exhibitor (whose name appears on the entry registration), be in good taste, and suitable for family viewing. Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any entry/exhibit it deems objectionable or not in accordance with competition standards.
7. If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
9. No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
10. Judges are qualified in the medium(s) they are judging. New judges may be chosen each year, and judges may be assigned to different divisions/classes from year to year.
11. If a coordinator or judge deems an entry to be in the incorrect category, division, class, etc., he or she may direct the Entry Office to move that entry as appropriate. The Entry Office may combine divisions or classes to create an adequate judging pool.
12. Fair Management reserves the right to limit entries, and display thereof, to facilities available and to cancel any division or class in which, in its judgment, the entries are insufficient to secure adequate competition.
13. Entries must be delivered on the date(s) and times specified. Entries will not be accepted before or after the stated entry delivery date. All accepted exhibits must remain on display and shall not be removed until the stated entry pick up date. Any exhibit not picked up on the specified date becomes the property of the San Diego County Fair and will be disposed of promptly.
14. All exhibits are entered and shown at the owner’s risk. Reasonable care will be taken to prevent loss or damage to exhibits, but in no event will the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur or for the actions of third parties. Insurance, if desired, should be obtained by the exhibitor at his/her own expense.
15. Any person who violates any Local, State, or Department rule or displays unethical conduct will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) may order.
16. To ensure reliable award notification, exhibitors are responsible for submitting all address, phone number and email address updates promptly in writing to entry@sdfair.com or Entry Department, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014.
17. Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging books rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
18. Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
19. Premium, donated cash award, and auction checks will be made payable to the exhibitor as listed on the online entry registration. Checks will be mailed within 30 days after the close of the Fair to the address shown on the online entry registration, or as updated by the exhibitor via written notification to the Entry Office. Auction checks may be held longer if the buyer has not paid. Checks not cashed within 6 months from the date of issue will be forfeited. Replacement checks may be subject to a $35 stop payment fee.
20. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) is required by the Internal Revenue Service to report any premiums paid totaling the amount of $600 or more. Exhibitors may be required to submit a W-9 form.
21. The 22nd District Agricultural Association management reserves the right to amend or add to these rules; the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) assumes no liability or responsibility not herein expressed.

California State Rules apply and are available here.

Entry Limits

ENTRY Fees

Entry fees are payable online with a credit card and are not refundable.

• Division 2003—Adult Container Plants: $12 per entry.
• Division 2004—Youth Container Plants: $7 per entry.

Fair Tickets

Each exhibitor will receive two (2) Exhibitor Access Passes.

How to Enter

1. After reading all entry materials, click the “Enter Now” link below to go to the ShoWorks Entry Homepage.
2. Register as an Exhibitor.
3. Select the appropriate division and class and input the required information. (See “Divisions and Classes” below for a list of all divisions and classes.)
4. Review your entry before completing registration to ensure that you have entered the correct division and class for each entry.
5. Click the check-out button and pay for all entries.
6. Read the confirmation statement and type YES. Do not click multiple times, as it will charge you each time.

If you plan to make changes to your entries or need to leave ShoWorks at any time, SAVE YOUR CART before exiting out.

For additional help with entering, review this detailed step-by-step guide: Entry Tutorial

Still have questions?
Please call or email the Entry Office.
Phone: (858) 792-4207 • Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm

Materials

Exhibitors must furnish their own materials, accessories, and labor for set-up and delivery. Management insists on the use of high-quality products and materials. All containers and accessories should be marked with a waterproof label listing the owner’s name and phone number on the bottom of the container. Valued accessories, heirlooms, etc., should not be used.

Delivery & Pickup

Exhibitors will deliver their container plant entries to the Garden Show Office on the designated delivery day. Vehicles must be parked in designated areas and display access passes on dashboard. Vehicles without proper passes are subject to tow.

Container plants must be picked up between 7am-5pm on the pickup deadline, unless prior arrangements have been made with the Garden Show coordinator.

Maintenance

Watering of entries during the Fair will be done by trained Garden Show staff per the Watering Schedule Form provided by each exhibitor prior to the Fair. This watering schedule form must be completed before Opening Day. Container plant maintenance throughout the entire Fair is critical and entries should be inspected by the exhibitor often. Access for maintenance may be attained on open Fair days between 6-9am (after which all vehicles must exit the Garden Show area) and on closed Fair days, any Monday or Tuesday between 6am-6pm. All vehicles must display a valid Garden Show Exhibitor permit on dashboard or be subject to tow. Exhibitors must use their own tools and remove all equipment when finished with maintenance each day. Excessive watering that causes run-off into area drains may result in State-imposed fines. Any entry which is not maintained properly may be determined ineligible and have premiums withheld.

Water Quality Control Initiative

The 22nd DAA has strict requirements associated with its storm water permits (Industrial General Permit and Small Phase 2 MSR). Both permits require the 22nd DAA to ensure that no water, other than what falls from the sky, makes its way into the storm drain system. This includes excess plant water. Anyone found watering in a manner that results in discharges to any storm drain shall be fined $500 for the first incident. If the behavior continues, the violator shall be referred to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SD RWQCB) for action. Fines and penalties levied by the SD RWQCB shall be the sole responsibility of the violator, along with any direct costs sustained by the 22nd DAA for clean-up and repair.

Judging

Displays must be ready for judging by the deadline listed above at 5pm. Judging will take place on the following day. Exhibitors’ and suppliers’ names must be covered by exhibitors prior to judging. Failure to do so can result in disqualification. Exhibitors will not be permitted in or around the show area during judging. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.

Judging Criteria

Entries are judged on overall health and quality of plant material; clean foliage without dead leaves, water spots, disease, or pests; proper plant labeling, including botanical and common names visible to public; decorative container selections and condition, including shape, texture, and color; overall balance and symmetry, originality, and artistic creation.

Judging Results

All accepted entries will be displayed in the Garden Show exhibit with any awards received.

Awards

Award checks will be available at entry pick up following the last day of the fair. Checks not picked up will be mailed within 30 days. You must notify the Fair if the person or business name to be issued your awards check is different that the exhibitor name the entry was registered under. For collaborative projects, only one check will be issued. It is the responsibility of the exhibitors to divide the premium check.

Adult Divisions

The following will be awarded in each class:

Youth Divisions

The following will be awarded in each class:

Divisions and Classes

Division 2003: Adult Container Plants

Class 001 Bromeliads & Tillandsias- Single or multiple specimens of any variety (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging.

Class 002 Cactus- Single or multiple specimens of any variety cactus (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging.

Class 003 Fairy Gardens- A miniature garden planted in a single decorative container with whimsical dwellings designed to scale. Suitable for an outdoor table display and containing at least three different plants.

Class 004 Ferns & Tropical Plants- Colorful combinations or single specimens of any variety of ferns, including staghorn ferns, or tropical plants in a decorative container or mounted.

Class 005 Noteworthy Plants- An exceptional or rare wall-mounted, hanging, or freestanding outdoor plant.

Class 006 Pinterest Inspired- Any single plant or grouping of plants that was inspired by a Pinterest posting. Must submit Pinterest photo of inspiration along with entry.

Class 007 Succulents- Single or multiple specimens of any variety succulent (blooming or not) in a decorative container or hanging.

Class 008 Vintage Containers- A single plant or grouping of plants that are displayed in a vintage container.

Class 009 Window Boxes- A traditional window box planted filled with exhibitor’s choice of plants.

Class 010 Other- Any container plant variety (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging, which does not fit into any other class.

Division 2004: Youth Container Plants

Class 001 Bromeliads & Tillandsias- Single or multiple specimens of any variety (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging.

Class 002 Cactus- Single or multiple specimens of any variety cactus (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging.

Class 003 Fairy Gardens- A miniature garden planted in a single decorative container with whimsical dwellings designed to scale. Suitable for an outdoor table display and containing at least three different plants.

Class 004 Ferns & Tropical Plants- Colorful combinations or single specimens of any variety of ferns, including staghorn ferns, or tropical plants in a decorative container or mounted.

Class 005 Noteworthy Plants- An exceptional or rare wall-mounted, hanging, or freestanding outdoor plant.

Class 006 Pinterest Inspired- Any single plant or grouping of plants that was inspired by a Pinterest posting. Must submit Pinterest photo of inspiration along with entry.

Class 007 Succulents- Single or multiple specimens of any variety succulent (blooming or not) in a decorative container or hanging.

Class 008 Vintage Containers- A single plant or grouping of plants that are displayed in a vintage container.

Class 009 Window Boxes- A traditional window box planted filled with exhibitor’s choice of plants.

Class 010 Other- Any container plant variety (blooming or not) in a decorative container, mounted or hanging, which does not fit into any other class.

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