Hi, 

I have gathered a few more facts and figures from the show.   We had 12 people bring entries this year, two of them for the first time: Suzanne Medd and Alan Mizeras.   I believe that last year Leeann Shearouse was the only first time exhibitor.   It would be nice to have more people bring entries and we need to keep encouraging this.   Overall, entries were up this year with a total of 174 submitted for judging.

 The top five vote getters for Sweepstakes points were:

1. Bell- 97 
2. Pace- 71 
3. Head- 51 
4. McCarter- 46 
5. Becker- 30 

Everyone who brought entries received six or more points.   No one was shut out, which is nice.

The People's Choice voting proved to be very popular with the public.   260 total votes were cast for favorite rhododendrons(110)and azaleas(150), with the top five winners in both categories as follows:

People's Choice- Rhododendrons

1. McCarter- 'Anna Rose Whitney'- 24
2. Bell- 'Francesca'- 23
3. McCarter- 'Calsap'- 21
4. O'Sheal- 'Anna Rose Whitney'- 14
5. Bell- 'Calsap'- 13

People's Choice- Azaleas

1. Sanborn- 'Ben Morrison'- 29
2. Pace- 'Midnight Flare'- 21
3. Bell- Unknown- single pink evergreen- 13
4. Bell- 'Margaret Douglas'- 8
5. Head- unnamed bicolor flame- 7

In all, 44 different rhododendrons and 40 different azaleas received votes from the public.   I will provide copies of the vote sheets for Jean Pace's chapter history and for anyone who would like to see what was popular with the voters.   It is pretty interesting.

I love how so many pitch in and help put this show on every year- mostly cheerfully, in spite of being sleep deprived and driving long distances in many cases.

April