Botanical Arts
Rules & Guidelines

Please familiarize yourself with the General Rules for Botanical Arts before submitting your registration.

1. All plant material must be dried. This includes flowers, foliage, seeds, pods, nuts (in or out of shells), vegetables, twigs, vines, reeds, etc. While no longer officially part of the plant kingdom, dried fungi including mushrooms, lichens, etc., are permitted.

2. Only plant material and/or fungi, mechanics and surface treatments (e.g., paint, nail polish, varnish, wax, etc.) are permitted. Artificial, endangered or locally invasive plant material may not be used. Link for list of Rhode Island invasive plants: https://riwps.org/invasives-plants/

3. Plant material processed only by the Exhibitor is allowed.

4. Use of commercially processed or manufactured materials is prohibited; this includes milled wood, balsa wood, toothpicks, hemp cord, etc. Exhibitors should use natural plant material (existing or caused by nature, not made or caused by mankind). Exceptions to this rule are that exhibitors are allowed to use the following items: Natural raffia; rattan; skeletonized leaves; rice; and organic thread (cotton or hemp) as a visible mechanic only to string or knot plant material that resembles pearls or gemstones.

5. Non-plant material (e.g., cardboard, metal, twine, string cording, etc.) may be used only for construction and must not be visible unless used to string or knot items that resemble pearls or gemstones in jewelry classes. If string is used for this purpose, it must be made from organic materials such as cotton or hemp.

6. Gemstones should not be made from resin, epoxy or nail polish. Gemstones must be made from plant material; the plant material may be painted to resemble a gem.

7. A light coating of resin, epoxy, nail polish, varnish, etc., is allowed. Glitter may be used if it is suspended in nail polish unless the show schedule prohibits it. Thick or heavy layers of manufactured resin, epoxy, lacquer and nail polish are not permitted.

8. Decorative painting depicting scenes, figures, borders, etc., are discouraged; designs should be created with plant material and not simply decoratively painted. In other words, create a flower from assembled pieces of plant material; an image of a flower on a leaf artistically painted on another piece of plant material is not suggested. Marbleizing effects on materials to resemble stone, such as emulating turquoise, are permitted.

9. Plant material may be carved, cut, incised or shaped to enhance artistic effect only by the exhibitor. Assemblage with other plant material is expected.

10. Man-made or manufactured figural forms as base material are not permitted.

11. Unless noted otherwise, all exhibits must appear functional (resemble wearable jewelry, shoes, etc.).

12. In a Botanical Embellishment class, complete coverage of the object is not required unless stated in the schedule. Embellished objects should remain somewhat recognizable and not be completely obscured.

13. Botanical Couture entries must be created from all dried plant material or fungi or, if embellished, completely covered.

14. For a brooch class, a pin on the back is not necessary as it may interfere with the staging.

15. If an exhibit has won first place or a GCA Special Award in a GCA, GCA Major, or Sanctioned non-GCA Major Flower Show, it may not be entered into competition again. An exhibit that has been previously entered and did not place first or win a GCA Special Award may be entered again if the piece is significantly altered.