NEWS & UPDATES
2023 SEASON
16 April 2023
A new season begins.
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Three spring shows (Keynsham, Dorset and Wessex Daffodil Group) were successfully completed, primarily using a mix of SR6 specimen and SR7 small vase staging ring inserts. In total, we staged a further 42 vases of flowers. This saved roughly £20-30 of the new (non-plastic) floral blocks.
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Over the winter we also added a sloped version of SR1 - shown in the illustration. We found small ring SR7 to be very effective for displaying vases of daffodils and dahlias with slopes to some of the holes. So we developed a similar version of this large vase staging ring - with approximately 12-degree slopes on 4 of the holes. It will be interesting to see how this performs relative to the existing 'straight' SR1.
SWEET PEA SEASON
21 June 2023
A new season begins.
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Two summer shows (Downton & Chiltern Sweet Pea Society) were undertaken, primarily using SR8 sweet pea staging rings. In total, we staged a further 32 vases of flowers.
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END OF THE SEASON
18 September 2022
That's it, folks! Thanks to all those that have contacted me or spoken to me at shows about the staging rings. We have reached the end of the season with shows at Street and Yeovil. In total, we have exhibited at 2 spring shows, the sweet pea National at Wisley, and 10 other summer shows.
We have used the staging rings throughout the show season, with just the odd use of new compostable floral foams (when staging 'outside' of the usual Bikini vases). In total, we have staged over 250 vases of flowers in staging rings and it is estimated that we saved between £200 - £250 in not having to buy the new fully compostable floral foam products. We now just need to reflect on the year.
HOW TO USE STAGING RINGS WITH DAHLIAS & SWEET PEAS
1 September 2022
You might be wondering how to use the rings! Two short (10 minute) videos have been loaded which show how I stage with them - see the demonstration video tab.
LUCKY NUMBER 9?
21 August, 2022
The first of the small vase Staging Rings has now been to 9 shows, which means that it has paid for itself in the space of a single showing season - by which we mean that savings in purchases of floral foam outweigh the likely cost of buying the ring commercially. The larger rings have also now reached 6 outings, so are also close to paying for themselves.*
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In total we have staged nearly 200 vases of flowers at competitive flower shows using the rings - saving roughly £175 in purchases of compostable foam material.
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* Assuming that the alternative is staging in new compostable foams at c£35 a box, and that two cones of material are used to fill a vase.
TAUNTON FLOWER SHOW
7 August 2022
A full test of the rings with dahlias at Taunton Flower Show - see the test tab for more details and photos. We won the NDS silver with this exhibit of three vases in the Championship (Blyton Softer Gleam, Lismore Goldcrest & Mary's Jomanda) and the NDS bronze with a vase of 3 Sheval Megan.
NATIONAL SWEET PEA SOCIETY SHOW, WISLEY
29 June 2022
We used the Staging Rings to field 6 vases at the show using SR8 with a 16-degree slope. This was a successful use of the Rings, despite rain and wind damaging the blooms and bending the stems in the days leading up to the show. We were awarded second place for this exhibit of 3 vases of 7 stems (Daily Mail, Memorial Flight & Mumsie).
SWEET PEA TESTING
22 June 2022
For sweet peas we have been testing variations of the SR8 staging ring - which has 22 holes. After a couple of weeks of testing, it seems that a 16-degree slope for the outermost holes probably offers the best solution (a wide enough fan shape, but without the holes fouling each other). The hole size, at 5.5mm, seems about right for all but the thickest stems, and the slots at the side allow a bit of extra flexibility.
The sweet peas are finally producing mostly 4's, so I was able to put together this mixed vase of 15 with foliage added. An insert is also shown to the side of the vase.
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A TEST AT NAILSEA SPRING SHOW
2 April 2022
A test at Nailsea Spring Show proved successful. We made wide use of SR6 specimen bloom inserts as well as SR7 and SR4 Staging Rings.
SEE THE FULL RANGE
April, 2022
After our first test at a live show, it is clear that a couple of other Rings may be of use - so we are now also experimenting with S7, which has an inbuilt 12-degree slope which may be of help with some types of flowers. Also shown are sub-inserts for SR1, SR2 & SR3 which allow for angled holes in the large vase inserts. We will see if these help or hinder.
TRIAL AT BROADWEY & UPWEY SPRING SHOW
March, 2022
We had our first competitive show using the rings - at Broadwey & Upwey Spring Show. We staged around 20 vases of daffodils using the Staging Rings. See the separate tab on trials/testing for details.
SWEET PEA VASE INSERT DEVELOPED
March 2022
In March 2022 we developed a Sweet Pea Vase staging ring (SR8) - to fit both metal and plastic vases.
It has enough holes to take up to 15 sweet pea stems in a fan shape - the holes have been angled to achieve a 60-70 degree fan.
To be trialled when 2022 season blooms become available.
TRIAL SET FOR 2022 SEASON
February, 2022
This is our set of 5 for Trialling at flower shows in 2022.
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SR1 has 6 x 20mm holes aimed at staging 3 or 5 small, miniature, waterlilly and collerette type dahlias (or other flowers), or with space for a single large or giant bloom in the centre.
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SR2 has 3 x 38mm holes and 3 x 20mm holes, aimed at medium/large flowered or miniature/small types.
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SR3 (6 x 24mm holes) aimed at staging 1, 3 or 5 small-medium flowered dahlias.
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SR4 fits the smaller diameter vase, and has 9 x 14mm holes.
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SR6 fits a small sweet pea vase, and is aimed at staging a few small blooms, or possibly a single stem (pompon or miniature dahlia, single rose).
