After a three-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Elverson Garden Club is resuming its annual flower show. The public is invited to view the entries on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. in Detterline Hall at Saint Peter United Church of Christ (UCC), 1920 Ridge Road (Route 23), Knauertown. Admission is free.

Saint Peter UCC will sell soup and baked goods for takeout in Detterline Hall during the flower show hours.

The 2023 Elverson Garden Club flower show is being held for the first time at the church, which is the location of the club's monthly meetings. Entries will be submitted in three major subject areas: artistic designs, horticultural specimens and botanical photography. The entries will be created and displayed around the theme "On the Radio." Flower show entries will conform to standards established by National Garden Clubs Inc. Organizers are expecting up to 135 entries by club members.

"The judging will take place before the show that morning. So the people visiting the show will be able to see who won and the ribbons," explained club member Laura Alden, a member of the flower show committee.

Alden pointed out that there are different subcategories in each of the major competition areas. In the horticulture category, people can submit plants or prized produce from their gardens. There is also a category for houseplants.

"For the artistic category, some are picking a song, and the arrangement revolves around the title of the song like 'The Rose,'" Alden said. "The entries will be judged on how well you reflect the theme. They want colorful, healthy entries."

"It is educational, too," she added. "We put up signs that tell what the plants are and what classification they are, especially in the horticulture division."

Members of the Elverson Garden Club, which began in 1929, have hosted an annual flower show for more than 90 years. They also participate and place in the Philadelphia Flower Show as well as in the Longwood Gardens Flower Show.

The club, which currently has 49 active members, meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. March through December in Detterline Hall. The club holds monthly artistic and horticultural competitions, and the meetings generally include a guest speaker.

"Sometimes the guest speaker will be someone in the club who has a special expertise in something," noted Alden. "One time we had a speaker who was a veterinarian who talked about what things you should avoid planting in your garden if you have pets." Those interested in joining the club are invited to attend a meeting.

Members pay an annual fee to participate, which allows them to attend educational gardening workshops and club dinners. "We are garden and nature enthusiasts," said Alden, noting that information about the club will be available at the upcoming flower show and that club members will be on hand to answer questions.

Elverson Garden Club members and area residents Vanessa Peterson and Lisa Cherpanich are co-chairs of the show.

Individuals may join the "Elverson Garden Club" Facebook group for more information about the club and the show.