“Color Me Autumn”

West Trenton Garden Club Returns with a Striking Flower Show This September

What happens when gardeners and floral designers turn their attention to autumn? Come find out September 18 and 19, when the West Trenton Garden Club presents “Color Me Autumn,” a National Garden Clubs (NGC) Standard Flower Show at Ewing Covenant Presbyterian Church. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

A flower show is a chance to see what local gardeners can grow and what floral designers can dream up, with a little friendly competition along the way. Horticultural specimens and floral designs are judged before the doors open — ribbons are awarded — and then you get to have your say. Pick your favorites and see whether you agree with the judges.

Gardening experience is not needed to enjoy the show. You don’t need to know a zinnia from a zucchini to appreciate looking at something beautiful, clever, or unexpected. In fact, zucchini could conceivably make an appearance: the show’s horticulture classes include vegetables as well as herbs, flowering plants, foliage plants, roses, dahlias and more.

That variety is one reason “Color Me Autumn” should be especially interesting. People tend to associate flower shows with spring, when gardens are bursting back to life. September offers a different cast of characters. The 2026 schedule makes room for asters, goldenrods, sedum, marigolds, zinnias, roses, dahlias, herbs, colorful branches and the harvest from the vegetable garden. The floral designers get to play with autumn, too, in classes with names such as “Teatime in the Apple Orchard” and “Oktoberfest.” There will even be botanical crafts and photography, including decorated witches’ hats, botanical brooms and autumn nature photographs.

Younger exhibitors are getting in on the fun, too, creating floral designs in Halloween-themed mugs for “Spook-tacular” and turning botanical materials into birds, insects and other small creatures for “Woodland Adventure.” At the other end of the age spectrum, local senior groups will contribute their own autumn designs to “Blazing Colors.” It’s one more reason to bring the family and see what different generations can create with a little inspiration from nature.

Bringing all of that together takes considerably longer than walking through it. Flower Show Chair Helga Fontus has spent months overseeing the many details involved in producing “Color Me Autumn.” Helga knows the territory well: she also served as General Chairman of WTGC’s last flower show, “Back to Paris!” in May 2023.

Working closely with her is Pat Bowker, a WTGC member since 1996 who wrote the schedule for “Color Me Autumn.” A flower show schedule is the blueprint for the entire event, spelling out the classes, rules, awards and requirements that turn a lot of good ideas into an actual flower show. Both the show organization and schedule followed the rules specified in the NGC Handbook for Flower Shows.

And then there are many WTGC members who have helped “get the show on the road.” The committee roster stretches from staging, entries passing, and plant placement to education, publicity, judging and docents. Exhibitors have been growing plants and planning designs, while other volunteers are handling the behind-the-scenes jobs visitors may never notice. The show schedule itself gives credit to the chairmen, committee members, consultants, exhibitors, judges, church members, friends and families whose work makes the event possible.

Longtime WTGC followers may remember “Back to Paris!” That award-winning 2023 show took visitors on a floral trip to the City of Light, complete with design classes inspired by Paris landmarks and culture. This time we’re staying closer to home and celebrating one of New Jersey’s prettiest times of year.

Saturday, September 19, also happens to be Ewing’s Community Fest. That works nicely: make a day of it. “Color Me Autumn” is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so there’s time to enjoy both events. The Flower Show also opens Friday afternoon from 1:30 to 6 p.m. for anyone who wants to get an early start on the weekend.

Come for the flowers. Come see what your neighbors have grown. Come to choose the ribbon winners you would have picked. Or come because a masquerade mask made from botanical materials has you curious. We’ll take any of those reasons!

“Color Me Autumn” will be held Friday, September 18, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ewing Covenant Presbyterian Church, 100 Scotch Road, Ewing, NJ 08628. Admission is free, and the show is open to the public. Enjoy the show!