The four judges and the organizer of the Senior center's flower and garden show sat chatting alone after a low turnout Saturday. Across the room were several empty tables and the produce brought by two entrants.
"I don't have much to do," said flower judge Linda Garmong.
"No, there's only one flower over there," said the other flower judge, Marcia Bernard.
"I think everybody who entered got first place," said her husband, vegetable judge David Bernard.
The organizer of the flower and garden show, Peggy Hill, was disappointed at the low turnout.
"I don't know if people are just too busy or if they feel their stuff isn't good enough to show off," she said.
It was her third-annual flower and garden show.
"Third and last," she said.
There were quite a few entries the first year but then participation dropped.
"It's just gotten worse every year," she said.
Hill said she'll focus on her many other projects, including the free community gardens just down the street and the Garden Club she has run for seven years.
The club is open to everyone -- not just seniors -- and meets once a month.
"That's been very successful," said David Bernard.
He and the other judges are all master gardeners certified through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. They enjoy doing things like judging plants shows, said Marcia Bernard.
"Once you become a master gardener one of your responsibilities is to share what you know -- to pass it on," she said. "Just to perpetuate what you learn and make people good stewards of the Earth."
She identified the few plants that had been brought in Saturday. There was zucchini, Vienna white kohlrabi, green beans and kale brought by Susan and Jurgen Matthes and turnips, beets, green and yellow beans, kohlrabi and corn brought by Rose and Ken Stieke.
Peggy Hill brought in flowers she grew in her own garden and placed them in a vase at the registration table. There were pink and yellow gladiolas and a very fragrant Oriental stargazer lily.
INFORMATION
For information on the free community garden or the garden club, call Peggy Hill at 884-2132.