Nearly 30 people were in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library early Tuesday afternoon, when The Garden Club of Newtown (GCN) hosted “Holidays in the Garden: A Small Standard Flower Show.”

The “in-house flower show,” as it was also billed, was an opportunity for garden club members to practice building arrangements for the design divisions and present horticulture entries. The emphasis was on practicing the skills needed for future full competitions.

All members were invited to enter the March 25 show; at least a dozen responded, with many offering multiple entries.

GCN President Paula Toi and former GCN President Peggy Townsend were joined by Westport Garden Club member Kara McKenna-Wong on the judging panel. McKenna-Wong is studying to become a Connecticut Flower Show Judge, according to Townsend, who introduced her and thanked her for her time.

The flower show entries were presented on tables along the eastern, southern and western walls of the meeting room. As the judges inspected and considered the entries, garden club members and their invited guests milled and conversed among themselves.

Once the work of the judges was complete, Toi called the group to order. She went over some club business before turning the floor over to Townsend and McKenna Wong, who then discussed each entry.

Before beginning her feedback, McKenna-Wong complimented the show and its entries for workmanship, quality, and craftsmanship.

“Use your talents,” she encouraged everyone. “Keep practicing.”

As they went entry by entry, McKenna-Wong and Townsend offered compliments and suggestions for each design or specimen. In some cases they explained how different divisions were judged. The women took a few minutes to spell out principles of design, with Townsend explaining a helpful acronym — BAD CROPS — she and other designers have long relied on when creating their own Standard Flower Show entries.

Townsend knows of what she speaks, having won multiple Standard Flower Show awards over the years. She is also a Flower Show Judge.