Yucaipa Iris Festival Flower show earns high praise from visitors

"They are small (reproductions) old bottles, and I thought the geraniums would look nice in the bottles," Grace said. So nice in fact that she captured the blue ribbon in the Junior Division.

But this isn't Grace's first blue ribbon. She's won five blues and one red since she started entering the show three years ago. She wants to own her own flower shop; however she said it won't be in Yucaipa. She has more worldly plans.

"I want to be a florist in New York City or San Francisco, or in Paris," she said.

Andrea Hladix of Yucaipa claimed the "Best of Show," for her variety of Iris - vibrant colors of purple, blues, and lavenders arranged in an oval lavender vase. Placed near by was the entries of Diane Sanders, her daughter, Jessica 16, and son Nicholas, 12, and family friend, Courtney Christensen, 16. They fared pretty well themselves.

When the judging had finished, they took home four blue ribbons and one red for their seven arrangements. The family has entered the flower show for four years. They like the competition and they enjoy seeing how their creativity matches with others.

Standing nearby was dad and husband John Graham. "I'm just here to watch," he said. "They put a lot of work into this. They are very talented and creative."

For Patricia Stubbs the flower show brought back memories as a young girl of her mom, Mirriam Beck, and her grandmother's flower gardens. Patricia and Mirrian strolled side-by-side admiring and commenting to each other on the floral beauty laid out before them.

"They are all so gorgeous," Mirriam said. "One is as beautiful as the other, and some are so unusual."

For those not romanced by the beauty and scent of flowers, next door in the gymnasium about 30 vendors displayed their wares of gems, rocks, intricate woodcarvings of birds and animals, and jewelry. Vendors came from throughout California, Nevada, and Utah for the event.

Outside the community center, the Yucaipa Valley Gem and Mineral Society displayed tables filled with rocks and gems that were up for silent auction. Nancy Mayo left with her pull cart filled with Flintstone, Indian paint rock, and quartz.

"They have a fantastic variety and the prices are great," Mayo said. "They will look good on my patio and in my garden."

The Iris Festival continues through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Yucaipa Community Park and Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Road.