Exhibitors' and Judges' School #6 & Symposium
July 10-11, 2026
The Courtyard by Marriott Springfield Downtown
100 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield, OH
“ A Glimpse of the Past, A Look to the Future”
The Exhibitors’ and Judges’ School/Symposium
“An Enrichment Series”
The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, in collaboration with Clark County Master Gardeners, invites you to two inspiring days of enrichment for NO ATTENDANCE COSTS. Registration is Required. A wonderful Thank You note to the OAGC Foundation for funding these events through a grant received!
Horticulture and Artistic Flower Shows are on Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, and include a Symposium, a series of engaging educational speakers.
Bring a garden-related item for the raffle and receive one free raffle ticket. Visit and purchase from our sales table, which features useful garden tools and supplies.
The schedule includes:
Friday, July 10, enjoy some or all of the following:
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Register and partake in a Horticulture Specimen Show. Enter your prime garden specimens in the show, and learn through oral judging by OAGC Accredited Judges which are model examples and how best to improve exhibiting specimens. Schedule link:OAGC E&J School #6 2026 Open Class Flower Show Schedule. (PDF of Show Schedule)
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View an Exhibitional Artistic Floral Design Show. Wander the Exhibitions of Artistic Floral Designs, viewing examples of different types of Traditional and Creative designs and listen to the oral critique of the designs by OAGC Accredited Judges.
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In the afternoon, tour some of Springfield’s unique gardens. Follow the map to tour area gardens featuring different landscaping techniques, registration required. At noon, pick up the tour map at the Marriott downtown Springfield.
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Friday evening (7-9 pm), enjoy hands-on Traditional Floral design training. A design study class led by Naomi Ormes, Accredited Judge and Design Study Department Chair, showcasing traditional designs such as line, mass, or line-mass using plant material provided, see registration form. Bring clippers, scissors, and/or a floral knife and/or your design tool kit. Class is limited to the first 50 people registered. Registration is required.
Saturday, July 11, the day features four entertaining speakers:
Great Council State Park, Xenia, Ohio
Learn about Ohio’s newest park, the Great Council State Park, Department of Natural Resources, ohiodnr.gov. Get a glimpse of its past and how the park will progress in the future.
Andrew Gibson. Field Botanist and Ecologist, Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
Explore with the “Buckeye Botanist” blogger, Andrew Gibson, as he presents “Ohio’s Most Imperiled Plants and Places”. Examine the ecology and natural history of Ohio’s landscape as well as the species. Go where few travel as Andrew manages Ohio’s rare flora and habitats.
Michelle Rogers, Sugetsu Ikebana Master and Instructor
Celebrate nature in the art of Japanese flower arrangement. Watch Michelle Rogers, 1st degree Jonin Somu and Sogetsu Ikebana Master, combine the knowledge of past centuries with the more dramatic materials of the future. Let Ikebana, a visual art, connect you to nature and enhance your personal and spiritual growth.
John Palmer, “The Tree Nerd”, Board Certified Master Arborist, Ohio. Chapter of International Society of Arboriculture, a Consulting Arborist, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, and an advanced Tree Risk Assessor. He is also an author, speaker, and trainer on subjects including The Future of Urban Forestry, Deforestation by Design™, The New Construction Paradigm, and The Leadership Laws of Nature. He’s been featured in news and magazine articles, and in radio and TV segments.
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Browse the Raffle items and OAGC Sales table, enjoy, and spend time with your garden friends. Enjoy the culinary delights of downtown Springfield and the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in the evening. Friday, July 10, after the Garden Tour, Meet and Greet, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm, for OAGC members, Master Gardener Volunteers, and guests at Marriott Hotel Downtown Reception area.
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Earn CE hours credit as an MGV.
Lunch on your own while you are on the garden tour, Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11 Box Lunch available, $20 fee.
Registration deadline July 2, 2026.
For general information about the event, contact:
Lea Ewing oagceandjschool@gmail.com
or call 330-421-0383
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT SPRINGFIELD DOWNTOWN
For reservations, ask for the "Ohio Association of Garden Clubs" Rate
The deadline for the special rate of $159/night plus taxes, including breakfast, is June 24, 2026
100 South Fountain Avenue, Springfield, OH 45502
Call: 937-322-3600
