Ohio Association of Garden Clubs upcoming events

OAGC Convention - 2026 / Exhibitors' & Judges' School #5 (Monday, June 15, 2026)

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMT

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MAY 15th

“America’s Future Beyond 250 Years”

2026 OAGC Convention

Includes Exhibitors & Judges School #5

Hosted by Region 16

June 15-17, 2026

Deer Creek State Park

Information on Keynote Speakers, Entertainment, Breakout Session Speakers, Schedule,

and more can be found here: https://oagc.org/2026-Convention/

**Regarding session selections:

**The following sessions are now full, please choose another option when registering: Oshibana class, Creative Gourd class, Dried Flower Posie**

or check the Spring 2026 issue of The Garden Path.

Artistic Flower Show and Horticulture Show Schedules

can be found on the website here: https://oagc.org/show-dates-and-archives/

Convention and Exhibitors’ & Judges’ School #5 seamlessly combined

We will be at the beautiful Deer Creek State Park

Lodge and Conference Center

Register for the OAGC 2026 Annual Convention today! If you have never attended E&J but have wanted to, this special Convention includes all E&J School #5 sessions. What a perfect opportunity to take these enrichment classes.

Junior Members are FREE*

Pre-registration is required for all breakout sessions.

No refunds after May 15, 2026. Registration fees are not refundable.

*Junior Members receive FREE registration. Meals and some classes are an extra fee. Contact the registrar, Mary Smith, with questions about Juniors' registration.

Contact Mary Smith for questions.

All check payments should be mailed to Mary Smith, the event registrar

Deer Creek State Park Lodge

Group Code: OAOGC2C424
Group Room Rate: $169 + Taxes/Fees
Call Central Reservations Number: 1-800-282-7275
Reservation Deadline: May 15, 2026

Exhibitors and Judges School #6 & Symposium (Friday, July 10, 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

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:

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)
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.
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.
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.

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.

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

Nature Study Retreat 2026 (Sunday, September 13, 2026)

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 20:00:00 GMT

2026 Nature Study Retreat

The beauty of the Hocking Hills will be showcased in everything we do — from hikes and nature programs to crafts and outings. The John Glenn Astronomy Park is right around the corner from camp, and we’ve included it in a special night program.

This year, we are including an optional art program — a guided “paint on canvas” session. This will be an added cost (see registration form), and you’ll walk away with a lovely 11 x 14” painting to remind you of your time at camp.

Nature Study will begin Sunday, Sept. 13, with an afternoon check-in and dinner, and will conclude Friday, Sept. 18, after breakfast. Accommodations are dormitory style, with plenty of bottom bunks and shared bathroom facilities. We should all be able to stay in the same building, although special accommodations can be made for couples. Part-time attendance is fine.

Below are some highlights:

Sunday, Sept. 13 — Check-in, make name tags and enjoy dinner.

Monday-Thursday — 7 a.m. Daily nature hike

Monday, Sept 14 — 9:30 a.m. The Geology of Hocking Hills with ODNR; 1 p.m. Trip to Butterfly Ridge; 7 p.m. Campfire

Tuesday, Sept 15 — 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Visits to Bishop Gardens and Wahkeena Nature Preserve, with boxed lunch; Evening: John Glenn Astronomy Park

Wednesday, Sept. 16 — 10:30 a.m. Plant auction preview; 1 - 4:30 p.m. Guided walk through Hocking Hills geologic wonders; 7 p.m. Plant auction

Thursday, Sept. 17 — 9 a.m. Mushrooms!; 1-3 p.m. Painting with Hocking Hills Paint Parties; 7 p.m. Campfire (rain date for John Glenn Astronomy Park)

Friday, Sept. 18: Closing remarks and departure

ATTENDANCE AND SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR JUNIORS

Juniors may attend NSR with an adult, who will room with and participate in programs with the junior attendee. Any junior (under the age of 18) attending NSR for the first time may apply for scholarship assistance by submitting a letter explaining why they want to attend. Please email this letter to NSR coordinator Sue Hagan, oagcnature@gmail.com, She will forward the request to the OAGC Foundation. Please include your name, address, phone number, and age. The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Aug. 1. This will allow enough time for the Foundation to review the application before the NSR registration deadline.

Old Man's Cave Upper Falls