Council of Accredited Flower Show Judges

This Council has been affiliated with the National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Inc. (NCAGC) since 1956. Since it is part of a national organization, members can find judges all over the US who have beentrained in horticulture and design with the same objectives as NCAGC.  Programs at Judges’ Council meetings on design and horticulture keep judges on the cutting edge of flower show activities.

The Council of Accredited Judges also sponsors two very popular teaching programs:

• Morning of Design programs are presented by the Judges’ Council several times a year. Floral design demonstrations assist garden club members with interpretation of the flower arranging styles listed in the HANDBOOK FOR FLOWER SHOWS.
• Flower Show School
• Requirements and Procedures to Become a Flower Show Judge
• Sample Schedule for Standard Flower Shows is available for garden clubs' use.
• New Design types illustrated at Boston NGC convention

Upcoming Dates:
January 20, 2010 - General Meeting
February 5-7, 2010 - Flower Show School (Registration Brochure)
March 17, 2010 - General Meeting
June 16, 2010 - Picnic
July 17-18, 2010 - Symposium (Registration Brochure)
November 9-11, 2010 - Flower Show School Course II

For information on joining the Council of Accredited Flower Show Judges, please contact judgescouncil@ncagardenclubs.org

The newest of the advanced learning councils, Environmental Consultants’ Council is becoming an active contributor to NCAGC’s educational programs.  Although still in its infancy, the Council is already spreading the word about the importance of rain gardening as a cure for protecting and purifying the ground water system in and around the Chesapeake Bay.  It is focusing on the problem of non-native invasive plants, birds, bugs, and animals and on ways to control them. Programs on preserving our native species and guarding areas where they live help members increase their awareness of dangers to the environment and give solid instruction on how best to reach their goals of preserving and protecting the environment.

Upcoming Dates:
February 2, 2010 - Plants Depicted in the Frescoes, Arbor House, USNA
March 31 - april 1, 2010 - Environmental Studies School, Course 3
April 13, 2010 - General Joint meeting with Gardening Consultants Council, Speaker Doug Tallamy on Native Plants in the Environment.  Site:  TBA
June, 2010   -   Picnic, Site TBA

For information on joining the Environmental Council, please contact environmentalcouncil@ncagardenclubs.org

Gardening Consultants' Council

Please check out our web page!

The GOALS of the Gardening Consultants’ Council are to stimulate interest in horticulture, offer advanced training, and assist garden clubs in gardening and horticulture excellence. Past programs have been on using worms (yes, worms!) to make compost, growing perfect horticultural specimens, identifying wildflowers, gardening on rooftops, and much more.  The main project of NCAGC’s Gardening Consultants’ Council is helping to maintain Fern Valley, the natural, shady, woodland area at the U.S. National Arboretum.

Upcoming Dates:
January 27, 2010 - General Meeting -Cheval Ops, "Going Native"
April 13, 2010 - Joint meeting with Environmental Consultants Council - Speaker:  Doug Tallamy
May 4-5, 2010 - Gardening Studies School, Meadowlark Botanic Gardens

For information on joining the Gardening Consultants' Council please contact
gardeningconsultants@ncagardenclubs.org

Survey of Forest Conservation Laws  booklet 
                                                         now available on this website.

Begun in 1969 with a membership of 12, the NCAGC Landscape Design Council is now the largest LDC in National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC).  LDC works to promote good landscape design by presenting programs for garden clubs through its Speakers’ Bureau, by conducting Beautification Awards programs for cities and counties, and by assisting community groups with landscaping projects.  The LDC is recognized as a group of earnest individuals devoted to promoting the principles of landscape design and to sharing the love of gardening knowledge with the public. As such, the LDC is welcomed into private gardens and is often given special behind-the-scenes tours of public gardens. Past adventures include:

• Exploring gardens of Long Island, The Hamptons, Derek Fell’s farm in Pennsylvania, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
• Inspecting McCrillis Gardens in Bethesda, Maryland, on a private guided tour.
• Visiting the home and garden of U.S. Botanical Garden’s director, Holly Shimizu.
• Traveling to Maryland’s Eastern Shore for a wetlands expedition of bogs, marshes and swamps.
• Touring the Historic Delaware Valley – Winterthur, Mt. Cuba, Bartram’s Place and Chanticleer.
• Studying South Carolina’s Low Country Plantations and Gardens.
  
  To arrange for a program from the LDC Speakers' Bureau, contact Pat Hanrehan (202) 544-5718.  Check the summer issue of The Capital Gardener for a listing of available programs

Upcoming Dates:
February 10, 2010 - General Meeting
April 14, 2010 - General Meeting
June 9, 2010 - Picnic
November 9-11, 2010 - Landscape Design Studies Course II

For information on joining the Landscape Design Council, please contact landscapedesigncouncil@ncagardenclubs.org