Arizona Flower Shows
National Garden Club Standard Flower Shows educate club members and the public in horticulture, stimulate interest in floral design, and communicate NGC goals. Flower shows also provide an outlet for creative expression. NGC Standard Flower Shows are sponsored by member and International Affiliate member clubs. If you are interested in learning more about flower shows, go to the NGC website: NGC FLOWER SHOWS PAGE.
Flower Show School
Flower Show School is a comprehensive program consisting of 4 courses that teach what you need to know about judging, entering, competing, and chairing an NGC flower show. The courses generally last 2-3 days, each with a specific curriculum that includes horticulture, design, and flower show procedures. In the past, all courses were taught in person, but some states are now offering the Procedures section online. To become a judge, you must pass all courses, meet judging, exhibiting, and schedule writing requirements, and pass a Handbook Examination.
Arizona Flower Show Judges Council (AFSJC)
The purpose of the Arizona Flower Show Judges Council (AFSJC) is to enhance the expertise and skills of our judges through education in design and horticulture. It is also to encourage, support, and mentor those clubs and their members who wish to increase their knowledge and hold flower shows. This may be done through flower show schools, symposiums, floral design classes, and exhibitions.
A History of AFSJC
After World War II, membership in garden clubs rose and Harvest Shows became a way to exhibit gardening skills. Shows needed judging and National Garden Clubs, Inc. (NGC) held the first Flower Show School in 1943. AFGC held its first school in 1948 and the first Judges Council was formed in 1951 with six judges and Gertrude Claypool as President. In the early years, the Judges Council was a monthly study forum and helped finance Flower Show Schools by holding card parties and rummage sales. By 1953, AFGC had graduated 17 NGC Accredited Flower Show Judges.
The current Arizona Flower Show Judges Council was formed in 1982. By 1989 there were two Judges Councils, one in Phoenix and the other in Tucson with 56 Master, Life, and Accredited Judges and nine Emeritus Judges plus three Student Judges.
AFSJC unites its efforts toward a thorough knowledge of horticulture, greater skill in the art of floral design, and the advancement of the standards of flower show judging, according to National Garden Clubs, Inc. Membership is open to all NGC Flower Show Judges, current and Emeritus, who are active members in a state garden club. The Council meets on the fourth (4th) Tuesday in November, January, February, and March.
The Council established the AFSJC Continuing Education Fund in 1985/86. Over the years, Floral Design Programs have been organized to stimulate interest in flower design with profits donated to the AFSJC Continuing Education Fund. Today memorials may be given to the Fund in honor of a deceased member judge. Also from the Fund, a scholarship is awarded to an AFGC Flower Show School student who attends an AFGC-sponsored NGC Flower Show School, as well as an AFGC member who attends a Flower Show Symposium.
In 2006 the AFGC Doris Helvig Creative Design Award was established and since has been given annually to an AFGC member who is outstanding in furthering the art of creative floral design.
Award Winners
| 2006 | Doris Helvig |
| 2007 | Marion LeCompte |
| 2008 | Buff Harrington |
| 2009 | Sylvia Patrick |
| 2010 | Joyce Girvin |
| 2011 | Sharon Luoma |
| 2012 | Nancy Goodrich |
| 2013 | Mary Cochran |
| 2014 | Karley Fahlsing |
| 2015 | Ann Zaccardo |
| 2016 | Marcie Brooks |
| 2017 | Rea Heesch |
| 2018 | Wanda Collins |
| 2019 | Amy Emary |
| 2022 | Nancy Gahtan |
| 2023 | Elsa McLean |
