Montana Judges Council


Designer: Cathy Atkinson
In loving memory of a compassionate friend, superb instructor and creative designer
Cathy Atkinson, 1944-2009

Judges' Council is the organization of National Garden Club members who have completed Flower Show School (a series of four classes) and the other necessary requirements to become Nationally Accredited Flower Show Judges. The Montana Judges' Council has 33 members who meet regularly, twice yearly and informally, as frequently as possible. The Council’s goals include the promotion of Flower Shows and the education of the general public about goals and objectives of the National Garden Club organization.

Why become a Judge?

Most Judges will tell you one or all of the following reasons...

  • A good friend talked them into going along;
  • They regularly entered Flower Shows or Fairs and were dissatisfied with the results or found the results of the judging confusing.
  • They wanted to become more competitive (WIN the Blue Ribbons!).

NGC Accredited Flower Show Judges learn a common language and a standard objective criteria with which to judge both Horticulture and Design exhibits. Examples of actual floral designs and horticulture exhibits are shown throughout this article. Judges continually update their skill and knowledge by meeting with other Judges, exhibiting and attending periodic symposiums to study. Judges practice by exhibiting and judging exhibits whenever possible. The Nationally sponsored schools teach us to look at any exhibit (design, horticulture, craft or educational exhibit) and judge it against a Standard scale of points awarding the exhibit a numerical score. These scores are ranked in each class with the highest score receiving the top award and so forth.

How do you become an Accredited Judge?

  • Attend four Flower Show School courses and pass an exam at the end of each school with a score of at least 70. Each school studies several Design types and Horticulture families. Flower Show procedure and Judging ethics are also covered.

  • Earn five exhibiting credits, two in design and three in horticulture or three in design and two in horticulture. Each credit is earned by winning a blue ribbon or getting a score of 90+ on the exhibit.

  • Earn five judging credits.

  • Successfully write a Standard Flower Show schedule.

  • Pass the Handbook (Handbook for Flower Shows) examination with a score of at least 70.

By becoming a NGC Accredited Flower Show Judge you join an exclusive group of wonderful men and woman who give of their time and knowledge to further the goals of the National Garden Club organization. By accepting an invitation to Judge you will find yourself treated like a most welcomed guest who’s participation will be the culmination of the Garden Club’s hours of work, creativity and preparation. It is an incredible and rewarding experience. Knowing that you are qualified to travel to any state and be fully equipped to repeat that Judging experience can be very exciting.

An interesting website you might wish to check out is Floral Design Newsletter . When you go to this website you will find a place to sign up to receive regular newsletters online. It’s full of photographs of designs and “how to” suggestions.

Please contact James Sadler (728-4743), Council President, for further information.
Susan Andrews, Treasurer


MFGC Flower Show Judge, Vicky Barbieri, took a continuing education course in Nebraska this past summer. The following "blog" gives insight on what happens in Flower Show School - read on -

Some of What I Learned in Nebraska!


I traveled to Gothenburg, Nebraska at the end of August to attend a flower show symposium. Gothenburg is a small town with very welcoming people. Their school was well attended. Our horticulture instructor was Karen Booker and we studied variegated foliage and combination plantings; both were very interesting subjects. Fran Wittgartner was the design instructor and we studied functional and exhibition type I tables. Since I love doing table design, this is the information I want to share with you.



There is a change in the NGC Handbook that affects trays. On page 215, it states that Functional tables are for two or more persons, which was contradicted on page 218 where Trays are listed as a type of Functional table, so the words, "for one or more persons" was added as of 1/09. I think it would be difficult to have a tray for more than one person. It would have to be a very big tray or very few table appointments included. This new wording keeps the Tray as a functional setting!



While we were practice point scoring, I realized how important it is to do what the schedule asks for. For example, Class 1 "Tea for Two", a creative, functional, semi-formal table. Staged on a card table supplied by the designer. All fresh plant material. Under Conformance (20 points) the schedule calls for five specific things which would have four points each. If one of these requirements is not met, there goes four points off at the start! All the tables in this class didn't have a creative design (all were very traditional) and some were not semi-formal, for example, paper napkins and a soup can as a container. My advice to you is to think like a judge when entering a design class...what is the schedule asking for? (see Functional photos on the right)


Another thing that new designers do very often is to put way too much on the table, making it confused and crowded. Two phrases we hear often are "Less is best" and "When in doubt, leave it out"! The opposite problem is when there is too little on the table and the tablecloth is a sea of whatever color or design it is...this stops the flow (rhythm). Many feel that to interpret the title of the class, they have to get very literal and have teabags, lemons, sugar, etc., which just adds to overcrowding. Most card tables are 30 inches square and we know we must set the table for two persons so in this case, I would use a teapot, cups and saucers, a napkins, maybe a small plate and the decorative unit. All of these things must be in scale and proportion to each other within the space allotted. On page 217 in the HB under semi-formal table note item #3 "Decorative unit placed in the center of the table for Functional mode". When using a card table for two, this placement is not always best and I doubt if points would be deducted if the decorative unit was placed on a corner or to the back of the table as long as it all looked balanced and pleasing. Now you're thinking "way too many rules to remember". Yes, there are rules, but usually if it is pleasing to your eye, you have covered most of the rules of design!




We also studied and point scored Exhibition Tables type I which is the one with a complete decorative unit incorporated within the overall design. (see Exhibition photos on the left) The schedule read, Class 2. "Celebrate", An Exhibition Table Type I, using innovative staging on a table space up to 48" high, 30" deep and 30" wide. Some fresh plant material. Again, there are four requirements under Conformance. This type of table design is not at all functional; it implies the service of food. Don't be afraid to use the vertical space allowed, that is where the innovative staging comes in by using frames, risers and other means to raise the components up off the horizontal surface. Be careful because this, too, can become overcrowded! All components used and the decorative unit must fit the mode of dining you are trying to express. If the schedule does not state the number of persons to be served, you may use one of each item or two or more, whatever works well in the space allotted. The same rules of design apply. I love doing these designs because if I see some dishes that are calling my name, I can be happy with one place setting and these are usually found at a bargain price at yard sales and discount stores. Placemats and napkins work well in exhibition tables to carry a color through the design and to add another texture, be sure to place them in creative ways -- underlayment, background or as a panel.



The most important thing about doing any kind of artistic design is to "Have fun with it"! I hope the pictures from the symposium help to clarify what I have written.





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