The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs will host its regional meeting and flower show, “America 250-OHIO Style,” on Oct. 22 in Bucyrus, with a free public appearance by Johnny Appleseed.
BUCYRUS, OH (NOW CRAWFORD COUNTY) – History and gardening come to life when garden club members from seven counties gather at Bucyrus on Wednesday, October 22nd for the “America 250-OHIO Style.”
The event, hosted by the Earth, Wind & Flowers Garden Club of Bucyrus, will be held at the Youth Building at the Crawford County Fairgrounds. A day full of plants – and patriotism.
“We're excited because it's all local, but at the same time we can promote America for our country's big 250th anniversary celebration next year,” said Mary Lee Minor, who is organizing the seventh region meeting of the Ohio Association of Garden Club (OAGC).
Although the morning session is aimed at registered members of the garden club, the public is invited to watch the flower show as a tribute to Ohio starting at 1 p.m., Minor said, and then attend a live history performance by Kenneth Hammontree at 2 p.m.
Hammontree, of Ashland, will portray John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, who planted thousands of apple trees as he trekked through Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. There is no fee for the after-school program, Minor said.
The morning speaker will be Elaine Gebhardt Naples, who has researched Chapman for years. She will give a Powerpoint presentation on the 19th century pioneer, detailing his local roots and lasting influence on this region and beyond.
The flower show will be unique, Minor said, with more than 100 arrangements in both horticulture and art. All titles in the arts will be cleverly tailored to different events in Ohio to match the theme, she said.
For example, designers must use scarlet and gray accents in their entries for OHIO Recreation, The Ohio State University and use a tubular design in their creations in the OHIO Innovations, Thomas A. Edison course.
Arrangements must include roadside materials to be entered into Great OHIO Bike Adventure on Route 250, Minor said, while entries in the Along OHIO Railways class must feature a parallel design.
Vendors will also be on site throughout the day, Minor said. OAGC Region Seven includes Crawford, Richland, Marion, Morrow, Ashland, Knox and Delaware counties.