00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast
00:41 Meet Diane Blazek: A Journey in Gardening
01:29 The Legacy of National Garden Bureau
05:10 Victory Garden 2.0: Reviving a Historic Movement
06:23 The Impact of COVID-19 on Gardening
08:09 Challenges and Successes in Modern Gardening
10:44 Exploring New Plant Programs
14:13 All American Selections Trials
16:20 Display Gardens: Showcasing AAS Winners
18:45 Year of Program: Celebrating Plant Classes
21:33 Promoting Garden Authors and Books
22:16 Therapeutic Garden Grants
24:33 Understanding Our Members
26:14 Finding Information and Social Media Presence
27:08 Debunking Garden Myths
27:55 Personal Garden Memories
28:54 Career in Horticulture
29:59 Funny Garden Stories
30:54 Influences and Mistakes in Gardening
34:47 Current Garden and Future Plans
37:19 Recent Learnings and Favorite Plants
39:25 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Diane
Today’s guest is someone whose love for all things green goes beyond the ordinary – Diane Blazek, Executive Director of All-America Selections and the National Garden Bureau.
Diane’s journey started early, growing up on a small family farm where she was surrounded by fields, gardens, and the wonder of cultivating life from the soil.
This passion only grew stronger, leading her to work with Ball Publishing for 15 years before taking on her current role. As Executive Director, Diane is now at the forefront of consumer gardening, helping to shape and inspire how we all interact with our own green spaces.
In this episode, we’ll explore the rich legacy and ongoing influence of the National Garden Bureau, a nonprofit founded in 1920 by James Burdett with a mission to educate and inspire the public about gardening.
Even as the Bureau celebrated its 100th anniversary during the challenges of the pandemic, it found new ways to connect with gardeners, launching initiatives like Victory Garden 2.0 to rekindle the spirit of community growing.
Diane will also share details about the All-America Selections Trials, the 'Year of' plant program, and the Therapeutic Garden Grant – all key projects that continue to benefit gardeners of all kinds.
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