December 6, 2025 • 20 mins
Ron Wilson chats with Laura Conkle, the executive director of America in Bloom, about their mission to help communities become their best selves. Laura shares the organization's 25-year journey, from its humble beginnings to its current impact on communities across the country. They discuss the benefits of community beautification, the importance of economic development, and the role of horticulture professionals in making a difference. With a new program launching in 2026, Laura explains how communities can get involved and make their mark.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Our toll free number eight hundred eight two three eight
two five five. Good morning. I am Ron Wilson, her
personally yard Boy, talking about yarding America in Bloom. Are
you familiar with America in Bloom. We've had them on
our show in the past, trying to keep you updated
what they do, and they do such a great thing
for all the communities around the United States. But sometimes
(00:20):
I bring that up and folks just aren't familiar with it.
We want to continue to push America in Bloom so
you know more about it and maybe get them involved
with your community as well. Go to their website it's
America in Bloom dot org. That's America in Bloom dot
org and to talk to us a little bit more
about what they're doing, what they do, and what they're
going to be doing. In twenty twenty six, a new
(00:40):
program launch and celebrating twenty five years the growing Viber
Communities is the executive director, Laura concle Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning, Thank you so much for having me today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Well, we appreciate you getting up and talking with us
so early on a Saturday morning. So America in Bloom
twenty five years, I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I can't either. I was around off from day one
when this organization was created. So it's a quite a
journey twenty five years. Were excited to be celebrating twenty
five years of helping community become the very best that
they can be.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Who is there one person or was there a How
did American and Bloom get started?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So began twenty five years ago, So before twenty five
years that my maybe twenty seven years ago. It was
a group of horticulture professionals got together and they were
big wigs in the horticulture industry, and they would fly
into Cleveland, Ohio, and they sort of talked about spent
about two years thinking how can we connect better at
the grassroots level about the benefits of plants. We know
(01:40):
that plants are pretty, but they are more than pretty.
There's economic benefits, environmental benefits, and human health benefits. So
they spent about two years developing this plan on creating
an organization called America in Bloom on doing just that,
connecting at the grassroots level about the benefits of plants.
So twenty five years ago the organization was launched and
(02:00):
I'm really proud to have been involved since day one.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Wow, that's crazy twenty I still twenty five years, it's nuts.
So again, go to their website, check it out, and
you can learn more about it American Bloom dot org.
So folks understand this, so okay, So you like it
out and teach folks about the beautification of their communities
and how important it is, et cetera, et cetera. But
you guys have taken this to all new levels as
far as categories and awards and training and programs in
(02:28):
the whole nine yards.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, we really have. So you know, we do know
and your listeners know that communities that are more welcoming
and vibrant have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists, in
stimulating economic development, and creating a thriving place for people
to work and live. So American Bloom really believes that
(02:51):
we can help build vibrant and sustainable community through volunteerism,
through education which emphasizes flowers, plants, trees, hair, environmental and
lifestyle enhancements. We want American Bloom communities to be the
best examples of welcoming and vibrant places to live, work,
in play. So for twenty five years we've been doing
(03:14):
this program where in fact, we've had the three hundred
and eighty communities in forty four states, and we send advisors.
We send a two person team of advisors into a community.
These are specially trained professionals. They tour a community, they
meet leaders and volunteers, they provide coaching and mentoring, and
(03:36):
then they provide this detailed report. It's really an action
plan that offers comprehensive recommendations for community transformation. So our
advisors are really the rock stars of the American Ballom program.
We have landscapers, we have heritage architects, we have city managers,
we have mayors, we have horticulture professionals. They bring such
(04:00):
a breadth and depth of knowledge to communities. So you
did reference the categories. The registration fee is based on
your population, so it is scaled. Smaller communities would certainly
pay less than a larger community, but American Balloon pays
for the advisors to fly into each community. While the
(04:22):
registration fee does help us just offset of some of
the fees. It's really cool about the program. In addition
to getting this remarkable report, which we've been told consult
you'd pay consultant about fifty thousand dollars you're going to
do that with us for about a fraction of the
cost cract around seventeen hundred dollars. But the cool thing
also that you are communities are eligible to win national awards.
(04:45):
Communities are doing remarkable things. Municipal staff are doing great things,
volunteers are doing great things. The awards program allows them
to get national recognition for the great things that they're doing.
And let's face it, you know, the mayors like to
brag about the awards that a community wins. Come with
election time or when you're trying to recruit new business,
(05:05):
new new residents to come to your community, you're going
to brag about those awards that you want, like hey,
we're voted the best place for kids, or coolest downtown,
best community garden program, whatever the award is that a
community wins. Those those those are bragging rights, and those
things are important. It's it's a great way for people
to be recognized and also a great recruitment tool for business.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Sure, and of course that's you. What you're offering them
is then a start. You know, let's take a look
at it. Here's what we think you can do. As
somebody looks at this, Laura and again their website America
in bloom dot org check it out. If a community
has you come in and sit down with them, can
they actually set a budget of what they're able to spend?
Or is that how you start that out? Like Okay,
(05:50):
we've got so much money we can spend. Now we'll
try to increase that down the road, or how does that?
How do you work with that community?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Well that's how. We don't come in with a budget
per se. What we do is we come in with
an outsider's perspective and we're going to look Our team
of advisor has about one hundred and fifty different metrics
or questions if you will, that they look at, how
is the question? How is a community doing in these
one hundred and fifty ish metrics, And so you give
a spore on that so you have a baseline. But
(06:20):
really the meat of the visit is the recommendations that
they're going to provide. You know, they've looked at one
hundred and fifty different things and here's recommendations on how
to get better in each of these things. So some
will be very easy, very easy projects that a community
could check off and perhaps low budget or much much
more resources required. Some are going to be longer term ideas.
(06:43):
Some are going to be so aspirational that you think
you can't do it, but I promise you can do it.
So we don't come in really saying this is what
it's going to cost, like, we come in and say this
is what we think you can do with what you
have and how to go from good to great, and then.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Of course the community can take it from there, take
it back to the community, present that and then you
know a lot of communities have local nurseries, local garden centers,
landscape firms. Maybe then start to tie in with them
as well to be a part of that.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Exactly, yes, exactly, we would love for horticulture businesses in
a community, landscapers, garden centers, growers as you've mentioned, to
really be a partner in the community's efforts. It's a
business building opportunity certainly for those companies, but it's another
way to show your commitment to the community and and
(07:32):
horticulture businesses bring experience and knowledge and a professionalism to it.
They will help a community do their projects correctly. You know,
we right plant, right place, that sort of thing, and not.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Too bad if you're in the community putting your name
behind that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Exactly it's exactely a business building opportunity and not you know,
certainly let's acknowledge that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah. Absolutely, Talking with Laura Conkle, she's the executive director
of America in Bloom. Go to the website America in
bloom dot org. If you think your community would want
to do this, and this is something that you know,
it's if you came out there, you know, March January, February,
March whatever. This is something you're gonna looking at for
the next you know, to get going, probably a year
or two to get everything in place and then get
(08:16):
this program going. I mean there's a little bit of
time involved there before you really get it up and
running right.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Well, we want communities to jump in. The registration deadline
for the twenty twenty sixth program is February twenty eighth.
We want every community to just go ahead and register.
Let's get those advisors to come out to you and
they would come in the summer May to July ish,
depending on your climate. Okay, and so let's get the
advisors out there, get this this report, so you can
(08:43):
already go ahead and get the recommendations and start working
on them and then you know, just keep building the
momentum year after year after year. Right so actually since
the lane.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, so actually you're looking you would be looking at
twenty twenty seven as far as really getting and starting
to get the program going.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Well, I guess I say you're going to start and
get your program going.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean that you know you might
right ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I'm just going to say to you know, by the
time you get all the planning in place and all
your sponsors and everything together, it would be looking. Yeah.
I still you want to get it going as quick
as you can, but you'd really be rolling for twenty
twenty seven. All right, let's take a quick break because
then I'm gonna let folks know what kind of programs
you're launching for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How to get more involved or you get in touch
with again, Go to the website is America in bloom
dot org. I think you're gonna find out that this
is something your community probably should be doing. If they're not,
they should be. Check it out more with Laura Kunkle
Here in the garden with Ron Wilson.
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Speaker 1 (12:09):
Welcome back. You're in the Garden with Ron Wilson. Special
guests this morning Laura Cuncle. She is the executive director
for America in Bloom growing vibrant communities and talking about
how you can get your community involved with America in
Bloom as well. So go to their website America in
Bloom dot org and learn more about it, you know,
community wise, and again that's a great thing. I if
(12:29):
folks are listening this morning, take this to if you're
not doing this, take it to your to your community
and present this because I think all the benefits would
have not just to make your community look better, but
last Laura was saying earlier, inviting new residents, inviting new businesses,
making you feel better, the community feel better, and bottom
line is they have all kinds of categories that you
(12:49):
can actually win. The category winners that and the towns
that you work with. I mean there are small towns
like thousand people population to as big as to Peaka,
Kansas are larger.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Right, Yes, we've been as I mentioned earlier, three hundred
and eighty communities and they are from across the country,
the Pacific Northwest, down the southern Florida and all points
in between. And we had communities of fewer than two
hundred people and the largest community ever to participate what
have been Chicago. So you know, our advisors can do
(13:23):
small communities, in large communities and communities of all resources.
You know, we've our advisors have been to Calabasas, California,
that's you know, a wealthy community and along in California,
but we've been in communities that are that are much smaller,
have far fewer resources. But you know, all communities that
are involved in American Bloomers are the same in one way.
They care deeply about where they live and they want
(13:45):
it to be better. And that's what we do. We
come in and help you get better.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And you can tell when you visit that community that
you folks have been helping. Again, go to their website
America and bloom dot org to learn more about it.
So looking ahead to twenty twenty six, that's your twenty
fifth anniversary, also a very specific celebration for the United States,
so kind of a great thing. You've got some new
expanded programs and research and all kinds of stuff going
(14:10):
on for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yes, it's you know, we're super excited to be celebrating
twenty five years. You know a lot of organizations don't
make it that long, and so we're we're doing very
well in twenty five years, and we're looking for what
the next twenty five years looks like. But it is
fun to do this in tandem with America's two fifty
celebration this year. This year meeting twenty twenty six, we
are going to launch a new program called Gardens Across America.
(14:36):
This is a way that property owners can show their
commitment to beautification, environmental stewardship, and community vitality. We use
the Gardens Across America program uses a easy to use
self assessment tool where you certify your property. Properties eligible
for the Gardens Across America program include residential properties, business schools,
(14:59):
places of worship, even municipal or government properties or public gardens.
And just I want to be very clear that your
garden doesn't have to be fancy, eye popping or magazine worthy.
This is a program for everyone. It's just a program
that allows you to show your support for the ideals
of environmental stewardship, beautification and community vitality. It's only twenty
(15:23):
dollars to get your property certified. You have to go
through the self assessment and you know the answer some
questions that you you know, I agree to this, this, this,
and this, and it shows your commitment. And then you
also have the option to buy a fine that you
can install in your gardener preps, put it on your
garden shed that promotes your involvement and your successful completion
(15:46):
of the Gardens Across America certification program.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So when these entries all come in and I know
I've been on your website and seeing that when you
always send me an email about the winners and I
get to see what they've done. But if folks go
to the website, will pictures of all of these guards and
that be posted that folks can see examples of what's
going on.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I think what you'll see on our Facebook page more
than our website, would be a photo examples Instagram too,
we use more and more Facebook Candidly, you'll see more
pictures from communities. I'd love to be able to make
our website more robust and really show those examples from communities,
but you certainly please visit our Facebook page and Instagram
(16:27):
so you can see some really remarkable examples. We also
have a YouTube channel where communities submit YouTube videos that
show through video their transformation and those are some really impactful,
beautiful storytelling of how they've gotten involved in American Bloom
and what it's done.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So make your community step up to the play. Let's
let's get them out there and if we get if
we can get everybody involved, will be absolutely outstanding. But
learn more about it and then take you know, get
to your community members, your community heads of the community,
your mayors or whatever, your township trustees, take a look
at this and see how it can benefit your community
and get America in Bloom involved. And of course at
(17:10):
a personal level, you can do it also individual businesses,
municipalities with the gardens across America. Again, to learn more
about it, to get started anyway, you can go to
their Facebook page, Instagram, or also go to the website
America in Bloom dot org. Check it out. I highly
encourage this. Get yourself involved, get your community involved. Everybody
(17:30):
will certainly appreciate what they can do for you to
help out your community. It's a wonderful program celebrate in
twenty five years. Congratulations, Thank you so much, Bro.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Honor to be with you today.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Ron, it's a pleasure having you on. Laura Concos again
the executive director America in Bloom dot Org. Have a
good day. Thank you, Sing to you all right, take care.
America in Bloom Growing Vibert Communities a great program. We've
had them on our show before, we talk about it.
I think it's one of those programs that kind of
flies under the radar sometimes and they do promote it
(18:05):
a lot. We try to promote it here through the professionals.
They know about America and Bloom. But this is a
great way if you're you know, you say, man, I
wish I could get our small town, our big town,
whatever be our community more involved with this to make
it look nice. For street tree plantings and the baskets
and the colors and the gardens and all of that.
All of the things. Is so many categories that they
(18:28):
can help you with. Here's a group that can come in,
it's not very expensive, sit down with you, take a
look at your community and give you some direction as
far as what you can do to make it in Bloom.
Being a part of the America in Bloom and really
increase the value and feeling of your community. It's pretty simple,
(18:49):
and then you get the nurseries and garden centers and
master gardeners and everybody involved. It can really really be
a cool thing. Again, go to the website check it
out America in Bloom or all right, winters right around
the corner. Birds are hungry. What do we do about
the birds? Well, we talk to our bird expert, our
(19:10):
wild winged wonder Monica Brewbaker from wild Birds on Leimono
would be with us next. Tell us what to do
with those birds during the wintertime. Here in the garden
with Ron Wilson.
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Our toll free number eight hundred eight two three eight
two five five. Good morning. I am Ron Wilson, her
personally yard Boy, talking about yarding America in Bloom. Are
you familiar with America in Bloom. We've had them on
our show in the past, trying to keep you updated
what they do, and they do such a great thing
for all the communities around the United States. But sometimes
(00:20):
I bring that up and folks just aren't familiar with it.
We want to continue to push America in Bloom so
you know more about it and maybe get them involved
with your community as well. Go to their website it's
America in Bloom dot org. That's America in Bloom dot
org and to talk to us a little bit more
about what they're doing, what they do, and what they're
going to be doing. In twenty twenty six, a new
(00:40):
program launch and celebrating twenty five years the growing Viber
Communities is the executive director, Laura concle Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Good morning, Thank you so much for having me today.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Well, we appreciate you getting up and talking with us
so early on a Saturday morning. So America in Bloom
twenty five years, I can't believe it.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I can't either. I was around off from day one
when this organization was created. So it's a quite a
journey twenty five years. Were excited to be celebrating twenty
five years of helping community become the very best that
they can be.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Who is there one person or was there a How
did American and Bloom get started?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
So began twenty five years ago, So before twenty five
years that my maybe twenty seven years ago. It was
a group of horticulture professionals got together and they were
big wigs in the horticulture industry, and they would fly
into Cleveland, Ohio, and they sort of talked about spent
about two years thinking how can we connect better at
the grassroots level about the benefits of plants. We know
(01:40):
that plants are pretty, but they are more than pretty.
There's economic benefits, environmental benefits, and human health benefits. So
they spent about two years developing this plan on creating
an organization called America in Bloom on doing just that,
connecting at the grassroots level about the benefits of plants.
So twenty five years ago the organization was launched and
(02:00):
I'm really proud to have been involved since day one.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Wow, that's crazy twenty I still twenty five years, it's nuts.
So again, go to their website, check it out, and
you can learn more about it American Bloom dot org.
So folks understand this, so okay, So you like it
out and teach folks about the beautification of their communities
and how important it is, et cetera, et cetera. But
you guys have taken this to all new levels as
far as categories and awards and training and programs in
(02:28):
the whole nine yards.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, we really have. So you know, we do know
and your listeners know that communities that are more welcoming
and vibrant have a competitive advantage in attracting tourists, in
stimulating economic development, and creating a thriving place for people
to work and live. So American Bloom really believes that
(02:51):
we can help build vibrant and sustainable community through volunteerism,
through education which emphasizes flowers, plants, trees, hair, environmental and
lifestyle enhancements. We want American Bloom communities to be the
best examples of welcoming and vibrant places to live, work,
in play. So for twenty five years we've been doing
(03:14):
this program where in fact, we've had the three hundred
and eighty communities in forty four states, and we send advisors.
We send a two person team of advisors into a community.
These are specially trained professionals. They tour a community, they
meet leaders and volunteers, they provide coaching and mentoring, and
(03:36):
then they provide this detailed report. It's really an action
plan that offers comprehensive recommendations for community transformation. So our
advisors are really the rock stars of the American Ballom program.
We have landscapers, we have heritage architects, we have city managers,
we have mayors, we have horticulture professionals. They bring such
(04:00):
a breadth and depth of knowledge to communities. So you
did reference the categories. The registration fee is based on
your population, so it is scaled. Smaller communities would certainly
pay less than a larger community, but American Balloon pays
for the advisors to fly into each community. While the
(04:22):
registration fee does help us just offset of some of
the fees. It's really cool about the program. In addition
to getting this remarkable report, which we've been told consult
you'd pay consultant about fifty thousand dollars you're going to
do that with us for about a fraction of the
cost cract around seventeen hundred dollars. But the cool thing
also that you are communities are eligible to win national awards.
(04:45):
Communities are doing remarkable things. Municipal staff are doing great things,
volunteers are doing great things. The awards program allows them
to get national recognition for the great things that they're doing.
And let's face it, you know, the mayors like to
brag about the awards that a community wins. Come with
election time or when you're trying to recruit new business,
(05:05):
new new residents to come to your community, you're going
to brag about those awards that you want, like hey,
we're voted the best place for kids, or coolest downtown,
best community garden program, whatever the award is that a
community wins. Those those those are bragging rights, and those
things are important. It's it's a great way for people
to be recognized and also a great recruitment tool for business.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Sure, and of course that's you. What you're offering them
is then a start. You know, let's take a look
at it. Here's what we think you can do. As
somebody looks at this, Laura and again their website America
in bloom dot org check it out. If a community
has you come in and sit down with them, can
they actually set a budget of what they're able to spend?
Or is that how you start that out? Like Okay,
(05:50):
we've got so much money we can spend. Now we'll
try to increase that down the road, or how does that?
How do you work with that community?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Well that's how. We don't come in with a budget
per se. What we do is we come in with
an outsider's perspective and we're going to look Our team
of advisor has about one hundred and fifty different metrics
or questions if you will, that they look at, how
is the question? How is a community doing in these
one hundred and fifty ish metrics, And so you give
a spore on that so you have a baseline. But
(06:20):
really the meat of the visit is the recommendations that
they're going to provide. You know, they've looked at one
hundred and fifty different things and here's recommendations on how
to get better in each of these things. So some
will be very easy, very easy projects that a community
could check off and perhaps low budget or much much
more resources required. Some are going to be longer term ideas.
(06:43):
Some are going to be so aspirational that you think
you can't do it, but I promise you can do it.
So we don't come in really saying this is what
it's going to cost, like, we come in and say this
is what we think you can do with what you
have and how to go from good to great, and then.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Of course the community can take it from there, take
it back to the community, present that and then you
know a lot of communities have local nurseries, local garden centers,
landscape firms. Maybe then start to tie in with them
as well to be a part of that.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Exactly, yes, exactly, we would love for horticulture businesses in
a community, landscapers, garden centers, growers as you've mentioned, to
really be a partner in the community's efforts. It's a
business building opportunity certainly for those companies, but it's another
way to show your commitment to the community and and
(07:32):
horticulture businesses bring experience and knowledge and a professionalism to it.
They will help a community do their projects correctly. You know,
we right plant, right place, that sort of thing, and not.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Too bad if you're in the community putting your name
behind that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Exactly it's exactely a business building opportunity and not you know,
certainly let's acknowledge that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah. Absolutely, Talking with Laura Conkle, she's the executive director
of America in Bloom. Go to the website America in
bloom dot org. If you think your community would want
to do this, and this is something that you know,
it's if you came out there, you know, March January, February,
March whatever. This is something you're gonna looking at for
the next you know, to get going, probably a year
or two to get everything in place and then get
(08:16):
this program going. I mean there's a little bit of
time involved there before you really get it up and
running right.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Well, we want communities to jump in. The registration deadline
for the twenty twenty sixth program is February twenty eighth.
We want every community to just go ahead and register.
Let's get those advisors to come out to you and
they would come in the summer May to July ish,
depending on your climate. Okay, and so let's get the
advisors out there, get this this report, so you can
(08:43):
already go ahead and get the recommendations and start working
on them and then you know, just keep building the
momentum year after year after year. Right so actually since
the lane.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
Yeah, so actually you're looking you would be looking at
twenty twenty seven as far as really getting and starting
to get the program going.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Well, I guess I say you're going to start and
get your program going.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, yeah, but I mean that you know you might
right ahead.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I'm just going to say to you know, by the
time you get all the planning in place and all
your sponsors and everything together, it would be looking. Yeah.
I still you want to get it going as quick
as you can, but you'd really be rolling for twenty
twenty seven. All right, let's take a quick break because
then I'm gonna let folks know what kind of programs
you're launching for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How to get more involved or you get in touch
with again, Go to the website is America in bloom
dot org. I think you're gonna find out that this
is something your community probably should be doing. If they're not,
they should be. Check it out more with Laura Kunkle
Here in the garden with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
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Speaker 1 (12:09):
Welcome back. You're in the Garden with Ron Wilson. Special
guests this morning Laura Cuncle. She is the executive director
for America in Bloom growing vibrant communities and talking about
how you can get your community involved with America in
Bloom as well. So go to their website America in
Bloom dot org and learn more about it, you know,
community wise, and again that's a great thing. I if
(12:29):
folks are listening this morning, take this to if you're
not doing this, take it to your to your community
and present this because I think all the benefits would
have not just to make your community look better, but
last Laura was saying earlier, inviting new residents, inviting new businesses,
making you feel better, the community feel better, and bottom
line is they have all kinds of categories that you
(12:49):
can actually win. The category winners that and the towns
that you work with. I mean there are small towns
like thousand people population to as big as to Peaka,
Kansas are larger.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Right, Yes, we've been as I mentioned earlier, three hundred
and eighty communities and they are from across the country,
the Pacific Northwest, down the southern Florida and all points
in between. And we had communities of fewer than two
hundred people and the largest community ever to participate what
have been Chicago. So you know, our advisors can do
(13:23):
small communities, in large communities and communities of all resources.
You know, we've our advisors have been to Calabasas, California,
that's you know, a wealthy community and along in California,
but we've been in communities that are that are much smaller,
have far fewer resources. But you know, all communities that
are involved in American Bloomers are the same in one way.
They care deeply about where they live and they want
(13:45):
it to be better. And that's what we do. We
come in and help you get better.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
And you can tell when you visit that community that
you folks have been helping. Again, go to their website
America and bloom dot org to learn more about it.
So looking ahead to twenty twenty six, that's your twenty
fifth anniversary, also a very specific celebration for the United States,
so kind of a great thing. You've got some new
expanded programs and research and all kinds of stuff going
(14:10):
on for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Yes, it's you know, we're super excited to be celebrating
twenty five years. You know a lot of organizations don't
make it that long, and so we're we're doing very
well in twenty five years, and we're looking for what
the next twenty five years looks like. But it is
fun to do this in tandem with America's two fifty
celebration this year. This year meeting twenty twenty six, we
are going to launch a new program called Gardens Across America.
(14:36):
This is a way that property owners can show their
commitment to beautification, environmental stewardship, and community vitality. We use
the Gardens Across America program uses a easy to use
self assessment tool where you certify your property. Properties eligible
for the Gardens Across America program include residential properties, business schools,
(14:59):
places of worship, even municipal or government properties or public gardens.
And just I want to be very clear that your
garden doesn't have to be fancy, eye popping or magazine worthy.
This is a program for everyone. It's just a program
that allows you to show your support for the ideals
of environmental stewardship, beautification and community vitality. It's only twenty
(15:23):
dollars to get your property certified. You have to go
through the self assessment and you know the answer some
questions that you you know, I agree to this, this, this,
and this, and it shows your commitment. And then you
also have the option to buy a fine that you
can install in your gardener preps, put it on your
garden shed that promotes your involvement and your successful completion
(15:46):
of the Gardens Across America certification program.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So when these entries all come in and I know
I've been on your website and seeing that when you
always send me an email about the winners and I
get to see what they've done. But if folks go
to the website, will pictures of all of these guards and
that be posted that folks can see examples of what's
going on.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I think what you'll see on our Facebook page more
than our website, would be a photo examples Instagram too,
we use more and more Facebook Candidly, you'll see more
pictures from communities. I'd love to be able to make
our website more robust and really show those examples from communities,
but you certainly please visit our Facebook page and Instagram
(16:27):
so you can see some really remarkable examples. We also
have a YouTube channel where communities submit YouTube videos that
show through video their transformation and those are some really impactful,
beautiful storytelling of how they've gotten involved in American Bloom
and what it's done.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
So make your community step up to the play. Let's
let's get them out there and if we get if
we can get everybody involved, will be absolutely outstanding. But
learn more about it and then take you know, get
to your community members, your community heads of the community,
your mayors or whatever, your township trustees, take a look
at this and see how it can benefit your community
and get America in Bloom involved. And of course at
(17:10):
a personal level, you can do it also individual businesses,
municipalities with the gardens across America. Again, to learn more
about it, to get started anyway, you can go to
their Facebook page, Instagram, or also go to the website
America in Bloom dot org. Check it out. I highly
encourage this. Get yourself involved, get your community involved. Everybody
(17:30):
will certainly appreciate what they can do for you to
help out your community. It's a wonderful program celebrate in
twenty five years. Congratulations, Thank you so much, Bro.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Honor to be with you today.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Ron, it's a pleasure having you on. Laura Concos again
the executive director America in Bloom dot Org. Have a
good day. Thank you, Sing to you all right, take care.
America in Bloom Growing Vibert Communities a great program. We've
had them on our show before, we talk about it.
I think it's one of those programs that kind of
flies under the radar sometimes and they do promote it
(18:05):
a lot. We try to promote it here through the professionals.
They know about America and Bloom. But this is a
great way if you're you know, you say, man, I
wish I could get our small town, our big town,
whatever be our community more involved with this to make
it look nice. For street tree plantings and the baskets
and the colors and the gardens and all of that.
All of the things. Is so many categories that they
(18:28):
can help you with. Here's a group that can come in,
it's not very expensive, sit down with you, take a
look at your community and give you some direction as
far as what you can do to make it in Bloom.
Being a part of the America in Bloom and really
increase the value and feeling of your community. It's pretty simple,
(18:49):
and then you get the nurseries and garden centers and
master gardeners and everybody involved. It can really really be
a cool thing. Again, go to the website check it
out America in Bloom or all right, winters right around
the corner. Birds are hungry. What do we do about
the birds? Well, we talk to our bird expert, our
(19:10):
wild winged wonder Monica Brewbaker from wild Birds on Leimono
would be with us next. Tell us what to do
with those birds during the wintertime. Here in the garden
with Ron Wilson.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
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