00:00 Introduction to The Garden Question Podcast00:41 Meet Diane Blazek: A Journey in Gardening01:29 The Legacy of National Garden Bureau05:10 Victory Garden 2.0: Reviving a Historic Movement06:23 The Impact of COVID-19 on Gardening08:09 Challenges and Successes in Modern Gardening10:44 Exploring New Plant Programs14:13 All American Selections Trials16:20 Display Gardens: Showcasing AAS Winners18:45 Year of Program: Celebrating Plant Classes21:33 Promoting Garden Authors and Books22:16 Therapeutic Garden Grants24:33 Understanding Our Members26:14 Finding Information and Social Media Presence27:08 Debunking Garden Myths27:55 Personal Garden Memories28:54 Career in Horticulture29:59 Funny Garden Stories30:54 Influences and Mistakes in Gardening34:47 Current Garden and Future Plans37:19 Recent Learnings and Favorite Plants39:25 Final Thoughts and Connecting with DianeToday’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.