National Gardening Association announces Garden Groups Come Together to Celebrate National Garden Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Rose getch (800) 538-7476, ext. 129 rose@garden.org Garden Groups unite to celebrate National Garden Month South Burlington, VT (April 2003) - "It was a beautiful warm spring day in Washington, DC, when the National Gardening Association has organized a ceremony to put - outside National Garden Month. The leaders of the green industry organizations lawn and garden gallery gathered on the beautiful western United States Botanic Garden, where distinguished guests spoke with eloquence and emotion, opening This month of celebration for gardeners across the nation. This event was a real "focus" of the great gardening community with a common understanding and shared purpose. The Power "of gardens" was brought to life as speakers expressed the different forms that transforms the life of gardening. All were left with a deeper understanding of the beliefs that Valerie Kelsey, president of the National Gardening Association, said in his opening address: Gardening promotes a responsible land management physical and emotional gardens to strengthen local and global communities of the gardens are learning spaces and gardens infuse our lives with beauty. Larry Sommers, Vice President of the National Gardening Association, shared some results of the grass below the organization and garden market research. "Involving the families of lawn and garden business has reached a high of 85 million households. And despite the soft economy, lawn and garden retail sales increased 5% over 2 million last year, although many companies saw gains. Gardening is not recession-proof, but recession-resistant โ € ฆ lawn and garden activities to share the "spotlight Top 3 Leisure activities with walking and swimming." We talked about names of commercial sponsors of National Gardening Month, Jeff Gibson, marketing manager of Ball Horticultural, expressed his satisfaction and his company are one of the founding sponsors of National Garden Month. Joining the celebration were the leaders of other sponsors, Wolf-Garten Soil Soup, and Star Roses ยฎ. As a sponsor of "National Garden Month Learning with Roses" grants program, Star Roses roses ยฎ assigned to schools in the United States. Valerie Kelsey gifts presented by the National Gardening Association to 4 th grade class of Francis Scott Key Elementary School for use in the garden of the school, one of many such gardens created in collaboration with the Hilton Garden Inn. Kevin Robert, director of the Hilton Garden Inn Arlington / Courthouse Plaza Hotel, spoke of his pride to help school children in their community, support for your garden. Hilton Garden Inn across the country participated in the initiative to grow school gardens in their communities. Green organization representatives spoke with a sincere voice, unified about their faith in the power "of gardening. Robert Dolibois, Executive Vice President of the American Nursery & Landscape Association brought home the public what they would be deprived of all life if not for gardening. Katy Moss Warner, president of the American Horticultural Society, spoke of a sickness in our society, called "plant blindness" and encouraged a greater awareness and appreciation of plants every day around us . Jim Stofan, Senior Vice President of Education Programs of the National Wildlife Federation, spoke about their Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, which encourages everyone - owners, teachers and community leaders - to plan your landscape with the needs of life wildlife in mind for the enrichment of all species. Christine Flanagan, director of U.S. Botanic Garden and member of the Board of Directors of the National Gardening Association, reminded us that as members of society, as parents, teachers As citizens, we share responsibility for preparing the next generation of leadership of our institutions and the management of our environment. He emphasized that gardening with children is actually planting the seeds of our future. Members of the press and the public have expressed their sincere appreciation to the National Gardening Association to disclose what they have for a long time gardening has the power to transform individuals and local and global communities. For more information about the National Garden Month, including a calendar of events and "101 ways to celebrate," please visit www.garden.org