Getting the Insider Info

Jennifer Zurko

Photography by Chris Beytes

When you explain what you do for a living to a consumer, do you ever wish you could just show them? The National Garden Bureau went beyond that and invited a handful of garden writers to the California Spring Trials in April.

Diane Blazek, NGB’s executive director, said that NGB has been connecting with garden writers since the organization was founded in 1920. But now with communication evolving to blogs and social media, Diane felt it was the perfect time to invite several garden bloggers to Spring Trials. And she was quick to point out that this group is more than just bloggers.

“One is a landscaper who buys tens of thousands of flats of annuals every year, one is a TV show producer/host,” explained Diane. “They all have written books, do speaking engagements and more. Horticulturally speaking, they are an extremely well-educated group.”

There were 18 stops on the Spring Trials schedule and they visited every single one. Diane made sure to speak with each breeder beforehand, providing details about each blogger so they could be prepared. Diane said that all of the breeders were excited about the opportunity to speak to the group and see which varieties they like the most—which varied because each one has different interests and live in different growing conditions. Actually, the most interesting part for them was learning how the industry works, especially about the supply chain of distribution.

Diane said they had a great time and “there is no doubt we will do this again.” NGB will be taking garden bloggers to the vegetable trials in August and plans on taking another group to next year’s Spring Trials. GT


Pictured: A group of garden bloggers invited by NGB to attend the California Spring Trials listen to Hem’s Joe Messer talk about a new French marigold series at the Speedling stop. From left to right: Barbara Wise, Dee Nash, Nan Sterman, Diane Blazek, Susan Tomlinson and Joe Messer. Not pictured: Helen Battersby.