AAS & NGB: The Power of Plant Promotion

Interview starts at 5:03 – My guest this episode is Diane Blazek, Executive Director of All-America Selections (AAS) and National Garden Bureau (NGB). During my 20 years in horticulture, I’ve encountered All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau on many occasions, at events, in trial gardens, in trade articles, through the consumer press and even while visiting garden centers and greenhouses. These days, I see both organizations all over social media and digital media. It’s this relentless dedication to plant promotion, as well as exciting recent growth that inspired me to reach out to Diane to talk about the goals and missions of each organization and more importantly ways everyone in the horticulture industry can get involved and leverage the power of AAS and NGB to connect and inspire today’s gardeners – our customers.

During this episode, Diane and I discuss how these two venerable organizations are structured, the goals of each, key activities and how they work together, factors behind recent growth and what to expect in the near future. With the trialing expertise of AAS and the consumer engagement driven by NGB, there is an awful lot of firepower here and major opportunities to get involved and capitalize on the power of plant promotion. NGB’s “Year Of” programs are some of the easiest to start using in your own marketing. From the history of each organization and their phenomenal growth over the past decade to tips and tricks to use digital media and tangible ways to leverage existing marketing campaigns, there are ideas in this episode that will be relevant to everyone. Be sure to listen all the way to the end because we spend a lot of time on the specific tools available from AAS and NGB for all green industry businesses.

Resource Links for All-America Selections and National Garden Bureau:

All-America Selections website: https://all-americaselections.org/
To search all AAS Winners, 1932 to present: https://all-americaselections.org/winners/
To Buy AAS Winners: https://all-americaselections.org/buy-winners/
List of AAS Judges: https://all-americaselections.org/about-aas-winners/#bios
To find an AAS Display Garden: https://all-americaselections.org/visit-an-aas-display-garden/
Downloadable signs, brochures and variety markers: https://all-americaselections.org/signs-and-brochures/
Downloadable presentations, signage, logos, etc.: https://all-americaselections.org/aas-ambassador-tools/
Breeder info for “How to Enter”: https://all-americaselections.org/breeders/
How to become an AAS Display Garden: https://all-americaselections.org/display-gardens-criteriaguidelines/

National Garden Bureau website: https://ngb.org/
How to join: https://ngb.org/become-a-member/
New Varieties program: https://ngb.org/new-plants/
Year of program: https://ngb.org/year-of-2019/
Combinations program: https://ngb.org/combination-ideas/
NGB’s “Inspirations” Blog: https://ngb.org/inspiration/
Garden Books from our author members: https://ngb.org/garden-books/
Garden Products program: https://ngb.org/gardening-products/
Shop Our (retail) Members: https://ngb.org/shop-our-members/
Therapeutic Garden Grant program: https://ngb.org/therapeutic-grant-program/

Social Media links:
AAS Blog: https://all-americaselections.org/news/
NGB Blog: https://ngb.org/inspiration/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nationalgardenbureau
https://www.facebook.com/AASWinners
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Flowerandvegetablewinners/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/national_garden_bureau/
https://www.instagram.com/aasgardenwinners/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nationalgarden/pins/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AllAmericaSelectionsFlowersVegetables

Slide Share (downloadable presentations)
https://www.slideshare.net/allamericaselections
https://www.slideshare.net/NationalGardenBureau

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AASGardenWinner
https://twitter.com/NatGardenBureau

Contact Links:
Email Guest Diane Blazek: blazekdiane@gmail.com
Email Host Bill Calkins: bcalkins@ballhort.com
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