Diane Blazek
Executive Director
All-America Selections/National Garden Bureau
Diane will be featured on Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12 during the GardenComm conference as she unveils plant varieties that are new to the market now, or will be introduced in the upcoming season.
Learning about new plants is something we all love, and learning more about Diane is just as fun! So we asked a few questions so everyone can become better acquainted with her.
Tell us a little about what you do and how long have you worked in the horticulture industry?
I am the Executive Director of two separate non-profit organizations. I’ve been in the industry since 1993 (27 years!) and my role is pretty diverse ranging from legal matters and financial management to speaking engagements and social media management.
What is the first garden-related experience you can remember?
Sitting in the shade of our maple trees in the yard, with my mom, scraping carrots and shelling peas so we could can them for winter eating.
What is the first plant you ever grew successfully?
I grew “Cockscomb” celosia (cristata) around our patio after my dad made new garden beds for us to use.
Talk about a mistake you made in your garden once that turned into an unexpected learning experience.
Which one? Ha! There are so many. In the beginning, not understanding the importance of soil composition or how useful fertilizers can be. Then, as I learned more about breeding, I started to realize the importance of different varieties. You really need to track which “red petunia” you use so you can track your favorites and/or the best performers.
If you could only give one piece of advice to a new gardener, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid of failure. Just learn from your mistakes and failures. Keep a good journal to track it all.
What is your favorite plant to grow?
Herbs! Specifically basil. It’s so easy to impress my husband by growing basil then making pesto to freeze for later. I love impressing him with my gardening skills but don’t tell him how easy it is to grow basil!!!!
Normally we’d ask Diane for some teaser content for her session, but since it’s about new varieties, that could give away too much! So make sure you’re registered for the conference so you can be among the first garden communicators to see these fascinating new plant varieties.
Register Today
Click here to see details and register!
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