20 MARCH 18, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Gardening saw record growth in
2020 and experts expect many
more people will be digging in
the dirt again this spring.
From “Victory” vegetable gardens
to balcony containers, outdoor
gathering spaces and mood-lifting
landscapes, gardening is providing
an outlet during the pandemic.
Research conducted late last year
found that 86% of homeowners plan
to continue gardening in 2021. Nearly
half of respondents say they’ll be
planting more and expanding their
garden spaces this spring. With
all that expansion and enthusiasm
comes the need for inspiration and
advice.
HELP FOR BEGINNERS
One source provides both inspiration
and advice, with a goal of
helping people feel more successful
in their gardening endeavors.
The National Garden Bureau was
founded in 1920 in the wake of World
War I, when an increasing number
of suburbanites needed basic backyard
gardening instruction. The
nonprofit organization’s mission
is to provide education to motivate
people to enjoy plants, from indoor
houseplants to outdoor gardens.
TRY SOMETHING NEW
How do they do it? One way is with
their ‘Year of’ program. Each year
the National Garden Bureau selects
one annual, one perennial, one bulb
crop, one edible and one shrub as
their ‘Year of the’ crops. “Our ‘Year
of ’ program puts a spotlight on
timely, interesting varieties,” says
Diane Blazek, executive director of
NGB. “Plants are chosen because they
are popular, easy to grow, widely
adaptable and versatile.”
One of the more popular picks for
2021 is The Year of the Sunflower.
“If there was ever a time where we
needed to add some sunshine to the
world, it’s now,” adds Blazek. “Sunflowers
add bright, cheery color to
the garden, and they’re extremely
easy to grow. They’re simple to start
from seed, or you can purchase new
potted varieties that promise multiple
blooms throughout the season.”
2021 is also the Year of the Green
Bean, Hardy Hibiscus, Hyacinth and
Monarda.
A LOOK INTO THE
FUTURE
“A big trend we’ve seen in our
Future of Gardening survey is all
about creating beautiful spaces,”
says Blazek. “Planting sunflowers,
hibiscus, hyacinth, monarda and
other easy-to-grow flowers can help
add color and curb appeal, but they
also add natural beauty to outdoor
gathering spaces, another COVID-19
world trend.” Food gardens are also
hot, especially with newer gardeners.
“History shows that when there’s a
national crisis, there is an increased
interest in edible gardening,” she
says. “That’s why we’re including
more info on growing vegetables.”
LEARN FROM THE
EXPERTS
NGB’s members are horticulture
experts who know gardening. The
curated information the organization
provides comes directly from those
sources, offering new and experienced
home gardeners advice they
can count on to create great garden
spaces. “The increased interest
in gardening is great news,” adds
Blazek. “Our goal as an industry is
to keep people engaged in gardening
even beyond this season. We feel an
even greater need to provide quality
information for new gardeners and
exciting ideas for gardeners who
want to take their experience to the
next level. NGB is a great resource
for everyone.”
NEW PLANTS FOR 2021
A popular area of NGB’s website is
the New Plants section. In addition to
searching by name, visitors to NGB.
com can search by plant category,
type and height to find the perfect
variety for their garden. NGB.com
also provides inspiration for plant
combinations, delicious new vegetable
varieties and tips to keep plants
thriving throughout the season.
— Courtesy of BPT
AT HOME
The future of gardening: Information and inspiration
/WWW.QNS.COM
/NGB.com
