Here's some background on National Gardening Month -- help spread the power

**"Susan McCoy" b*@impact-pr.com**

All it takes is one person, planting tulips and zinnias in a vacant lot. The
color and natural beauty cause others to stop and enjoy the view. They
decide a few more flowers and maybe some shrubs would get this place on the
road to looking like a real park. A meeting, some donations, and a planting
day later, a green and growing place is created, and a neighborhood is
resurrected. This is how gardening transforms lives.
Celebrate this power during National Garden Month (garden.org) in April,
organized by the not-for-profit National Gardening Association.
The efforts and contributions of gardeners were first celebrated by a 1986
Presidential proclamation creating the first National Garden Week. Under the
direction of the National Garden Bureau, 23 co-sponsoring national
horticultural organizations helped make official what gardeners have known
for centuries: gardening connects us to the earth and to other people in
ways that can transform lives.
But why celebrate gardening now?
Gardening touches almost every aspect of society. In urban neighborhoods
gardening has been proven to reduce crime. Research shows patients who
garden recover more quickly and feel more hopeful. Educators overwhelmingly
report that behavioral problems diminish and responsibility flourishes in
children s gardens. Gardening has been shown to improve the quality of life
for elders and to decrease recidivism of prison inmates. This is the power
of gardening.
 "In these times of conflict and uncertainty, we know that gardens are
healing and create connections within families and neighborhoods," says
Valerie Kelsey, president of the non-profit organization founded in 1972 to
"promote gardens for all."
"We saw the strength of gardening in the aftermath of September 11 as people
looked to each other, first for solace, and then for the comfort of
community," she explains. "Millions flocked to public gardens to express
this need to reconnect and to heal. It is our dream to again make gardening
an important part of community life in this country.
NGA envisions children, teachers, senior citizens, home gardeners, public
garden employees joining forces with green organizations, such as the
American Horticultural Society, Plant a Row for the Hungry and the
California Association of Nurseryman & Garden Centers to celebrate this
power.
Picture students planting rose gardens at their schools. Imagine hospital
patients planting rooftop gardens. Think about urban grandmothers and
neighborhood children working side by side to restore vacant lots. Now you
can see thousands of Americans joining together planting seeds, flowers,
bulbs and trees, bringing joy and harmony to those around them.
Events being planned across the nation to celebrate America's favorite
pastime include the "Learning with Roses" grant program that awards Star(r)
Rose gardens to schools, flower and gardening heritage festivals, and design
workshops to help people garden no matter where they live.
Groups are encouraged to post activities on the National Garden Month
calendar at www.garden.org.  "Green groups" can create links to their own
Web sites for gardeners in their areas to access and learn about local
events.  Schools can download applications to win a Star(r) Rose garden.
Public gardens can find information on the site where they can get a free
National Garden Month banner.
The site also features suggested garden-related events and activities for
all gardeners, educators, retailers and other interested groups.  Powerful
and inspirational essays are also posted on the site.
This is the vision that drives National Garden Month 2003. Organizers,
including sponsors Simply Beautiful annuals (www.simplybeautifulgardens.com)
Star Roses (www.starroses.com), Soil Soup compost tea brewers
(www.soilsoup.com/) and WOLF-Garten tools (www.wolf-garten.com), see
gardening as a way to bring us together as members of communities and,
ultimately, as one nation.
The National Gardening Association (NGA) was founded as a not-for-profit
organization in 1972 to spearhead the community garden movement. NGA is best
known today for its educational programs, two Web sites (Garden.org and
Kidsgardening.com), and consumer research on gardening trends.
 "The goal of this year's National Garden Month is to reach non-gardeners
and gardeners alike to emphasize the health, nurturing, spirit of sharing
and simple beauty of gardening," Kelsey says. "We believe with every new
person we reach, a potential gardener for life is possible, and a community
grows more closely linked."
For more information call NGA 802- 863-5251, ext. 129 or rose@garden.org or
Garden Media Group, 610-388-9330 or susan@gardenmediagroup.com.

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