AZUSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renewing his support of public gardens as important resources for education and conservation in the communities they serve, Paul James, Gardener Guy™, host of HGTV’s Gardening By The Yard, will return as the official spokesperson for National Public Gardens Day, scheduled for May 6, 2011.
Now in its third year celebrating North America’s public gardens, National Public Gardens Day is a national day of awareness in which communities nationwide are invited to visit and learn about the important role their public gardens play in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education. Scheduled for the Friday before Mother’s Day Weekend, National Public Gardens Day was created in partnership between the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and irrigation product and service provider Rain Bird.
As the national spokesperson, Paul James will showcase the contributions of public gardens as part of a local, regional and national awareness and education campaign that includes media partnerships, broadcast public service announcements, and local and national media tours all focused on communicating the importance of building sustainable environments through improved plant management and water conservation.
“Public gardens are a rich source of information for home gardeners, consumers, and homeowners and National Public Gardens Day is a day to get the public excited about all of the resources and beauty they can find in their local public gardens,” said Paul James. “There are more than 500 public gardens in the United States that are pillars of their community, delivering education on plant and water conservation. As I travel across the country, I am always amazed at the number of people who aren’t aware of what a public garden has to offer. They are a treasure trove of ideas that can be applied in the garden at home.”
In addition to conducting media interviews and studio appearances to promote National Public Gardens Day 2011, Paul James will host a nationwide satellite media tour in which he will speak one-on-one with national and local morning news programs about the lessons to be learned by visiting public gardens. He will also be featured in the campaign’s national broadcast public service announcements and will travel to a number of public gardens in support of National Public Gardens Day.
"You don't have to be a gardener to appreciate a public garden," added James. “They're also great places to appreciate all that nature has to offer and provide a little tranquility in our otherwise stressful lives.”
For more information on National Public Gardens Day, visit www.NationalPublicGardensDay.org, “LIKE” the National Public Gardens Day Facebook page and follow the National Public Gardens Day Twitter feed, @NPGD.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD
Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. Since its beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird has offered the industry's broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded more than 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water is about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products to education, training and services for the industry and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing assembly facilities in the United States, France, Sweden and Mexico. www.rainbird.com
ABOUT APGA
Founded in 1940, Pennsylvania-based American Public Gardens Association is an organization devoted to strengthening the public gardens throughout North America. With over 70 years of work increasing cooperation and awareness among the gardens, APGA has built a membership of more than 500 public gardens located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and seven other countries. Their members include public gardens as well as arboreta and zoos. APGA has also built up an international network of individual members in the U.S., Canada and 24 other countries. The APGA is committed to increasing public awareness for public gardens and supplying resources to the industry. Through their leadership and advocacy, public gardens have become vital to public appreciation and understanding of the irreplaceable value of plants. www.publicgardens.org
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