You know me. I don’t sell stuff, but I want to share with you info about a fundraising event for an organization that changed my life.
This is my second year as president of GardenComm: Garden Communicators International, a professional group of writers, editors, photographers, landscape designers/architects, educators, bloggers, graphic designers, radio and TV talent, authors, plant breeders, podcasters, master gardeners, marketers and public relations experts…you get the idea.
I joined in the 1990s when I started writing my weekly The Hoosier Gardener column for The Indianapolis Star. I joined at the encouragement of now-retired Marion County Extension educator Dick Crum.
Enough background, except to say that garden writing and GardenComm (formerly Garden Writers Association) opened a whole new career and work life for me. I’ve written books, thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, was an assistant producer for a public television program, helped stage national television commercials for a consumer gardening product, taught programs and workshops and much more. I’m so grateful.
The hard sell — please support GardenComm
And take in some floral culture.
GardenComm presents A Betrothal by Lanford Hughes, a one-act, 35 minute, heart-warming and humorous play about two iris breeders who take shelter under a tend during a rainstorm at a flower competition. This is an end-of-year fundraiser for GardenComm.
The play has been recorded and is available on demand from Dec. 3 through Dec. 6. Tickets: House Party, $30, plus fees; The Cozy, $20, plus fees; The Pandemic Pocketbook Special, $10, plus fees.
Proceeds will support education programs and member services. GardenComm is a 501c3, so ticket costs are deductible (in accordance with IRS regulations).
Why it matters to GardenComm
Garden communicators link you to new plants and products, they fire up the gardening desire among the experienced and newbies, they help drive sales and work hard to give the public quality, science-based information to make them successful.
I can’t tell you how many questions garden communicators have answered from first-time gardeners, driven to the soil by COVID-19. You know 2020 has been a challenging year for individuals, businesses and not-for-profits. Some of us are still able to work while others cannot because of closed businesses. Many (all?) of us are exhausted just from staying at home, which is compounded when e-learning, remote working and virtual meetings take over households.
So, I invite you to sit back and take in the play, enjoy a few minutes of escapism with a flower theme. And support my favorite not-for-profit in an entertaining way.