We think the following National ‘day of, week of and month of’ celebrations are fantastic opportunities to help promote gardening. We’ve curated a list of what we feel are the “best of the best”; there is something that will appeal to just about everyone regardless of age or their level of gardening experience. Use this list to plan for your sales, marketing, special events, content calendars and social media posts to educate, have fun and inspire gardeners to get out and get their hands in the dirt.
Don’t forget these promotions that are for the entire year of 2021!
Month-by-Month Promotion Opportunities:
January
1 – National Hangover day/Bloody Mary Day – #NationalHangoverDay
5 – National Hydrangea Day – #NationalHydrangeaDay
5 – National Bird Day – #NationalBirdDay
6 – National Bean Day – #NationalBeanDay
10 – Houseplant Appreciation Day – #HouseplantAppreciation
15 – National Hat Day – #ShowUsYourGardenHat
19 – National Popcorn Day – #NationalPopcornDay
27 – National Seed Swap Day – #NationalSeedSwapDay
February
Entire month of February – National Bird Feeding Month
2 – Wear Red Day, Groundhog Day
3 – Feed the Birds Day
14 – Valentine’s Day
17 – National Cabbage Day/Random Acts of Kindness Day
19 – Presidents Day
20 – Cherry Pie Day
22 – Cook a Sweet Potato Day
27 – National Strawberry Day
28 – Floral Design Day
March
Third full week – Horticulture Therapy Week
8 – International Women’s Day
12 – Plant a Flower Day
13 – National Good Samaritan Day
14 – Learn About Butterflies Day, Pi Day
17 – Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
20 – First Day of Spring
21 – National Fragrance Day
26 – National Spinach Day
28 – National Weed Appreciation Day
29 – National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
30 – Take a Walk in the Park Day
April
Entire month of April – Kid’s Gardening Month – #KidsGardeningMonth
4 – National Walking Day
7 – National No Housework Day (work in the garden instead!)
10 – National Encourage a Young Writer Day
11 – National Pet Day
12 – National Big Wind Day
14 – National Pecan Day
16 – Orchid Day
17 – National Bat Appreciation Day
19 – National Garlic Day
20 – National Lima Bean Respect Day
22 – Earth Day
23 – Picnic Day
26 – National Audubon Day
27 – Arbor Day
29 – National Peace Rose Day
May
1st full Week – International Compost Week
Week after Mothers Day – National Public Gardens Week
Week ending on American Mothers Day – International Herb Week
Second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day
1 – May Day
3 – National Garden Meditation Day
4 – National Weather Observers Day
5 – Seeing Monarchs Day
7 – Garden Naked Day
8 – National Iris Day
16 – National Love a Tree Day
20 – National Pick Strawberries Day
June
Third week in June – National Pollinator Week
Third week in June – National Garden Week
Third Sunday in June – Father’s Day
1 – National Go Barefoot Day
2 – National Prairie Day
3 – National Cancer Survivor’s Day
6 – National Gardening Exercise Day
9 – National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day
10 – National Herbs and Spices Day
11 – National Corn on the Cob Day
12 – National Red Rose Day
13 – National Weed Your Garden Day
14 – National Flag Day
14 – Nature Photography Day
17 – National Eat Your Vegetable Day
21 – First Day of Summer
27 – National Sunglasses Day
29 – Lavender Day
July
Entire month of July – Smart Irrigation Month – #WaterSmart
Entire month of July – National Blueberry Month
June 28 to July 4, 2020 ~ Celebrating American Grown Flowers in all 50 States – www.americanflowersweek.com
2nd week – International Plants at Work Week
1 – National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
3 – National Eat your Beans Day
4 – Independence Day
5 – National Apple Turnover Day
11 – National Mojito Day (harvest your mint!)
15 – Give something Away Day (Share perennials? Share your harvest?)
22 – National Hammock Day
24 – National Tequila Day
28 – National Dance Day (Dance in your garden!)
29 – National Lasagna Day
30 – National Father-in-Law Day
August
3rd Saturday in August – World Honey Bee Day
1 – National Girlfriends Day and National Night Out
3 – National Watermelon Day
6 – National Wiggle Your Toes Day
8 – Porch Day
10 – National Lazy Day
12 – National Garage Sale Day
13 – Left-Hander’s Day
14 – National Relaxation Day
17 – National Non-profit Day
18 – National Fajita Day and Mail Order Catalog Day
21 – National Senior Citizens Day
24 – National Peach Pie Day
31 – National Diatomaceous Earth Day
September
3rd week – Indoor Plant Week
1 – National Food Bank Day
2 – National College Colors Day
4 – National Wildlife Day
7 – National Acorn Squash Day
9 – National Swap Ideas Day
26 – National Johnny Appleseed Day
28 – National Good Neighbor Day
30 – National Family Health & Fitness Day
October
4 – National Pumpkin Seed Day
10 – National Cake Decorating Day
12 – National Gumbo Day
14 – National Dessert Day
17 – National Pasta Day
21 – Sweetest Day
22 – National Color Day
23 – National Mole Day
24 – National Food Day
25 – National Sourest Day
26 – National Pumpkin Day
28 – National Make a Difference Day
29 – National Cat Day
31 – Halloween
November
1 – National Vinegar Day
2 – National Men Make Dinner Day
5 – National Doughnut Day
6 – National Nachos Day
10 – National Forget-Me-Not Day
11 – National Sundae Day
13 – World Kindness Day
14 – National Pickle Day and Spicy Guacamole Day
17 – National Homemade Bread Day
18 – National Vichyssoise Day
22 – National Cranberry Relish Day
24 – Maize Day
December
1 – National Pie Day
5 – World Soil Day
6 – National Gazpacho Day
10 – Human Rights Day
17 – National Maple Syrup Day
29 – National Pepper Pot (soup) Day
Ongoing campaigns from other non-profit organizations:
There are campaigns that are ongoing and do not have a specific “awareness” date or week associated with them.
1) Addressing Plant Blindness among U.S. Youth – BLOOM! –connects young people to the power of plants to build a pipeline of future talent for the industry behind them: horticulture.
2) America In Bloom Communities are more welcoming and vibrant with colorful plants and trees in clean environments. They also believe in celebrating heritage and planting pride through volunteerism.
3) American Releaf is a non-profit that works in conjunction with the National Forest Foundation to restore and enhance US National Forests and Grasslands. American Releaf has information on grassland and forest ecosystems that may be useful when communicating about native species and gardening for wildlife.
4) GardenComm’s Plant A Row – Launched in 1995, Plant a Row for the Hungry is a public service program of GardenComm, formerly the Garden Writers Association (GWA). Garden writers are asked to encourage their readers/listeners to plant an extra row of produce each year and donate their surplus to local food banks, soup kitchens and service organizations to help feed America’s hungry.
5) Make America Green Again is being touted as the largest ever victory garden project since WWII and is based on the rationale that 40 million victory gardens could combat climate change while producing 12 million tons of high-quality food.
6) National Garden Bureau – National Garden Bureau is the industry’s only non-profit garden ambassador! On behalf of our members, we promote gardening all year long through programs such as “Year of the“, New Plants, Garden Products, the Inspirations blog, social media posts and much more.
7) NICH – The Mission of the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture is to grow a healthy world through the art, science and business of plants, gardens and landscapes and to encourage every household to participate in Consumer Horticulture. #PlantsDoThat
8) Pedal It Forward is a campaign to grant members of various communities with two free bouquets each — one to keep and one to share — one to keep, and one to share with a friend, family member, co-worker, or even a complete stranger.
