For any veteran lover of great gardening television shows, HGTV’s A Gardener’s Diary with Erica Glasener will always hold a special place. Such is the case for me.
Even though the show aired its final season in 2006, viewers long for a way to watch any or all the episodes again. Unfortunately, HGTV, the owner of the series, has not made them available for online viewing. And I have my doubts that they ever will.
The series, produced by Kathryn MacDougald and Martha Tate struck the perfect balance between interesting stories of both plants and the people that cared for them.
A major reason for the success of A Gardener’s Diary was the team, including Host Erica Glasener, Producers Kathryn MacDougald and Martha Tate, Field Producer Hilary Miles and Cameraman Bill Head
The conversations between host and horticulturist Erica Glasener were natural and effortless. Her genuine interest in people and her depth of knowledge for all things growing provided the secret weapon for an incredibly appealing show for gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
Like so many gardening shows of the past, A Gardener’s Diary was eventually canceled. If there was a silver lining to that news, at least that news didn’t come to this show until after 13 wonderful seasons. That’s a remarkable run for any series of any genre on any network.
After the series’ final season, Erica had no trouble picking up book offers, public appearances, and other writing projects, while staying in touch with garden professionals all over the country.
Her opportunities eventually brought her to Georgia, and to where she now lives and works in Atlanta.
Growing A Greener World’s new Senior Producer Erica Glasener, flanked by Host and Executive Producer Joe Lamp’l (L) and Director of Photography Carl Pennington (R)
Today, we’re all celebrating Erica’s reconnection to gardening television, but not quite in the way you might think, or hope.
Recently, Erica has taken a new job, as Senior Producer of Growing a Greener World®. For those of you who don’t know, that’s the national public television series I created, host and serve as Executive Producer.
Now, we have Erica to help us with that here in Atlanta, while Co-Executive Producer Theresa Loe continues to work from Los Angeles. We’re hard at work now on season nine, with 13 new episodes that will begin available for viewing on-air and online in mid-2018.
Will Erica be back in front of the camera ever again? Perhaps a little. But that’s up to Erica if she finds the right time and place when on location producing episodes in her new role. Her skillset behind the camera is equally as effective. And that’s where we intend to use her to the fullest extent for now. But if you find yourself loving future Growing a Greener World episodes more than ever, you might be feeling the Erica factor. And that would be just fine with me.
Who knows what the future holds. But for now, enjoy my conversation with Erica for this behind-the-scenes discussion of life on the road with HGTV’s A Gardener’s Diary.
Links & Resources
Episode 057: What Happened to the G in HGTV?
Proven Plants, Southern Gardens by Erica Glasener
Joanna Reed Book – Earth on Her Hands
Corona: Our podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joe gardener®
Links to books may be affiliate links
7 Responses to “018-HGTV’s A Gardener’s Diary with Erica Glasener”
Erica taught mt to think big! I dug up half my yard, I made stone retainer walls with rocks I got from all that digging, and I did much of that on the corner side of my yard where everyone could see. Still waiting for her to show up with the camera crew 🙂
Erica taught mt to think big! I dug up half my yard, I made stone retainer walls with rocks I got from all that digging, and I did much of that on the corner side of my yard where everyone could see. Still waiting for her to show up with the camera crew 🙂
I was so angry when Gardener’s Diary was cancelled, I actually emailed HGTV. I had never done anything like that before. This was before social media is what it is today! I asked them what happen to the G in HGTV. I never got an answer.
That might be the most-asked question HGTV gets. I wrote about my thoughts on why the G is dead in HGTV here: https://www.growingagreenerworld.com/keeping-the-%E2%80%9Cg%E2%80%9D-in-hgtv-%E2%80%93-why-that%E2%80%99s-not-so-e-z/
I was so angry when Gardener’s Diary was cancelled, I actually emailed HGTV. I had never done anything like that before. This was before social media is what it is today! I asked them what happen to the G in HGTV. I never got an answer.
Joe, since you’re in the TV world I’m sure you can provide some insight into this. What would it take for the old episodes of A Gardener’s Diary to be made somehow viewable again? I don’t know how it works – does HGTV own them, and Erica has no rights to them? Could she or someone else buy the rights to them from HGTV and put them on DVD or on a website like you do with GGW? I have no idea what I’m talking about lol – its just a shame that a show that was that good will never be seen again. There has to be a way! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
You are right. HGTV owns this show and they are not likely to release any of the rights to anyone to repurpose their assets. I experienced this when I made a similar inquiry after hosting Fresh From the Garden on DIY Network (HGTV’s sister station).
The other reason you are not likely to see this show repurposed online is that is was not shot in HD. Based on the quality demanded today by the distributor and consumer, a “standard definition” (not high-def) video is not where networks are interested in investing any time or resources. It’s just considered sub-standard, no matter how much we love the show! Sad but the true reality of big league television.
One more thing. It’s also about the money. A project like this that went off the air in 2006 is not where television / media companies like HGTV want to allocate any financial resources. it just will never likely surface as a to-do list item in their list of priorities. I hope I’m proved wrong!
Thanks Joe.
Joe, since you’re in the TV world I’m sure you can provide some insight into this. What would it take for the old episodes of A Gardener’s Diary to be made somehow viewable again? I don’t know how it works – does HGTV own them, and Erica has no rights to them? Could she or someone else buy the rights to them from HGTV and put them on DVD or on a website like you do with GGW? I have no idea what I’m talking about lol – its just a shame that a show that was that good will never be seen again. There has to be a way! I’d love to hear your thoughts!
You are right. HGTV owns this show and they are not likely to release any of the rights to anyone to repurpose their assets. I experienced this when I made a similar inquiry after hosting Fresh From the Garden on DIY Network (HGTV’s sister station).The other reason you are not likely to see this show repurposed online is that is was not shot in HD. Based on the quality demanded today by the distributor and consumer, a “standard definition” (not high-def) video is not where networks are interested in investing any time or resources. It’s just considered sub-standard, no matter how much we love the show! Sad but the true reality of big league television.One more thing. It’s also about the money. A project like this that went off the air in 2006 is not where television / media companies like HGTV want to allocate any financial resources. it just will never likely surface as a to-do list item in their list of priorities. I hope I’m proved wrong!
That might be the most-asked question HGTV gets. I wrote about my thoughts on why the G is dead in HGTV here: https://www.growingagreener…
Thanks Joe.
Congratulation to you again Erica and may the partnership last many, many years!! I think that I watched every episode of “A Gardener’s Diary”. Not sure which gardener or which episode, but I found and bought the “Ash Wednesday” rose because of your show. It was not easy to find but such a wonderful rose. I only have a few select roses and Ash Wednesday is one of my favorites!!
Congratulation to you again Erica and may the partnership last many, many years!! I think that I watched every episode of “A Gardener’s Diary”. Not sure which gardener or which episode, but I found and bought the “Ash Wednesday” rose because of your show. It was not easy to find but such a wonderful rose. I only have a few select roses and Ash Wednesday is one of my favorites!!
Just watched an episode on YouTube. Love the ending music and the high light of the plants!
That was a Happy Place!!