George will announce the new initiative, which will run later in the year, at the prestigious Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

As a special guest speaker at the show, George will be encouraging everyone to dig in and celebrate.

“National Gardening Week is all about celebrating gardening, gardeners, and gardens,” he said.

“National Gardening Week offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the simple joys of gardening and to highlight the associated benefits that gardening brings.”

George was first made aware of a National Gardening Week on a visit to England in April 2013.

The week was celebrated throughout the country with colourful floral displays, show gardens and special events, all focused on the practice of gardening. 

“The UK’s Royal Horticultural Society had launched their inaugural National Gardening Week in 2011 and since then, it has grown into the country’s biggest celebration of gardening,” said George.

Canada and the United States both hold similar events and last year New Zealand and South Africa held their inaugural National Gardening celebrations

“My dream is to see a similar celebration of gardening here in Australia and in October this year, that dream becomes a reality.”

George explained National Gardening Week is open to everybody – people of all ages, organisations, businesses, local communities, local councils, schools - to participate in and celebrate gardening in any way they choose.

“Throw a garden party, visit a local park, join a garden club, plant a tree, visit your local nursery or just spend a day relaxing on the lawn – the possibilities are endless,” added George.

The Garden Clubs of Australia is the nation’s largest organisation for garden clubs and other like-minded groups and today has more than 700 affiliates representing well over 45,000 members. 

National Gardening Week will run from October 8-14.