Michael Weishan

Michael Weishan (born 7 August in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is perhaps most widely known as the host of the American public television series, The Victory Garden, a position he held from 2001 through 2007. He was the fourth host of the series, and retired after five seasons to resume active direction of his landscape design firm, Michael Weishan and Associates, which specializes in creating traditionally inspired landscapes for homes across the US and Canada.

In addition to his work on PBS, Weishan has appeared on numerous national TV programs in the United States, including the Today Show on NBC, as well as the CBS Early Show. On radio, he hosted his own weekly NPR program, The Cultivated Gardener from 1999–2001. Weishan is also the author of three books: The New Traditional Garden (1999); From a Victorian Garden (2004); and The Victory Garden Companion (2006).

The gardening editor at Country Living for five years, Weishan is a frequent contributor to various national periodicals, including New Old House Magazine where he writes a quarterly gardening column. Weishan also maintains an active lecture schedule across the United States and Europe, speaking to organizations such as garden clubs, trade show and museums on a wide range of horticultural subjects, in particular residential garden design and landscape history. His specialties include backyard landscape design, historic gardening, and the edible garden, including a special interest in what he terms the "New American Victory Garden." In June, 2009 Weishan was nominated to the prestigious Garden Club of America's National Speakers List.

Also in June 2009, Weishan launched a new garden blog on his website, entitled "Old House, Old Garden" which narrates the "tales, tips and techniques of Traditional Gardening." The "Old House, Old Garden" blog is the online continuation and expansion of Traditional Gardening, the magazine Weishan published in print form from 1996–2000.

An honors graduate of Harvard University, Weishan is active in many charities and non-profit institutions, especially those relating to history and design; among them, he is a member of the Adams House Senior Common Room at Harvard, where he is currently assisting Dr. Judith Palfrey, Master of Adams House, in the restoration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's student rooms at Harvard the FDR Suite at Adams House, Harvard University to their original 1900s appearance, as a memorial to the 32nd president of the United States and past students of Harvard College.

Weishan, who lives outside of Boston surrounded by 3 acres (12,000 m²) of gardens, is currently at work on a new TV series, entitled Garden Earth in conjunction with Outpost Worldwide Productions, Creative Media Services, and KTWU. scheduled for a 2011/12 release.

Major publications

• Weishan, Michael. The New Traditional Garden: A Practical Guide to Creating and Restoring Authentic American Gardens for Homes of All Ages. ISBN 0-345-42041-1
• Weishan, Michael and Laurie Donnelly. (2006). The Victory Garden Companion. ISBN 0-06-059977-4
• Weishan, Michael and Cristina Roig. (2004) From a Victorian Garden: Creating the Romance of a Bygone Age Right in Your Own Backyard. ISBN 0-670-89426-5

External links

• Michael Weishan's World of Gardening
• Michael Weishan's Old House, Old Garden Blog
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Suite Restoration Project
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Suite Restoration Project Blog Where the 19th Century Meets the 21st
• Garden Club of America
• Garden Earth pilot and info

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