Who is Michael Weishan?

It seems as though the Victory Garden is having a 'changing of the guard.' Roger Swain, Chef Marian (I don't know why I want to call her Maid Marian), and Russ Morash have retired. It looks like a movement in direction.http://www.victorygarden.org/site/faq.html

I saw the new show only once and liked it. Although I like Roger Swain-it seemed we only got a minute of gardening tips; then trips to world showcase gardens and whatever Marian was cooking that day (never saw one recipe that I liked). I have high hopes for the new crew.

Marian always cooked with cold weather crops. I think it is Scandavian cooking.

It always seems like "stars" suddenly burst on the scene. But such is not the case.

Michael Weishan has a great reputation among those who are into historic gardening; especially when it comes to restoring them. He's the author, for instance, of "The New Traditional Garden"---to my mind, the best book going if you're interested in creating or restoring historic gardens. He's also the publisher of "Traditional Gardening," a quarterly magazine on that topic.

No stranger to broadcasting, he's the long time host of "The Cultivated Gardener," on NPR, and is regularly featured on other NPR shows, such as Living On Earth.

He's also written for many publications, including Country Journal and Old House Journal.

I like him, but don't care for the new format of the show. It's all well and good for those with deep pockets who can afford to hire some of the most expensive contractors in New England. But for us do it yourself gardeners it leaves much to be desired.

As for Chef Marion. If her husband hadn't been the producer, nobody would ever have seen her. I don't think she had any talent, as either a broadcast personality or as a cook. She was very taken with herself, but I don't believe anybody else was.

liked the old guy better. He wil be missed

It is definitely a changing of the guard. I hope that they will be able to "fill the shoes" of ones that have preceeded them!

I certainly will miss Roger Swain and his scraggly beard. I look forward to seeing Holly Shimizo, Exec. Director of the U.S. Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. again on the show. She was excellent and contributed a lot of knowledge and common sense advice when growing plants and herbs in your gardens. I've even heard her speak in public and she is very friendly, out-going, and "down to earth" - no airs here! Can't say that I'm sad to see "Chef Marian" & her hubby retire! After all, she would never have landed that job if it hadn't be for his position and influence in the programming. I certainly haven't made any of her recipes, wonder if anyone ever did? Adrian Bloom was okay, but I think he should go back to doing what he does best....cultivating new types of plants and bringing them to the public's attention.

As for the "new" faces on The Victory Garden, Michael Weishan has an interesting background. Time will tell if he is charasmatic enough to be the host. I'm not familiar with the rest of their starting line-up, but I will continue to tape the show and watch it when time permits.

This would be an excellent thread to continue as Part II - once the new season is well under way and the "new" gardeners have "broken the ice".

BTW, I have written several lengthy e-mails to HGTV, and very rarely gotten a response from their Programming "bigwigs". Ssssoooo, if you aren't completely enthralled by the new contingency of Victory Gardeners, save your breath....it will fall on deaf ears!!!! Very few changes are made to the Gardening section of H.G.T.V., since it is definitely NOT their main focus or thrust!!!!!