Hearst TV reporter Sally Kidd interviewed azalea guru Don Hyatt and the former National Arboretum Director Ramon Jordan who approved the destroying of over 10,000 azaleas that the USDA bred and grew in the National Arboretum to provide hardy strains of evergreen azaleas. Almost every hardy evergreen azalea variety came from or descended from this group at the National Arboretum. What is insane, is that these azaleas are maintained by volunteers, not paid employees. Destroying them will cost money, not save money. They are holding the azaleas hostage to get more money.

Hearst TV spot about the National Arboretum's plant to axe the azaleas

This TV spot aired on about 30 stations throughout the US.