Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening


Book Description

A comprehensive and highly practical study of the art of growing flowers, Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening presents expert tips on growing both annuals and biennials (including native and heirloom species) alongside 300+ lush photographs. This gorgeously illustrated book by Matt Mattus is based on decades of first-hand experience in his own garden—every variety or cultivar presented is one that he has personally tested and grown. Mattus sets you up for success by first providing everything you need to know about starting seeds, soil, sowing, hardening off, transplanting, plugs, growing on, cutting, and saving seed. Then you'll find tips for growing over 100 different annuals from seedand 12 types of spring and summer bulbs—all based on his hands-on experience, going beyond the information available on the seed packet. Every one of the hundreds of stunning photographs is taken personally by Mattus from the flowers growing on his own farm in Massachusetts. Just a small selection of the annuals covered: aster, cornflower, chrysanthemum, impatiens, larkspur, California poppy, delphiniums, sunflowers, morning glory, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate, salvia, and zinnia. The bulbs are allium, anemone, ranunculus, fritillaria, freesia, tulips, lily of the valley, true lilies, canna, calla, gladiolus, and dahlia. In short, there is nothing ordinary about this book—it is unlike any other cut flower book you will find anywhere.







Glorious Shade


Book Description

Turn a shady yard into a sumptuous garden Shade is one of the most common garden situations homeowner’s have, but with the right plant knowledge, you can triumph over challenging areas and learn to embrace shade as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Glorious Shade celebrates the benefits of shade and shows you how to make the most of it. This information-rich, hardworking guide is packed with everything you need to successfully garden in the shadiest corners of a yard. You'll learn how to determine what type of shade you have and how to choose the right plants for the space. The book also shares the techniques, design and maintenance tips that are key to growing a successful shade garden. Stunning color photographs offer design inspiration and reveal the beauty of shade-loving plants.




Growing Flowers


Book Description

Master Flower Gardening and Learn to Grow Flowers for All Seasons “Anyone wanting to get started with a flower garden will find plenty of expert guidance here.” ―Publishers Weekly #1 Best Seller in Annual Flowers Gardening, Bulb Flower Gardening, and Perennial Gardening Master the art of cultivating cut flowers, from seed to stunning arrangements, with this indispensable guide for gardening novices and pros alike. Create botanical beauty. Niki Irving’s Growing Flowers whisks you away to the serene mountains of Asheville, NC, where her boutique flower farm thrives. Learn to grow florets and cut flowers with the same sustainable, natural practices Niki employs on her mountain-fresh farm. Boost your horticultural skills. This garden journal not only introduces you to the pleasures of growing a cutting garden but also guides you to arrange your flowers into simple-yet-gorgeous bouquets. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of flower farming and discover techniques using not just blooms and greenery, but even artichokes, vines, and berries. Inside, you'll find: Practical guidance on organic flower gardening, from selecting the right seeds and seedlings to mastering seasonal rotation Insightful techniques for arranging cut flowers Tips and tricks from Niki Irving's successful boutique flower farm for cultivating your own cutting garden Engaging photographic content that transforms the book into a delightful coffee table addition Growing Flowers is a wonderful addition to any collection of garden books. If you’re looking for gardening gifts for gardeners or enjoy flowering plant books and flower books like Floret Farms Cut Flower Garden book, Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers, or The Flower Gardener's Bible, you’ll love Niki Irving's Growing Flowers.




My Favorite Plant


Book Description

A delightful compendium of writing on plants. The passion for gardening and the passion for words come together in this inspired anthology, a collection of essays on topics as diverse as beans and roses, by writers who garden and by gardeners who write. Among the contributors are Christopher Lloyd, on poppies; Marina Warner, who remembers the Guinée rose; and Henri Cole, who offers poems on the bearded iris and on peonies. There is also an explanation of the sexiness of castor beans from Michael Pollan and an essay from Maxine Kumin on how, as Henry David Thoreau put it, one "[makes] the earth say beans instead of grass." Most of the essays are new in print, but Colette, Katharine S. White, D. H. Lawrence, and several other old favorites make appearances. Jamaica Kincaid, the much-admired writer and a passionate gardener herself, rounds up this diverse crew. A wonderful gift for green thumbs, My Favorite Plant is a happy collection of fresh takes on old friends. Other contributors include: Hilton Als Mary Keen Ken Druse Duane Michals Michael Fox David Raffeld Ian Frazier Graham Stuart Thomas Daniel Hinkley Wayne Winterrowd




A Way to Garden


Book Description

“A Way to Garden prods us toward that ineffable place where we feel we belong; it’s a guide to living both in and out of the garden.” —The New York Times Book Review For Margaret Roach, gardening is more than a hobby, it’s a calling. Her unique approach, which she calls “horticultural how-to and woo-woo,” is a blend of vital information you need to memorize and intuitive steps you must simply feel and surrender to. In A Way to Garden, Roach imparts decades of garden wisdom on seasonal gardening, ornamental plants, vegetable gardening, design, gardening for wildlife, organic practices, and much more. She also challenges gardeners to think beyond their garden borders and to consider the ways gardening can enrich the world. Brimming with beautiful photographs of Roach’s own garden, A Way to Garden is practical, inspiring, and a must-have for every passionate gardener.




Color Me Floral


Book Description

Learn the secrets to designing showstopping monochromatic arrangements in this spectacular guide from floral artist Kiana Underwood. Underwood shares her techniques for creating dazzling single-color displays using inspired ingredients, dramatic textures, and vibrant colors. Organized by season, the book includes how-tos for 40 arrangements— including a lush green display for spring, an astonishing black bouquet for summer, a striking magenta design for fall, and an unexpected, oh-so-pretty pink arrangement for winter. Featuring hundreds of eye-catching images and easy-to-follow tips throughout—such as suggestions for substituting flowers and options for both the beginner and advanced designer—this book is as useful as it is gorgeous. The ultimate resource, Color Me Floral has an extraordinary arrangement to enhance every occasion.




The Embroidered Garden


Book Description

Whimsical, beautiful embroidery motifs created by an avid gardener—stitch roses, bees, or whole garden scenes. Kazuko Aoki has a unique talent for translating the beauty of the garden with needle and thread. By offering forty motifs, Aoki invites us to explore her gardens through embroidery. The forty motifs explore the roses and wildflowers that appear season to season, as well as the bees and butterflies that enjoy their nectar. The designs here are exquisite, detailed, and artfullly rendered. Beyond the motifs themselves, Aoki also presents projects that feature the embroidery: brooches, notebook covers, pin cushions, and pouches. For those new to embroidery, detailed how-to illustrations are included.




The Flower Garden


Book Description

Experts Clare Foster and Sabina Rüber share their gardening wisdom in this how to garden guide. Growing flowers from seed is an easy and cheap way to enhance borders and bring instant colour to tired gardens. Use this step-by-step guide to grow beautiful blooms and bouquets to brighten your home, all within a single growing season. Author Clare Foster and photographer Sabina Rüber have been experimenting with growing flowers from seed for several years. In this book they pass on that invaluable experience, explaining how and when to sow and grow a huge range of flowers from Aquilegia to Zinnia.