"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.
"Irving, founder of Flourish Farm, debuts with a winning guide to creating a flower garden. 'My hope is that this book will save you a few errors of your own, ' she writes, and welcomes newbies by translating gardening jargon (defining such terms as 'hardiness zone' and, among other things, outlining the difference between annuals and perennials) and explaining how to choose an ideal garden spot based on 'the path of the sun.' Her advice follows a garden's life cycle, from planning, planting, and tending to harvesting, and each chapter begins with a short list of requisite tools. A chapter on "Planning What to Plant, ' for example, lists measuring tape, flags, and a notebook, and involves learning what flowers thrive in one's climate and keeping a journal to note dates of extreme weather and the number of days to germination. A section on harvesting features step-by-step flower arranging projects, while 'Putting the Garden to Bed' is a 'bittersweet' endeavor at the beginning of fall that involves removing support nets and stakes, as well as pulling up plants. Irving also covers such gardening basics as weeding ('elbow grease' is recommended over chemicals), irrigating, fertilizing, and composting. Anyone wanting to get started with a flower garden will find plenty of expert guidance here."
--Publishers Weekly
"Irving, founder of Flourish Farm, debuts with a winning guide to creating a flower garden. 'My hope is that this book will save you a few errors of your own, ' she writes, and welcomes newbies by translating gardening jargon (defining such terms as 'hardiness zone' and, among other things, outlining the difference between annuals and perennials) and explaining how to choose an ideal garden spot based on 'the path of the sun.' Her advice follows a garden's life cycle, from planning, planting, and tending to harvesting, and each chapter begins with a short list of requisite tools. A chapter on 'Planning What to Plant, ' for example, lists measuring tape, flags, and a notebook, and involves learning what flowers thrive in one's climate and keeping a journal to note dates of extreme weather and the number of days to germination. A section on harvesting features step-by-step flower arranging projects, while 'Putting the Garden to Bed' is a 'bittersweet' endeavor at the beginning of fall that involves removing support nets and stakes, as well as pulling up plants. Irving also covers such gardening basics as weeding ('elbow grease' is recommended over chemicals), irrigating, fertilizing, and composting. Anyone wanting to get started with a flower garden will find plenty of expert guidance here."
--Publishers Weekly
"This is not your average how-to guide; the stunning array of photographs set the scene, making this book lovely to see as it is to read."
--Seattle Book Review
"Growing Flowers by Niki Irving is the perfect book for anyone looking to grow beautiful, plentiful flowers. Irving is a farmer and florist for Flourish Flower Farm in Asheville, NC. She also makes floral arrangements for weddings and other events, so her advice is topnotch. Owing to the book's gorgeous photography on every page, it can also be a great addition to a gardener's coffee table--or anyone who wants a colorful book out on display in their home. Each page is extremely informative, but also a great flip-through if you just want to look at the images. This book provides any and all information you could need for starting your own flower garden. Irving provides all the basics first and foremost--growing climate, garden plots, soil, compost, and more."
--Washington Gardener Magazine
"It is for anyone who wishes to grow flowers, whether by setting up a farm or simply establishing a micro garden. The tips and tools are all here in Niki Irving's generously shared words and beautifully arranged pages--and so is the inspiration."
--Splash Magazine
- The knowledge of the tools needed to get started.
- The understanding of soil types and necessary soil preparations.
- The confidence to grow gorgeous flowers.
- The ability to grow a variety of flowers.
- The knowledge of how to keep their gardens organic if they would like to do so.
- The ability to plant from either seeds or seedlings.
- Basic knowledge about how to create beautiful flower bouquets