Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening: A Gardener's Guide to Growing Flowers, from Today's Favorites Unusual Varieties in Bloomington, MN

Get garden-tested guidance for beautiful blooms with this comprehensive, practical, and gorgeously illustrated study of the art of growing flowers.
In
Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening
, author Matt Mattus offers
expert tips on growing both annuals and biennials
(including native and heirloom species) based on his decades of first-hand experience in his own garden and greenhouse, made popular on his blog
Growing with Plants
. Accompanied by
lush photography
, every variety or species presented includes detailed information and tips that go beyond the very basic information typically available on the seed packet or a nursery tag. You’ll discover:
Basic growing methods
, including how to start seeds, soil, sowing, hardening off, transplanting, and growing on.
Advice for growing a wide range of different flowers
, organized by blooming season, including annuals from seed, summer bulbs, vines such as wisteria, and even blooming shrubs like lilacs.
In-depth profiles for a selection of flowers
that include more-detailed growing techniques along with their histories and varieties.
Pro tips
, including how to grow challenging annual poppies and biennials from seed and forcing flowers for winter blooms.
Just a small selection of the flowers covered: heirloom and exhibition
chrysanthemums
,
larkspurs
and annual
poppies
delphiniums
peonies
lilacs
, and
wisteria
. Bulbs include spring and summer bulbs such as
anemone
ranunculus
tulips
lilies
gladiolus
, and cut flower
dahlias
, while winter indoor bulbs cover every aspect of forcing bulbs indoors like
narcissus
amaryllis
, South African bulbs—and even how to force
Lily of the Valley
.
Whether you’re interested in raising a small cut-flower garden, enhancing your flower border or containers, or just admiring the beauty of flowers, Mattus has it covered.