There's always room for flowers in any garden, even if the one you have is tiny. The answer is flowers in pots, and British author and gardener Arthur Parkinson will show you the way.
In his new book, The Flower Yard in Containers and Pots, (Rizzoli, 2024), he shows you that you can have a luscious garden on a small front porch, a doorstep, a roof or a balcony if you don't have enough room elsewhere.
As he says in the introduction, the book isn't so much a guide for growing, but it "highlights the plants that I have found will grow well in pots, those that have attributes of clout and glamour, traits that — especially in small gardens — are really needed when space is at a premium.
In the beginning chapters, Parkinson what containers can be used for planting; materials you'll need; what plants to avoid; and which ones will provide shelter, food, and all kinds of wildlife.
The book then divides into seasons — with a showcase of which plants to grow, plus the when and how. Yes, you can grow bulbs, roses, and figs in pots, as well as herbs, and climbers, all kinds of flowers, and in winter — even crabapples.
And in the back, there's a very useful list of mail-order suppliers of bulbs, plants, seeds, pots and much more. If you didn't think you had room for a garden, Parkinson will prove you wrong.
If you're looking for an easy way to acquire flowers for all those lovely arrangements, look no further than The Cut Flower Handbook (Quarto Publishing Group, 2024) by Lisa Ziegler, author and owner of the Gardener's Workshop, a small farm where she grows amazing blooms.
She explains how to locate a cutting garden, then how to plant, grow, and harvest the best flowers for ravishing designs. There are profiles of 50 of Lisa's favorite cut flowers, each with growing facts and tips, as well as beautiful photos of each.
In the back of the book, you'll find a page with suggestions for irrigation supplies and tutorials; plugs and plants; seeds; and equipment for garden and cut-flower supplies.
And for more info, visit TheGardenersWorkshop.com for videos, online classes, podcasts and more.
Commissions earned on book sales.
Leave a Reply