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.