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 gardens 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 ones 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 books gorgeous photography on every page, it can also be a great addition to a gardeners coffee tableor 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 foremostgrowing 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 Irvings generously shared words and beautifully arranged pagesand so is the inspiration.
Splash Magazine
