Terry Aley - The Floral Annual (Page 2)

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Terry Aley

Buying Live Plants on Etsy and eBay

Buying Live Plants on Etsy and eBay

If you do your research, you can find some unique plants while supporting small businesses

The Modern Cottage Garden

The Modern Cottage Garden

The idea of a cottage garden is the fact you can create it without rules. Every space and every gardener is unique, so you get to define what it means to you.

Developing Your Own Variety of Zinnias

Developing Your Own Variety of Zinnias

Learn about ideas on how to successfully create unique zinnias that are custom tailored to your own flower preferences.

Why Dahlias are a Pain – But I'm Still Growing Them

Why Dahlias are a Pain – But I'm Still Growing Them

I can't think of many flowers we grow in our gardens that are this much work, but many of us keep coming back for more year after year. However, I'm here for it. Often, you start making decisions about the varieties of dahlias you want to

Buying Plants and Seeds Online – If it Seems too Good to be True, it Probably is

Buying Plants and Seeds Online – If it Seems too Good to be True, it Probably is

By Terry Aley, Editor I'm always looking for a new plant variety or seeds for something I can't easily buy locally. And many of us want very unique plants that are rare, and possibly not available (or may not even exist). As I've searched

Hollingsworth Peony Farm in Missouri – A Few More Photos

Hollingsworth Peony Farm in Missouri – A Few More Photos

While I can fully appreciate a peony, I had never grown them because I'd been living in the desert southwest for two decades. And this is a plant that is not easy to handle in that climate. Also, nothing is more spectacular than peonies in full bloom. But

Building a New Garden

Flower Gardens Featured

Building a New Garden

At some point, you might find yourself in the position of having to build a new flower garden. You might have moved to a new location or are even adding a new garden space on an existing property. It can also be jarring when you move to a totally new

Growing Unique Varieties of Petunias from Seeds

Growing Unique Varieties of Petunias from Seeds

If you're not too concerned or particular about a certain color or type of petunia, it's probably easier to grab these as plants at your local garden center. But if there's a type of petunia you absolutely love, or you want a variety or

A "Field Trip" to Hollingsworth Peonies in Skidmore, Missouri

A "Field Trip" to Hollingsworth Peonies in Skidmore, Missouri

By a stroke of luck, a few weeks after I arrived in Missouri, my mother handed me a newspaper clipping about a peony farm tour that was happening in a few weeks. Which was all very odd, because she didn't know I even wanted to see this farm.

Snapdragons – A Flower Garden Workhorse

Snapdragons – A Flower Garden Workhorse

Snapdragons are a classic flower garden staple that grow in a wide variety of climates and can be found all over the country. As a child, I must have heard they got their name because when you grab a flower with two fingers, you can make the flower appear to

David Austin: The British Rose Breeder Who Transformed Gardens Worldwide

David Austin: The British Rose Breeder Who Transformed Gardens Worldwide

There was a time when I was highly intoxicated by the sight of a David Austin rose. I had only seen them online in spectacular English gardens. The first time I ever saw one blooming in person was when I ordered a couple for my own garden. I was also

The Allure of the Black Daylily

Daylilies Featured

The Allure of the Black Daylily

Over the last six months, I found myself fascinated with black daylilies. I wasn't exactly sure how their color would match up in the real world, but the photos were certainly captivating. Boy was I surprised with these. They were some of the first daylilies I bought that

How to Get *Halfway* to a Green Thumb

How to Get Halfway to a Green Thumb

After trying desperately to become a good gardener myself for many years, while I still have many challenges, my successes have come down to a few basic principles that anyone can grasp. First of all, pay attention. Many, if not most, of the things that go wrong happen because I&

Stellar Pelargoniums (‘Geraniums’) – An Underrated Stunner

Pelargoniums & Geraniums Featured

Stellar Pelargoniums (‘Geraniums’) – An Underrated Stunner

I don't think that I've ever seen a stellar pelargonium anywhere in person, except in my own house. Every year, I usually grow a couple plants from seeds and keep them in pots. The flower masses are long lasting and will stop people in their tracks.

Growing Zinnias From Seeds

Zinnias Featured

Growing Zinnias From Seeds

Zinnias are native to Mexico. Because of that, they really perform well in hot, full sun. All you need to do is plant them about a quarter inch deep in well-drained soil. Because they grow so fast (under the right conditions), there’s not really any need to start them