Tonya Barnett
Having grown up in a densely-populated urban area, Tonya Barnett’s first growing season proved to be one which was filled with calamity. Despite several setbacks and a complete lack of experience, her new-found love of gardening quickly flourished. Soon, her small backyard had transformed into a lush, outdoor oasis.
Though her formative growing years focused mostly on self-sufficiency and the production of a thriving vegetable garden, an increased interest in ornamental plants would lead to the collection of both common and rare species for the landscape. Today, Tonya maintains most of her focus on the seasonal establishment of a large, backyard cutting garden.
The cut flower space serves as a donation garden; where arranged flowers and bouquets are gifted to hospitals, nursing homes, and other non-profit organizations. Tonya’s continued garden journey is documented on her YouTube channel, @TONYAwiththeflowers. To date, she has produced over five hundred videos, which chronicle the evolution of her small growing space.
Tonya also manages a personal garden blog, and is responsible for the publication of several gardening ebooks related to cut flower production. In addition to the content produced for Gardening Know How, Tonya has contributed her growing tips to the Martha Stewart blog, as well as several local publications.
Plant breeding and hybridization are among Tonya’s favorite garden topics. In recent years, she has taken special interest in the selection of new ornamental plants, which have been grown from seed. Though many of these new crosses will require patience, and may not begin to bloom for several years,the results are often well worth the wait.
Latest articles by Tonya Barnett
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Soft Yellow Plants For A Sunny Pastel Garden
Click here for ideas on some pale yellow flower varieties for pastel garden designs.
By Tonya Barnett
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Pastel Plants For A Lovely, Light Purple Flower Garden
Click here for ideas on some light purple plants for a pretty, pastel garden display.
By Tonya Barnett
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Liverwort Information – Learn About Liverwort Growing Conditions
Understanding facts about liverworts may be somewhat confusing due to the large list of names surrounding this simple plant. Liverwort plants generally display one of two growth habits: flattened leaves or a moss-like appearance. Learn more here.
By Tonya Barnett
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Lithodora Trimming: When And How To Prune Lithodora Plants
Lithodora requires little maintenance to thrive. Beyond consistent schedules of irrigation and fertilization, learning to properly trim and prune lithodora plants will help to ensure healthy plants for many seasons to come. Click here for tips on how to prune lithodora plants.
By Tonya Barnett
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Splitting Liriope Roots – Learn How To Divide A Liriope Plant
Tolerant to both heat and humidity, lilyturf only requires minimal maintenance to continue to thrive. So what about liriope plant division? Does this plant need to be divided and, if so, how and when? Click this article for the answers to these questions.
By Tonya Barnett
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Lilyturf Cold Tolerance: How To Care For Liriope In Winter
Though evergreen, liriope in winter will naturally enter into a stage of dormancy in which growth of the plant foliage ceases. For the best results, homeowners will need to begin the process of winterizing liriope plants. Learn more in this article.
By Tonya Barnett
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Peonies For Sun Or Shade: Best Peony Varieties For Sunny And Shady Gardens
Peonies are a classic garden perennial, but do they like sun or shade? Click here for the answer and to learn more.
By Tonya Barnett
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Maestro Pea Plants – How To Grow Maestro Shelling Peas
With so many options, choosing which variety of shell pea to plant in the garden may prove difficult. Luckily, varieties such as ‘Maestro’ shelling peas offer its growers an abundant harvest, as well as improved resistance to plant diseases. Lean more about the in this article.
By Tonya Barnett
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Potted Mandrake Care: Can You Grow Mandrake In Planters
While legends of screaming plant roots may sound terrifying to some, this petite flower is a beautiful addition to ornamental containers and flower plantings. Click on the following article for tips on caring for container-grown mandrake plants.
By Tonya Barnett
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Plant Wildflower Seeds In Fall for A Stunning Spring Display
Can you plant wildflower seeds in fall? What makes fall the best time to sow wildflower seeds? Click here for more.
By Tonya Barnett
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Choosing Decorative Stones – Different Landscaping Stones For The Garden
By choosing various types of decorative stone, homeowners can add much needed design appeal to yard spaces. Selecting the correct garden stone varieties will be imperative for the execution of their vision for the landscape. Learn more in this article.
By Tonya Barnett
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Jet Beads Sedeveria: How To Grow A Jet Beads Plant
With their ease of care, succulent plants are ideal gifts for budding gardeners and green-thumbs in training. One such plant, Jet Beads stonecrop is perfect for even the most avid succulent plant collector. Learn more about it in this article.
By Tonya Barnett
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Growing Labrador Tea: How To Care For Labrador Tea Plants
With a little research, it is possible to find ideal candidates for growth in less than ideal conditions. Incorporating labrador tea plants, for example, is a great way to add evergreen visual interest in cold climates, as well as to attract native pollinators. Learn more here.
By Tonya Barnett
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Hydrangea Hedge Ideas – Tips For Making A Hydrangea Hedge
Learning about using hydrangeas as a hedge can help growers decide if making a hedge row is right for their garden. Click here for more info.
By Tonya Barnett
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Houseplant Impatiens: How To Keep Indoor Impatiens Plants
Readily available in garden centers and at plant nurseries, impatiens are easy to find flowering plants thrive in shady locations. Due to this, impatiens are also excellent candidates for container culture indoors throughout the winter. Click here to learn more.
By Tonya Barnett
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What Is Hybrid Fuchsia – Information About Hybrid Fuchsia Care
Most have heard of fuchsia flowers before, but what is a hybrid fuchsia? Click here to find out how growing one or more can brighten up your garden.
By Tonya Barnett
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Hosta Watering Guide: Tips On Watering A Hosta Plant
With minimal care, you can keep hostas looking lush and beautiful. Establishing a consistent irrigation routine is key in keeping hostas looking their best. Click here for tips on hosta water needs.
By Tonya Barnett
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Hot Water Seed Treatment: Should I Treat My Seeds With Hot Water
Many forms of blight, leaf spot, and mildew occur through the planting of contaminated seed. In recent years, many growers have turned to the process of hot water seed treatment as a means of prevention for these crop diseases. Learn more about this here.
By Tonya Barnett
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Indigo Plant Propagation: Learn About Starting Indigo Seeds And Cuttings
Indigo has long been highly regarded for its use as a natural dye plant. While the process of extracting and preparing indigo dye is very complex, indigo can be an interesting and educational addition to the landscape. Learn about indigo plant propagation here.
By Tonya Barnett
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Must-Have Southern Perennials For Garden Beds
Click here to find info on several plants which are able to withstand the unique climatic conditions present in the southern United States.
By Tonya Barnett
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Miniature Rose Indoor Care: Keeping A Mini Rose Houseplant
Ranging in color and bloom size, miniature roses look lovely when kept indoors. By learning more about the needs of these mini roses, growers will be able to keep healthy plants all season long. Click here to learn about miniature rise indoor care.
By Tonya Barnett
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Indoor Flower Boxes – How To Make An Indoor Window Box For Flowers
Many enthusiastic growers have started to bring their gardening skills indoors and kids can enjoy this too. Learn how to make a window box indoors here.
By Tonya Barnett