Barbara W. Ellis

Barbara W. Ellis is a freelance writer, editor, and lifelong gardener. She is the author of many gardening books, including The Veggie Gardener’s Answer Book (Storey 2008) and Covering Ground: Unexpected Ideas for Landscaping with Colorful, Low-Maintenance Ground Covers (Storey 2007). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio. She has worked as Managing Editor at Rodale Press and as Publications Director for the American Horticultural Society and is affiliated with the Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group, the Garden Writers Association, and the Perennial Plant Association. She lives and gardens in Kent County, Maryland, where she and her husband live in a renovated “green” home on Worton Creek with an assortment of rescued dogs, cats, and parrots. Her garden, which is managed organically and designed to be wildlife-friendly, features a wide range of ornamentals, herbs, and edibles for both sun and shade.