Meet Our Experts

From our home state of North Carolina all the way to Florida, Washington and California, Eden Brothers’ experts share their unique gardening perspectives. They contribute to our planting guides, social media channels, and video content to help you achieve success (and have fun!) in the garden. Say hello to some of our favorite gardening gurus, each bringing their own regional expertise, passion for plants, and tried-and-true tips.

head shot of a smiling woman with brown hair and colorful flowers in the background

Linda Hayek

Raised in the Southern California floral industry, Linda Hayek has been influenced by her family’s flower and plant business since the business opened in 1974. A love for flowers has been bred into her, so to speak, as she has visited, worked, and learned from farms in multiple countries. Through the years, her love of fresh flowers has expanded to growing flowers from seeds and bulbs in her own Zone 10 backyard. With an extensive vegetable garden, she also enjoys the satisfaction of growing veggies and herbs for her family of six. Linda has worked with Eden Brothers in multiple capacities since its inception in 2009. Surrounded by likeminded lovers of nature and gardening, she is inspired to plan and grow more each year.

Handpicked Faves: Fairytale Pumpkin & Pink Lipstick Swiss Chard

Allison McManus

Allison is a co-founder and co-producer of the YouTube channel Spoken Garden. Working alongside her husband Sean in their home state of Washington, the duo partners with Eden Brothers to bring educational content to customers via planting guide videos and social media tutorials. Allison has a master’s degree in teaching and is a former national board certified middle school science educator. Through trial and error over the past 10+ years, she has successfully maintained several vegetable gardens and beds full of flowers. She loves attracting all kinds of pollinators and is proud of the fact that her yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat! She has a passion for photography, animals, writing, traveling, content creation, and lifelong learning.

Handpicked Faves: Cafe Au Lait Rose Dahlia & Blue & White Pompom Aster

Close up of a woman with blonde hair wearing glasses and a blue hat next to grassy greens with yellow-orange blooms

Man crouched by a leafy bush with more red and green bushes behind him

Sean McManus

Sean (Allison McManus’s other half!) has a master’s degree in environmental horticulture from Washington State University. He has over eight years of experience in industrial garden maintenance, over six years of various landscape improvement project installations, and 12+ years operating a private landscape and consulting company. With over two decades in the horticultural field, his lifelong passion has centered around helping other gardeners understand how plants and flowers are influenced by humans and the world around them. Sean is the co-founder and co-creator of the YouTube channel Spoken Garden and provides invaluable content for Eden Brothers’ growers.

Handpicked Faves: Profusion Red-Yellow Bicolor Zinnia & Orangery Daffodil

Ashley Perrier

An avid gardener living in sunny South Florida, Ashley fell in love with gardening after a health issue required her to adopt a low-stress hobby. Over a decade later, her passion has bloomed into creating an extensive vegetable and flower garden in her backyard. Growing in zone 10B, her garden includes a plethora of tropical fruits, cacti, succulents, and orchids. Ashley says, “Some of my greatest joys in life come from the garden—discovering a new flower in bloom, sharing homegrown produce with family and friends, and watching butterflies, birds, and other wildlife enjoy the space I have created over the years.” By sharing the joy of gardening, Ashley aims to make a positive impact on people and the planet, and inspire others to start their gardening journey. She leads the charge on Eden Brother’s social media channels with her enthusiasm, knowledge, and creativity.

Handpicked Faves: Pak Choy Chinese Cabbage & Cilantro

Head shot of a woman with long brown hair standing in front of a large bush with red flowers

Smiling woman with brown hair, wearing glasses and a red striped shirt posing with her arms out in excitement in front of a blurred field of flowers

Crystal Provenzano

Born and raised in Asheville, NC, Crystal has been surrounded by gardens her whole life. Growing up, she watched her mom nurture a beautiful mix of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, sparking her own passion for plants. As a dedicated member of the Eden Brothers team for over a decade, she has helped countless gardeners find the perfect seeds and bulbs to create thriving gardens. Crystal especially loves cutting fresh bouquets from her own flowers to fill her home with color and charm.

Handpicked Faves: Queeny Lime Zinnias & Supreme Cantaloupe Echinacea Roots