Menu
Deb Wiley Headshot

Deb Wiley

location-pin Des Moines, Iowa

School: Luther College

Expertise: Horticulture and gardens, travel, food

Deb Wiley

  • Writer, editor and creative project manager for books, magazines, newspapers, and online articles, specializing in garden content
  • Skills include in-depth interviewing, editing, hiring and managing freelancers, photography, art direction
  • Content editing for self-published authors, including five books of garden essays by Carol Michel; Faerie Habitat by Alice Anne Calhoun; Conversation Gardens by Lynn McGrane Kuhn, and other unpublished manuscripts.
  • Book editing and photography management projects include Perennials and Gardening Essentials for North American Media Group; Better Homes and Gardens Quick Color Gardening book, 2012; and Better Homes and Gardens Orchid Gardening, 2011
  • Project editor, art direction and photography coordination for Better Homes and Gardens Water Gardens, 2011; BHG Trees and Shrubs, and Better Homes and Gardens Rose Gardening, 2010
  • Online content producer for BHG.com
  • Reporting for Bloomberg News
  • Other clients: The American Gardener; Lowe's; Woman’s Day Special Interest Publications; DSM magazine; Cornell College; Zelenka Nursery; Proven Winners; Bailey Nurseries; Meredith Integrated Marketing clients; Century 21, Publix, Juicy Juice (online); Lowe’s (online)
  • Garden editor, Midwest Living magazine 1997-2008
Awards
  • Winner, 2008 Silver Award, magazine writing, Garden Communicators International, formerly GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators
Community Service
  • Boards of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, The Brenton Arboretum
  • Affiliate member: Des Moines Founders Garden Club (Garden Club of America)
Honors
  • Fellow of GardenComm, formerly known as GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators, 2017
  • Judge for American Horticulture Society's annual book awards 2016-20
  • Past chair and frequent judge for Garden Communicators International's Media Awards program.

Experience

Deb Wiley, a fellow of Garden Communicators International, is a writer, editor and creative project manager who specializes in gardens. She previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and The Brenton Arboretum. She has written magazine articles for Birds & Blooms, Country Woman, Container Gardens, Flea Market Outdoors, Real Gardens, Country Decorating Ideas, Vintage Style, Flea Market Gardens, Iowa Gardener, The Iowan, Small Gardens, ia, Country Style Gardens, Gardening How-To, and Cabin Life. Deb also completed editing and photography management projects for Better Homes & Gardens and North American Media Group, and served as an online content producer for BHG.com and as a garden editor for Midwest Living magazine.

Education

Bachelor of arts in English and history, Luther College

Birds & Blooms Editorial Policies

For nearly 30 years, Birds & Blooms, a Trusted Media Brand, has been inspiring readers to have a lifelong love of birding, gardening and nature. We are the #1 bird and garden magazine in North America and a trusted online resource for over 15 million outdoor enthusiasts annually. Our library of thousands of informative articles and how-tos has been written by trusted journalists and fact-checked by bird and garden experts for accuracy. In addition to our staff of experienced gardeners and bird-watchers, we hire individuals who have years of education and hands-on experience with birding, bird feeding, gardening, butterflies, bugs and more. Learn more about Birds & Blooms, our field editor program, and our submission guidelines.

Articles

small flowering trees

Top 10 Small Flowering Trees for Your Yard

Even if you have a tiny yard, you can still grow one of these small flowering trees. These bloom-tastic trees are perfectly petite.
A monarch butterfly lands on a swamp milkweed plant.

The Ultimate Milkweed Plant Growing Guide

A milkweed expert answers questions, including why monarchs need milkweed, when to plant milkweed, and how to grow a milkweed plant.
pinktopia types of roses

The Best Types of Roses for Every Garden

There are many types of roses to grow, from classic tea roses to sprawling climbing roses. Learn which one is perfect for your yard.