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Corey Agnew shows his ability to grow flowers.

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Floyd boy exhibits green thumb at early age by devleoping own flower gardens

By Roger Mannon

Some day Corey Agnew just might write a bestselling how-to book.
Or maybe he will have his own highly rated cable television show.
But for right now, he is content to have his own garden. A lot of older gardeners might be envious of the success he has had with his botanical efforts.
You might catch a glimpse of his garden as you drive past the Agnew’s brick house on Barberry Drive.
“He has been doing this since he was really little,” said Edna Agnew, Corey’s grandmother. “He just started out with it, and he’s never really had to have anyone show him what to do.”
Corey is twelve years old and attends Floyd Elementary School, just a stone’s throw from the house.
Says Edna, “It just seems to come naturally to him. No one helps him with it; he just does it all on his own.”
Corey’s explanation is that “it’s just something I like to do.”
He has a good and colorful variety in a small space beside the house. “I’ve got petunias, marigolds, hibiscus, iris, and tiger lilies,” he explained.
In addition to the traditional flower garden varieties, he also has a water garden in a small pond. “In the pond I’ve got water lilies, water hyacinth, water lettuce and arrowheads.”
There are also frogs and goldfish in the ponds. He has also planted flowers beside a neighborhood fish pond. Corey has also had success in the past with vegetable gardens. “I used to plant corn and beans, but I didn’t plant any vegetables this year.”
In the off-season, when the gardens go dormant, he still is active. In past years he has put up some creative Christmas displays.
If there’s one thing local gardeners might be jealous of, it’s a lack of problems from deers and bugs.
“I don’t know why it is, but they’ve never bothered anything,” he said.