Product Description
Brings together 25 of the world's most beautiful gardens & dozens of innovative & decorative ideas for introducing herbs into the garden landscape. Photographed in the U.S., England, & France, the book showcases the extraordinary effects that can be created with herbs, from knot gardens & shaped topiaries to functional hedges, ground covers, & borders. Herbs can be cultivated for use in the kitchen, for decoration, & even for color. Highlights distinctive features of these gardens, incl. paths & paving, fences & gates, garden decorations & structures, water in the garden, & much more. Includes an extensive directory of herb plants & their uses, & sample garden plans that can be customized to suit any space, climate, & plant preferences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

If this book doesn't inspire you, check your pulse.
If you love herbs, if you love cottage gardens, or country gardens, or flower gardens, then you will love Gardening with Herbs. While many garden books have great photos or good content (but rarely, it seems, both), Gardening with Herbs has married the two beautifully. A pleasant read, garden descriptions often include quotes from the gardeners themselves and usually at least a partial list of plants used. From a perennial garden in California to a lavender field turned topiary garden in the countryside of France there are ideas and incredible inspirations for any garden style.

In My Top 2 of Inspirational Garden Books
I was lucky enough to find this in our public library and checked it out several times before purchasing my own. In my experience, garden books filled with photos that initially take my breath away end up driving home the point that 1) I am not a professional landscaper; 2) I am not a millionaire with a Mediterranean garden estate and 3) Once again I have purchased a book whose ideas do not scale to my home, gardening expertise, or available time. This book did none of that. Naturally much of the landscaping is shown on a grander scale than what I could undertake, but so much of it could translate to a smaller city garden. It is easy to splice together your own garden design ideas from the hundreds of color photos- most of which go heavy on the durable, low maintenance plants (providing you don't become obsessed with the topiary possibilities...something the authors are pretty gifted with.) All in all, an inspirational book filled with possibilities.

Tolley and Mead strike again!
Another absolutely gorgeous herb book by Tolley and Mead!This book contains gardens of your dreams and also lots of neat ideas for garden structures, pathways, and ornaments.Many inspiring ideas and actual herbgarden plans.It's like taking a tour through the most beautiful herbgardens in Europe and the U.S.If only mine looked half this good.Thisbook gives me the inspiration to keep trying.

Excellent use of pictures
This book is a great picture book.It gives the reader a variety of ideas for herb gardening in a variety of gardening styles from rustic to ultra-formal.I really enjoyed thumbing through the pages, getting ideasfor my own garden.It mentions the different types of herbs, but it couldhave been a little more thorough. ... Read more

Product Description
Tells gardeners how to find or make containers, plant the herbs, and artfully integrate pots into an existing garden.Beautiful color photographs and helpful charts appear throughout. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Anyone Can Grow Herbs!
This is a wonderful book for people who want to grow their gardens in pots. I have a special affinity for herbs of all kinds and this is priceless with its tips and instructions. Service when I ordered was first rate. And the price was right.

Just have to have it...
These guys are random (in a good way) and give a great read. A plethora of information & Beautiful pictures inspires Lots of ideas!

Sweet little book...
HERBS IN POTS by Rob Proctor and David Macke is a sweet little book filled with all sorts of "neat" ideas. If you don't have much experience growing plants in containers or otherwise, pots of herbs are a good place to begin. Even if you have limited space, as long as you have plenty of sunlight (a balcony in the blazing sun?) you can grow herbs in pots. If you end up buying your herbs at Whole Foods, you can use the recipes the authors share and put your herbs in the cooking pot.

This is a beautiful glossy book with lots of color photos. The authors are folksy and fun to read and they provide text and pictures that explain how you too can grow beautiful pots of herbs and use them in tasty dishes.

Chapter one discusses 'Herbal Care' where practical hints are provided for the new herb grower. Take watering for example. Even drought tolerent herbs require watering. On the other hand, depending on the pot of choice, overwatering can cause problems. The authors note the most likely cause of death is not Mother Nature, but Mother Hen overwatering her pots.

The second chapter is entitled 'The Cook's Patio' and contains photos of handome lettuces, lacy kale, and Italian parsley, as well as many interesting recipes. One can grow herbs singly or in groups in a single pot.Herbs provide accents for the cooking pot as well as the patio. Gazpacho or Pesto anyone?

The later half of the book provides the reader with examples of pot containers, planting designs, and eclectic notions.For example, one might plant herbs in used Twining tea tins or enhance plant containers with odd paraphanalia such as shells and small rocks. The book is visually appealing, and contains some of the most original ideas I've come across in a while. This is a nice gift item for a new homemaker. ... Read more

Product Description
With more than 340,000 copies sold in hardcover, this essential, full-color resource is now available in paperback. Revealing the enormous potential of herbs, this sourcebook includes information on planting, growing, and harvesting herbs, as well as the main uses of herbs. It also offers an exhaustive identification guide, recipes, ideas for gifts, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

The Complete Boook of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs
I recieved this book in a very timely manner, and in fairly good condition. There were a small amount of wear and tear from use but otherwise it is perfect. I've found this book useful and extremely informational and could not be more pleased with my purchase.
JK

A Must Have for Growers
Great book that gives you every bit of information that you require about herbs.If you like to grow your own herbs this is a must have book.Any question you might have is answered including visual identification because there are great pictures for every herb.The whole book is printed in high gloss quality paper and you can bet it will last a long time, this is not a light weight paperback.

Herbs Book
Excellent Seller!! Wonderful item. Item recieved as described. Thank you for a smooth and easy transaction. :)

Pleased with my order
My book arrived in a timely manner and met all description by sender. I would definitely order from this source again.

interesting book
i bought this book used as a gift.i already have the herb book and enjoy reading it from time to time.anyone who questions the validity of the benefits of herbs might enjoy reading parts of this book as it addresses each herb individually by talking about its history, uses, how to grow it, how to use it and other interesting facts.it is a pretty book as well and offers advice on where to buy, recipes, craft ideas for herbs.
a good resource for being natural. ... Read more

Product Description
The soothing smell of lavender, rosemary's piney flavor,the bright colors of nasturtiums . . . herbs are wonderful things! Inthis handsome volume, Mary Preus provides a delightful entree into theworld of herbs with detailed instructions on how to grow 50 herbs andhow to enrich your life by using them everyday in an herballifestyle. Easy and delicious recipes, herbal crafts and gifts,landscaping with herbs, traditional and modern medicinal use,aromatherapy-it's all here in the Northwest Herb Lover's Handbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

using herbs
I enjoy gardening, cooking and crafts. The Northwest Herb Lover's Handbook has it all.I have been enjoying this book very much.Thank You!

Knowledgeable
This is Mary Preus' second book about herbs. The first, "Growing Herbs", covered the basics but was limited in scope. This book expands on the first, guiding the reader deeper into the world of herbs as well as describing 50 of the best-known herbs in detail. While the book is focussed on growing herbs in the Pacific Northwest, it would be a useful book for herb lovers anywhere.

The writer was for 20 years owner of the Silver Bay Herb Farm in Washington State. In the first 80 pages of the book she shares her extensive knowledge of herb growing basics and of using herbs for cooking, healing and crafts. She includes plenty of recipes that are both imaginative and practical. In this section also she explains how to plan and build different types of herb gardens, and how to harvest and preserve herbs.

Most of the book, however, is a detailed look at 50 species of herbs. The writer includes information about planting, propagation, pets and diseases, harvesting and uses for cooking, healing and crafts. I particularly liked the information about the chemical elements found in each species and their value in balanced healing and a healthy diet.

This is a thoughtfully written book from a knowledgeable and experienced herb gardener. The book ends with a calendar of seasonal tasks in the herb garden, a list of the herb gardens open in the region, sources for plants and seeds, and publications and societies of interest to herb gardeners.

Knowledgeable
This is Mary Preus' second book about hers. The first, "Growing Herbs", covered the basics but was limited in scope. This book expands on the first, guiding the reader deeper into the world of herbs as well as describing 50 of the best-known herbs in detail. While the book is focussed on growing herbs in the Pacific Northwest, it would be a useful book for herb lovers anywhere.

The writer was for 20 years owner of the Silver Bay Herb Farm in Washington State. In the first 80 pages of the book she shares her extensive knowledge of herb growing basics and of using herbs for cooking, healing and crafts. She includes plenty of recipes that are both imaginative and practical. In this section also she explains how to plan and build different types of herb gardens, and how to harvest and preserve herbs.

Most of the book, however, is a detailed look at 50 species of herbs. The writer includes information about planting, propagation, pets and diseases, harvesting and uses for cooking, healing and crafts. I particularly liked the information about the chemical elements found in each species and their value in balanced healing and a healthy diet.

This is a thoughtfully written book from a knowledgeable and experienced herb gardener. The book ends with a calendar of seasonal tasks in the herb garden, a list of the herb gardens open in the region, sources for plants and seeds, and publications and societies of interest to herb gardeners.

helpful
This is a very concise and helpful book for the beginning gardener. ... Read more

Product Description
Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good intro to herbs in containers
Is a balcony all you have for your garden? Want to grow tasty herbs anyway? This is an inexpensive way to get the basics on starting your herb garden in containers. It is a Storey guide, which are almost always guaranteed to give you good info. Definitely worth the few bucks it costs.

Average booklet for gardening
This was an inexpensive booklet.It was good for basic information, but the information was basic enough that it could be found in any other type of Herb Gardening book.It's not something I will reference very often.

You get what you pay for
At 32 pages you really do get what you pay for.Minimal info on only common herbs, precious little indoor growing information, and certainly nothing that you can't find easily on the web. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Pleased with my order
My book arrived in a timely manner and met all description by sender. I would definitely order from this source again.

Could have been better.........
Beginner's Guide to Herb Gardening is pretty good but it could have been better but the first part of the book was wounderful...the designs for gardens i thought had wounderful photographs and good instructions for constructing them. But i believe it lacked real gardening information and i just started gardening last spring so i was looking for something to really help a novice, sorry but i did not find that. Though i give 5 stars for the photography.WOUNDERFUL! ... Read more

Product Description
Discover a trove of herbal knowledge.

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs is a virtually endless source of useful information and herbal know-how. Presented in an A-to-Z format, supplemented with easy-to-use charts and lists, beautifully illustrated with drawings and color photographs, it is the only book on herbs you ever need to buy.

More than 1 MILLION copies sold!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Herb Pix
I was a bit disappointed in this book.It may have been that my expectations were too high, but I found it a little lacking.

Great buy
I paid .38 cents for this book.It was in perfect condition.Great purchase.

Really Great!
We received the Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs and found it to be in better than advertised condition.
This is a great, very useful book, packed with information and lovely illustration, both photo and drawings.

Thank you!!

Excellent book, vendor was ideal.
Book was as described. Delivered quickly and in excellent condition. I would gladly reorder again from this vendor.

Book by Rodale Press is detailed for a great number of herbs. It details their uses in medicine, the kitchen or as a health and beauty aid. It discusses how to grow the herb and what to watch for. Very useful.

One of My Favorite Herb books
There are so many things to love about this book.

The photographs are beautiful as well as helpful.
The organization is fantastic, first by keeping things alphabetical, but especially the divided sections about each herb.

Crafts, history, medical uses, chemical properties, and cautions, growing advice, etc.Since I am interested in all of these things, this quickly became a favorite book, and I have given it to many people over the years.It's great for gardeners, beginning herbalists, people who like to make crafts or gifts, and it's also fun to just read.

I especially like the section where they compare safe/dangerous ratings of several of the most commonly used herbs.

Love it.Great place to start, and a very pretty and useful gift.

One thing that could be a negative for some, it focuses on North American herbs and plants.For me, that was a plus, since I like to grow my own.Other people might want to read about my exotic herbs, and for them, this "local" focus could be disappointing. ... Read more

Product Description
Hang up your shovel and trowel! Now you can use the time (and money) you save laboring in your garden to actually enjoy it. Drawing on the amazingly simple layering sys-tem of gardening developed in her previous 'lasagna gardening' books, Patricia Lanza applies these principles to the ever-popular topic of growing herbs. Her organic, commonsense approach uses natural ingredients, close planting, and generous mulching, with little or no fancy equipment. Here she shares her homegrown methods, based upon almost 50 years of experience, to give readers tips on: lUsing more than 50 favorite herbs in recipes lMaking herbal wreaths and creating delicious herbal teas lUsing herbs for aromatherapy and potpourri lGrowing and using edible flowers This is the perfect book for all the busy people who want to reap the rewards of a garden but who lack the time, the energy, or the confidence to get down in the dirt. Accomplished and amateur gardeners alike will love this ingenious process that allows you to create beautiful, productive, low-maintenance herb gardens. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Best!!
I have an old copy and have purchased more for my children.Now, I'm on to friends who have trouble with their gardens.The very best basic garden information, especially for novices.You can't go wrong!

Great book
I tried this type of gardening this year and so far it is working great.Last fall I started my preperation and planted this spring.My garden is not only producing well, but look great too!

Forest gardening at home
Great reading, using the natural forest process to plant with nutritious soil at home....VERY NICE

Lasagna Gardening
Lasagna gardening is a great and easy way to garden. I planted herbs this year and plan a lot more for next year. My bed of herbs looks fantastic. And NO WEEDS!!! The easiest part is layering the peat moss and other mulches to start your garden, Then basicly you just water and sit back and watch it grow. I love this book, and this method of gardening.

Gardening
Lasagna gardening has become the way that my wife and I do our business. We have a small herb business and use this form of gardening exclusivley. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

great book
This is a great herb book with recipes and the best information I have found on herbs.I would definitely recommend it to any herb enthusist.Having visited the herb farm,these ladies know herbs and the grounds are wonderful to see.The farm in Round Top, TX is a must visit.Millie from TX

I treasure this book
By far one of my favorite gardening books ever. When I moved to Florida a few years ago from New York City, I floundered with my container herb gardening hobby for a while. My husband picked up this book for me and it was like a ray of hope and light and my patio garden has been thriving ever since. The information is tailored for the southern garden, very detailed and thorough, but what I love most I think is the "voice" of the book-- it is positively charming; when I read it I feel like I am sitting down with a cup of mint tea and an old friend getting some sage advice about my garden. The recipes are tasty, too, and the photos georgous. With all the books that go in and out of this house, this one has a prized place on the permanent shelf and is worn well with love as I pull it out once or twice a season to refer to it, or just sit around my herbs and read it.

Fabulous
This book is just what I was looking for!! It gives you detailed info on all the different herbs that grow in the area including patio gardening. There is also a section of great recipes. Being new to herb gardening, I found this book to have everything I needed to get going and reference back to for years to come.

Southern Herb Growing
Book was not as advertised.Claim was "like new", when in fact, this book had been highlighted and underlined by a previous owner.Disappointing as it was to have been a gift.

Superb guide for Southerners who love herbs
This book goes well beyond the typical growing tips of most gardening guides. It fosters an appreciation and joy for herbs: both their growth and their culinary applications. While growing herbs is a rather simple endeavor, there is so much involved in coaxing out their subtle flavors and properties in the garden, especially when dealing with the crusty caliche in South Central Texas. From using herbs as delightful landscape enhancements to their preparation in the kitchen, this book has something for anyone with an interest and a little time. ... Read more

Product Description
Adele Dawson's classic guide to the seasonal use of herbs for food, drink, and medicine* Clear directions for growing and using many wild and cultivated herbs.* Detailed pen-and-ink drawings help readers identify 70 herbs.

With irresistible enthusiasm and an endless store of knowledge about the plant kingdom, herbalist Adele Dawson traces the human-plant relationship through the seasons, providing practical and enlightening information about every aspect of herbalism, including spring foraging, summer gourmet gardening, the preparation of remedies in autumn, and the brewing of healing potions in winter. The mysteries of preparing infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and essences are unraveled through the author's clear and cohesive chapters on how to identify, collect, and preserve herbs. Detailed pen-and-ink drawings show the essential elements of flower and leaf anatomy as well as 70 wild and cultivated plants in their budding, blossoming, and dormant stages. Sprinkled throughout the text are recipes for impromptu wild feasts such as milkweed buds tempura, directions for soothing hand lotions of marigold and milk, and an enormous variety of medicinal and culinary teas. In equal measure an herbal encyclopedia, a health-food cookbook, and a nature guide, this book deserves a place on the reference shelf of both the new and experienced herbalist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Blessed Gardens loves Dawson's Herbs
Adele Dawson's "Herbs: Partners in Life" is a great garden companion. There is much detail on the art of gardening, cooking, and healing with wild plants. It serves itself up as a great read and a source for quick information.

I liked Dawson's voice. She conveyed much reverence--not only for the plants, but for the reader as well. I enjoyed the well-placed historical anecdotes, and came away feeling enriched.

One of my favorite stories centers around the 17th century pastor, Cotton Mather. During his time, if a woman was caught dabbling with herbs, she was accused of witchcraft and often hung or burned at the stake. However, Pastor Mather praised the 'gentlewoman' that kept a closet of 'harmless' herbs. He, himself, encouraged his congregation to chew on the 'Bible leaf' herb, costmary, because it had a stimulant effect and was often the only thing that would keep his listeners awake through his lengthy, and dare I say boring, sermons.

"Herbs: Partners in Life" brims with beautiful and detailed illustrations of each herb and flowering plant. Dawson also provides natural remedies for a spectrum of ailments from high blood pressure to bronchitis, with simple instructions and the occasional song or blessing.

Make "Herbs: Partners in Life" your partner in the garden, and start using wild plants to enhance your quality of life.

[..]

partners indeed!
This book is a classic and referenced in many other great herbal books.Here is the Table of Contents:
Why Should We Use Herbs?
Identification of Herbs
Where to Get Herbs
What Shall We Do With These Herbs?
Herbalists Mentioned in Part II
Salute Spring
Summer: Gourmet Gardening
Autumn: Battening Down
Winter: Season of Tisanes
Armchair Herbalist
The History of Herbs
Honey and Vinegar
Appendix: Alphabetical List of Herbs
Appendix: The Language of Herbalists
Appendix: List of Vitamins and Their Effects
Appendix: Sources of Herb Seed and Plants
Bibliography
It is nice how she breaks up the book into seasons.Her writing style is friendly and wise.You feel like you are sitting in her kitchen and she is transfering much of her knowledge. Very enjoyable. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and updated.

Hydroponics for the Home Gardener is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to growing organic, healthy vegetable, herbs and house plants without soil.

Clearly illustrated with black and white line drawings, the book covers every aspect of home hydroponic gardening including: - Building a hydroponic system versus buying a kit - Plant propagation and indoor pollination - Outdoor hydroponics, recipes, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

a good book on hydroponics
I enjoyed this book, it is written in a warm style and covers a variety of topics related to hydroponics. Ironically probably my favorite part is the section that talks about the different types of plants grown hydroponically. Which kinds get along with each other and even how to cook with some of them, thats useful information that is not widely availiable.

No Dirt!
Good book for an overview on hydroponics. This seems like it would be a good hobby, but the cost must be high. Learned enough to know it was not for me. Good read.

GOOD BOOK FOR BEGINNERS
VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND BOOK FOR THE BEGINNER, USEFULL TO START A NEW GARDEN.I LOOK FORWARD TO USING STUFF I HAVE LEARNED IN THIS YEARS CROP.
I HAD A BASIC WORKING KNOWLELGE OF THE PRINCIPALS INVOLVED BEFORE BUYING THIS BOOK AND IT ANSWERS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, WELL ILLUSTRATED ALSO. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR BEGINNERS.

Good book
In a world where most hydroponics books talk about the exotic ways to grow things, this book covers a basic approach which would seem to insure success.I don't know about others but it helped me find and correct several misconceptions and problems that I have been experiencing with my hobby level hydro growing (excessive watering, inapropriate nutrient levels, etc.)Overall, a good text for beginning or hobby level hydroponic growing.

Out of date information
I purchased this book because it had supposedly been "Completely Revised and Updated" in 2005. That is rather hard to believe as most of the methods discussed are no longer appropriate. Also the copyright says 1992. However the book does have its high points. The section on selecting and growing herbs is outstanding. Also included is very good info on which herbs to use with certain foods along with recipes from professional chefs. Using hydroponic systems outdoors is also covered. I would recommend this book as an addition to a collection of hydroponic books. If you only buy one book there are many other better ones such as "How-To Hydroponics" by Keith Roberto. "Hobby Hydroponics" by Howard M. Resh would be another great choce. All in all anyone would probably learn something new from this or any other hydroponic book that would justify the price. ... Read more

Product Description

"I'm wild about this book! Tim and Jan give us all the knowledge to cultivate our own herbs and endless ways to put them on the family table."
Lorrianne Crook, host of Celebrity Kitchen and co-host of the nationally syndicated Crook & Chase Countdown

Product Description
It's no wonder the best-selling Little Herb Gardens, now with a fresh new cover, has been so popular. Herbs are the instant gratification project of the gardening world, and people love to grow them. This friendly guide to homegrown herbs is perfect for beginners, featuring plans for simple garden projects ranging from outdoor garden beds to window boxes and container gardens. Growing instructions for over 30 herbs are rounded out with ideas for garden planning and maintenance. Tips on harvesting and cooking with nature's bounty make this charming volume as useful in the kitchen as it is in the garden. With colorful photographs and warm and informative text, Little Herb Gardens is inviting to gardeners, cooks, and herb novices alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Nice little book!
This is a great book if you are looking to start a small herb garden. It helped me pick out the right perennials.

A good start!
This was the second herb book that I've read. The photograpy is amazing and the insructions they give are clear.
The book is beautiful, but it shouldn't be the first one you read. It does not have very detailed instructions on growing, drying, etc.
That being said, it's not a waste of time or money, and I would reccomend this to anyone interested in herbs.

I give this a B-.

Nothing ever arrived
I am still waiting for the book to be delivered and I do not get any response to emails to Amazon......

good little herb book
I got this book for my mom for mother's day and ended up reading all the way through it before I gave it to her.It has great ideas for various containers and gives good details for each different herb.Well rounded, detailed, and focused.

Growing Herbs at Home.
This seems to be a really good book on growing Herbs for Brown thumbs like me. I have not actually used any of the advice/tips yet but all sound very easy and understandable. I will wait a little longer to start again with growing Herbs again. (Weather) ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
With clear instructions for using and growing herbs, indoors or out, Herb Gardening discusses 47 varieties in detail. Recipes, tables, charts and illustrations summarize Lowenfeld's practical information. 8 full-page photos. Now available. ... Read more

Product Description

Nowhere will you find more complete and straightforward information on growing, harvesting, and using herbs.  If fanciful prose and personal anecdotes are not your cup of tea (although we can’t resist it!), this book will satisfy your thirst for hard-core, unfiltered horticultural know-how.

Customer Reviews (4)

Great info!
My daughter has been working hard this year on growing herbs. This book was very helpful!

never received product
never received product... Amazon made sure that it was sent to another address even though i paid for it and informed them it was the wrong address...now who wants to survey the truth

best book to get you planting
I've had my own copy of this book for years and recently purchased another copy for a friend who wants to plant her own herbs.The book describes many herbs, how to plant, harvest and store them.

Great Information for Growing Herbs
The propagation and growing instructions are clear and quite useful for the beginner.The author expands on those to growing in quantity for sale to restaurants or to sell potted plants.
One chapter gives ideas (bath perfumes, herb sachets, etc.) for herbal products to market, but readers will need other books to detail making these or else develop their own recipes from trial and error.A final chapter gives Points-To-Remember for building a successful herb business. ... Read more

Product Description
Delightfully illustrated guide opens the fragrant door to growing, savoring, and appreciating garlic, dill, basil, fennel, rosemary, sesame, 67 different herbs that can be grown anywhere. From soil preparation to harvesting and storing. Over 55 recipes; also legends, myths, medicinal uses, more.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Pretty but not helpful
I am a novice gardener. I bought this book as a companion to McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers hoping that it would have pictures of vegetable container gardens in it; or even just pictures of mature vegetable plants, so that I could plan my vegetable containers appropriately. It does not. The pictures are of the fruit and vegetables alone, not the actual plants or mature container gardens. While this is lovely book to be sure, it isn't very helpful--either pictorially or informatively. If you are looking for a great, informative book on vegetable container gardening, Bountiful Container Gardens is the one to get. Unfortunately, it does not have any pictures in it. If you are like me, and want to see what the plants and the container gardens will look like when they are mature to help you plan your container gardens, I suggest getting Easy Container Combos: Vegetables & Flowers (Pamela Crawford's Contianer Gardening) [Paperback] as a companion book to Bountiful Container Gardens. It is inexpensive, has pictures of what the containers will look like mature, and even includes blooper photos of what not to do. It isn't fancy, and is no where near as beautiful as this book, but it is much more helpful.

Nice introduction to Container Gardening
Container gardening is a great way to get your feet wet.This book has lots of enticing photos which provide a pleasing introduction to growing edible food in pots.Chapters contain gardening information and recipes to give you ideas for what to do with your harvest. Makes a nice companion book to more technical books like The Bountiful container.

Pretty Pictures
The photographs were gorgeous, but as far as planting information it was pretty useless. I highly recommend McGee & Stuckey's Bountiful Container: Create Container Gardens of Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Edible Flowers. I bought them at the same time and haven't looked at Kitchen Harvest since.

Good Book!
This book is just what I was looking for.It has good tips for organic edible container gardening.The pictures are great and I am inspired to try lots of new things in containers this summer.I'm short on ground space, but I can fill some containers up! ... Read more

Product Description
This beautifully illustrated, complete guide to herbs unlocks the secrets of these wonder plants-from planting and harvesting to cooking and storing- including their health benefits.

This guide unravels the mysteries of these versatile plants, with savvy tips and simple formulas for maximizing their powers. Did you know?
* Mint can repel ants, flies, mice, and moths
* Garlic can seriously lower cholesterol
* Chives, fennel, tarragon, thyme, oregano, and winter savory are perennials * Rosemary was used in the Middle Ages for its tranquilizing effects, and it is still a digestion aid

Known for alleviating common ailments, herbs are an ancient natural wonder-herbs are hotter than ever.Extremely informative and fascinating, this book will help you find which herb can treat various complaints. Throughout the guide are instructions for bursting-with-flavor recipes, health-care products, decorative craft ideas, insect repellents, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and much more.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Not just herbs
This books was surprising, since I was already sold on the details of the descriptions and uses of herbs.The amount of hands on uses of herbs surprised me; the crafts, the amount of recipes, and other ideas was whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top.

Great Beginner book
This book contains an excellent overview of some 100 herbs, their uses and cultivation. This is a valuable resource. Especially good for people not familiar with herbs but wanting to start their journey into the world of herbs. It also contains recipes for using the herbs (culinary, cosmetic, medicinal, crafts etc.).
It even contains a section of herbal remedies for animals. I thoroughly enjoy having it as a reference book. I find Reader's Digest books very informative and great for becoming familiar with the subject at hand.

Covers a lot of herbs, but I wanted more on growing, less on uses
This book covers an impressive number of herbs, and excellent full color photographs so that you can see and identify them. If you need an encylopedia of herbs, this book is probably suitable. On the downside, a very large portion of the book is dedicated to remedies, crafts, cooking, and other uses for the herbs you have grown. My stance is that if you can't grow the herbs sucessfully all of this other information is useless. This is not to say they don't cover the preferred growing conditions of each herb and general gardening tips, they do, but I would have preferred that they instruct the reader on this in even greater depth rather than go to the tremendous detail that they do about uses. Of course, if you're looking for a book on herbal remedies this book is chock full of them and would be a very welcome addition to your library. But, admitting my own bias, I want to grow them primarily for culinary reasons and I already have plenty of cookbooks. My objective is to grow them sucessfully and to satisfy my exhaustive curiousity about what herbs exist and some information about them, and there certainly is a wide enough assortment here to satisfy my curiousity. But I recommend supplementing this with another book or two that dedicates more page space on gardening and growing. But given the great number of herbs included and excellent pictures I recommend this book.

Great reference!
As well as good information about growing, has uses for home remedies or cooking, excellent reference

Warning: seriously oversized!
I bought this from a book club without checking Amazon's product description.Foolish me!I wanted a handy reference to the usual herbs, growing, storing, use.This is anything but handy, being a coffee table book; in fact, add four legs and it could be a coffee table.I expected something more practical from Reader's Digest.If you want a book for use, you could do better with something smaller and perhaps more specialized. ... Read more