An A-to-Z journey through a wide variety of herbs and their fascinating history of medicinal and culinary uses—includes illustrations!Discover some unique additions to your garden in this reference filled with fascinating facts, unexpected lore, elegant prose, and beautiful watercolor illustrations by Ellen Buchert.From popular herbs like basil, lavender, and peppermint to lesser-known choices like meadowsweet and soapwort, this is a treasury that reveals h...

Histories, medicinal uses, and recipe ideas for food plants from A to Z—illustrated with beautiful watercolor art.Focusing on the most growable vegetables, herbs, and fruits for the greatest number of people, Jack Staub tells the stories of their origins and apprises the home gardener on ways to use them, from the table to remedies and potions.Up-to-the-minute cultivation and culinary advice are delivered with accessibility and wit, as well as tidbits of fo...

A richly illustrated guide to unique and gorgeous vegetable varieties for your garden.Seventy-five unusual and eminently beautiful vegetables are profiled in this charming book by expert gardener and garden designer Jack Staub. Within these pages, you'll discover produce not likely found at the supermarket, including the Asparagus Bean, Chinese Rat Tail Radish, Green Zebra Tomato, and Turkish Orange Eggplant. Staub includes history, stories, and lore surrounding the...

"An intimate tour of more than twenty stunning private gardens in Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts."— Sophisticated LivingIn this book, garden design expert Jack Staub offers a tour of private country paradises in the Eastern United States boasting remarkable plant palettes and combinations. Anyone can find inspiration in these oases of beauty nestled in towns including Hudson, New York; Middleburg, Vir...

“Vision, tenacity, and a perfectionist’s eye are the qualities that shine out from this account of a paradise garden created by two of America’s foremost stylists.” —Anna Pavord, author of The Curious Gardener and LandskippingOne of the most spectacular private gardens in America, Hortulus Farm is the masterpiece of Renny Reynolds and Jack Staub, renowned experts in the fields of design, gardening, and entertaining. It is beautifully captured in

Escape to 22 lush garden retreats through exquisite photography and delightful stories. This privileged tour guides the reader through the colorful flora of Florida’s best-kept grounds, while homeowners share the history of their uniquely landscaped abodes. Meet the painter-turned-horticulturist who transformed her garden into a mysterious, forest-like escape; the couple who drew inspiration from their travels to the Near East to create an award-winning oasis worthy of Persian royalty; and...

Create an organic medicine cabinet in your own backyard with this step-by-step guide to growing and using plant superfoods!the medicinal powers of herbs, vegetables and fruits have been revered for thousands of years. this practical guide shows you how to grow and use these plants to prevent diseases, treat everyday ailments and promote general good health. More than sixty plants and their properties are discussed in detail, from echinacea to fight colds and boost the immune system,...

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for aspiring foragers. Over 100 edible plants are listed, fully illustrated and described, together with recipes and other fascinating details on their use throughout the ages.Practical advice on how to pick along with information on countryside laws and regulations on picking wild plants helps you to plan your foray with a ...

A "funny and fascinating" cultural history about one of our favorite pastimes: eating ( The Village Voice).This is a delightful and intelligent look at the food we eat, with a cornucopia of incredible details about the ways we do it.Presented like a meal, each chapter of Since Eve Ate Apples Much Depends on Dinner represents a different course or garnish, which Margaret Visser handpicks from the most ordinary American dinner: among them co...

The Art of Making Perfume is a practical, hands-on guide to creating natural fragrances using essential oils. Designed for beginners and aspiring perfumers, this book walks you step by step through the process of formulating perfumes that are balanced, expressive, and uniquely your own.Drawing on decades of experience in aromatherapy and formulation, Rebecca Park Totilo introduces the foundational principles behind successful perfume creation. You will learn how to work with aromat...

Don’t throw out your kitchen scraps—grow them! With clear illustrations and step-by-step instructions, this innovative guide shows you how to cultivate 68 common shoots, seeds, pits, roots, and tubers that might otherwise end up in the compost bin.Why throw away your food scraps when you could grow them into thriving plants? From carrots to caraway seeds and avocados to almonds, have fun transforming fruits, nuts, herbs, spices, and more into houseplants. Dozens of...

It's interesting to note that there have been many healthy human populations throughout our history, even long before the advent of antibacterial soap. In fact, the collective fascination with adding chemical ingredients to bar and liquid soaps in order to help fight infections only began in recent decades. Since then, much evidence has emerged to suggest that antibacterial soaps don't clean us any more thoroughly than their "old-fashioned predecessors" do. What's more, they may pose healt...