Price : $9.78

Product Description

Everything you need to know about growing your favorite herbs using safe, natural, all-organic methods!

Practical tips and advice on all aspects of successful herb growing.

A wealth of great ideas and helpful how-to on using herbs in cooking, crafts, cosmetics, health care, insect repellents, and more.

Illustrated herb directory featuring all the most popular herbs– from aloe to yarrow– each with complete information on growing, care, harvesting, and uses.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-09-10
The book describes how to grow, harvest and uses of each herb in the book and it covers all the main herbs and more. Excellent descriptions as well as illustrations on how to do everything so even for the unexperienced grower it would be easy to learn. Very happy with my new book.

Review date : 2008-08-31
While the book doesn’t cover as many herbs as I had hoped, it gets to all the major ones. More importantly, the information provided is thorough and presented in a non-overwhelming, easy-to-read way. Each page tells the reader how easy the plant is to grow, whether it can be grown in a container, what zone it grows best in, how to harvest, propagate, and store the herb, and all sorts of other pertinent info.

The first portion of the book covers planning one’s garden, planting techniques and gives instructions for several methods for using herbs (flavored oils, teas, etc.). There are plenty of useful charts throughout which make this a great quick reference guide.

The author safely shies away from giving too much information on medicinal uses for the herbs, so those looking for information and instructions regarding herbal remedies should definitely purchase another book in addition to this one.

Review date : 2007-12-17
A very useful book for the home gardener. A quick guide for growing, harvesting and using herbs.

Review date : 2007-06-09
This is a relatively small book at about 150 pages, but it manages to pack in a lot of information very concisely. It’s beautifully illustrated with color photographs and drawings.

The first 2/3 of the book includes general herb gardening background and use of herbs tips: how to choose plants, pick the location, general design principles, planting instructions (including some nice tips on extending the growing season), propagation, harvesting, drying, pests and diseases, etc.

It also includes suggestions for common culinary uses, such as salads, herbal vinegars, flavored oils, teas, jellies, honeys, and breads. These are not an extensive set of recipes, but more like master recipes with some suggestions for how you can mix them up with variations.

The book also includes suggestions and recipes for health and beauty products (again, not an extensive collection). This section includes potpourri, sachets, bouquets, dried arrangements and insect repellents.

The last 1/3 of the book has individual pages on about 50 different herbs. These individual pages tell you a description, how to grow, harvesting instructions, suggested uses, tips, cultivars, and also includes a quick key on the level of care required (using a 4 glove rating system), if it attracts beneficial insects, whether or not it is ornamental, whether or not it can be grown in a container, how much yield you can expect to get and how easy it is to grow.

The back of the book contains a few pages of resources for laboratories, vendors, herb associations and other books or literary resources.

There are lots of charts and sidebars and overall I found this book to be very useful and easy to access. It doesn’t have the level of information needed to make this anything other than a quick reference book though.

Review date : 2007-01-24
I adore this book! Wow! It has all the things I wanted!
- it’s organic
- it very thorougly covers many herbs in different formats, so you know everything from what bugs they attract or repel, how tall they grow, and what zone they can be grown in
- common uses for them: I discovered many herbs I thought were inedible plants that are indeed herbs
- easy to use tables

I wasn’t too hip on all the cosmetic and craft uses – I’d rather eat them, but they’re short and may come in handy. I know the rest of the book sure will!

Price : $15.00

Product Description

No longer a technique just for apartment dwellers or novice gardeners, the use of ornamental containers on decks, patios, terraces, and in the garden itself can save time, space, and money, while offering experienced home gardeners unique creative challenges, site flexibility, and experimental fun. Author and award-winning horticulturist Ray Rogers takes you on an engaging exploration into basic design principles as well as how to create focal points, use water, exploit the potential of empty containers, and more. Stunning photographs by Richard Hartlage provide guidance and inspiration, as well as visually explaining each principle. Gardeners at every level of experience will find inspiration and instruction in this comprehensive book.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-04-09
If you’ve ever wondered how to choose colors of flowers and plants for eye-catching arrangements of containers on your patio, balcony or garden this book is for you. Rogers shows you how to make colorful arrangements without having to hire a professional designer.

Rogers makes you think through the process of container gardening before you start for the most impact. His coverage of using spot color to accent home features and smart use of space is well done.

Rogers understands gardeners may have to work with space or time limitations and he addresses those concerns realistically. This is a great reference with many beautiful color photos you can copy for your own home.

Review date : 2007-12-25
Container plantings are ideal for projects with limited planting areas. I have used pots in landscaping for multiple-million-dollar homes, churches, and sites where deep-root plantings are not feasible. The key of container plantings is to choose not only the right plants, but also the right pots for the right locations.

"Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting" is a great reference book for selecting the right plants and right pots for your garden. It includes 3 parts. Part One is about element of design (color, line and repetition, form and mass, space and placement, texture, focal points and the appeal of emptiness); Part Two discusses "bring it all together," including designs that work, other sensory elements, expert container techniques, and choosing a pot; Part Three explores plant groups for containers, including annuals, aquatics, bulbs, cacti and other succulents, climbers and trailers, perennials, tropicals, and trees and shrubs.

"Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting" has 248 pages and 240 interior color photos. It is a great reference book for selecting the right plants and right pots for your garden.

Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

Review date : 2007-12-18
lovely book with lots of interesting information and ideas,might have to use some different plants to suit the north coast of ireland.I look forward to putting some of the ideas into practice in spring 2008.
Many thanks,
john montgomery.

Review date : 2007-08-20
Yet another really fine book from Timber Press. I’ll spend long, dark winter evenings wandering through these pages, absorbing the wisdom of the writers and generating ideas for next spring. Gorgeous photographs, too.

Review date : 2007-07-30
I purchased several gardening books together and this one was the highlight. Not only beautifully photographed but full of interesting suggestions and writing. My husband and I were able to immediately use some of the arrangements as inspiration for a new bed in our garden. Turned out beautifully!

For many of us avid gardeners the thought of a summer vacation is both a delight and a source of great anxiety. Whether we are going up to the cottage or camping in the great Canadian wilderness, we want to ensure the continued health and beauty of our gardens. By following my prescribed garden tips you will not only vacation proof your garden but enjoy your summer holiday even more.

Your Lawn

To ensure a lush and healthy lawn upon your arrival home, make sure to deeply water your lawn on the evening before your departure. The soil should be moist to a minimum depth of 7.5 cm or 3 inches. Wait a couple of hours until your lawn has thoroughly dried, and then mow the grass to a slightly shorter length than usual. Make sure not to cut the lawn too short, or you will burn your grass. Generally speaking, never remove more than 1/3 of the grass’ length in a mowing. On the day of your departure, give your lawn a second deep watering, once again, to a depth of 7.5 cm – 10 cm or 3 to 4 inches. You should also arrange with a neighbour to water your lawn in case of a heat wave or severely dry period. Of course, you can’t predict what Mother Nature will bring, but assuming that there are brief dry periods, these precautions will insure a healthy and green lawn for up to 2 weeks.

Vegetable Gardens

Your vegetable garden needs special attention prior to your departure, as it can suffer the most and quickest with neglect. On the day prior to your departure, thoroughly check your vegetable patch for pests (insects), rot and disease. All ripe and nearly ripe vegetables must be picked. Over-ripe fruit not only encourages rot and disease, it will also attract every insect on the block.

Make sure to thoroughly weed your vegetable garden and then mulch with a mixture of well-rotted compost, grass clippings and shredded twigs. This mulch mixture will not only prevent weed growth, it will retain soil moisture and naturally fertilize your plants. The final step in this process is to deeply water your vegetable patch to a depth of 7.5 cm – 10 cm or 3 to 4 inches.

Flower Beds

Carefully scour your flowerbeds and remove (pinch back) every spent flower, full bloom and seedpod in sight. While you are at it, remove any weeds you come across as well. This will not only insure a bounty of blossoms upon your arrival home but also reduce the chance of disease.

Next, carefully mulch your flowerbeds with a mixture of finely shredded bark, twigs and well-rotted compost. This natural mulch will retain soil moisture, repress weed development and increase the soil’s fertility. Then make sure to give your beds a deep watering, once again to a minimum depth of 7.5 cm – 10 cm or 3 to 4 inches. These steps will insure your flowerbed’s vitality for up to 2 weeks in normal weather conditions.

For longer periods or for episodes of drought, weave a soaker hose through your flowerbeds and put them on a water release timer. Installing the system can be a weekend project or you can hire someone to come in and install a sprinkler system complete with a timer. This is particularly good if you repeatedly spend time away from your garden. Be careful not to put the watering frequency too high, as you will drown your garden if there is rain during the same period. A safe bet is to set the timer to release every 3 to 5 days for a deep watering.

Houseplants

Before leaving on your vacation, make sure to take all your houseplants out of direct sunlight and place them in an area of indirect light. By cutting back their supply of light you will minimize their growth and decrease the amount of water that they will require during your absence. Make sure to deeply water every plant (until water comes out of the bottom of their drainage holes). Where possible, water the plant in the bathtub or shower. This avoids the chance that water will sit in the tray below causing rot. Remember as well to remove all of its unhealthy greenery with a pair of clean sharp pruners. Another option would be to board your plants with a reliable friend, particularly one with a green thumb and similar light conditions; this is especially worthwhile for higher maintenance plants.

Hanging Baskets and Container Plants

Outdoor container plants and baskets require a more hands-on approach for their preservation. The best solution for their care is to collect all your baskets and container plants and board them at your neighbours or a close friends home. This eliminates the problem of both your neighbour/friend being entirely put out, and your nagging fear that they will forget to go over and water. Place your plants in an area easily accessible to a water source, in a morning sun afternoon shade location. This will prevent them from drying out in the summer heat.

Xeriscaping a vacationers best friend

If you are lucky enough to have a plot of land that you havent planted yet, or the desire to re-design your garden to accommodate your lifestyle, then xeriscaping is the way to go. Xeriscaping is the type of gardening that encourages very little supplement of water, other than the natural snow and rain that your garden receives. In other words, it is self-sufficient.

This form of landscape does not mean lack of water, rather managing water use. It is low-maintenance landscaping that requires some homework, on your part, to find plants specific to your region and climate.

A xeriscaped garden can be both dramatic and colourful. Plants that fit into this category include: Bearded Iris, Blanket Flower, Coral Bells, Daylily, Evening Primrose, Gold Dust Alyssum, Iceland Poppy, Maiden Pinks, Moss Phlox, Peonies, Pink Pussytoes, Ribbon Grass, Variegated Goutweed, Wooly Mountain Thyme, Purple Coneflower, Rudbeckia, Wooly Yarrow, Ground Cover, Snow in Summer, Clematis, Juniper, Manitoba Grape, Moon Flower, Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Silver Mound, Stonecrop and Virginia Creeper.

Worry-Free Vacationing

By implementing these gardening strategies and incorporating a wider variety of Xeriscape plantings, not only will your plants, vegetables and lawn thank you, you will be able to go away and relax. You see, Post-Garden Vacation Syndrome can be a thing of the past.

Great Design in essence is about the creation of an exquisite stage for the beauty and quality of life we all desire. From ultra urban to ornate opulence, Robin and his team have passionately and successfully designed it all. Robins interiors have graced the pages of magazines Worldwide. Robin has designed interiors for feature films, major retailers such as Home Depot (Style Ideas Magazine) and the Designer Showhouse. From smaller scale interior projects to full scale restorations and developments, Robins passionate and creative eye overseas all aspects. While fluent in all design trends and philosophies, Robin is most passionate about historic preservation and the creation of elegant, functional and memorable spaces that convey the best attributes of each owner while respecting and celebrating the architecture that encompasses them. Visit http://www.robindegroot.ca.