The Herb Gardener

A comprehensive, reader-friendly resource, this gem is loaded with pointed illustrations and practical information. Drawing on her training as a botanist, McClure (The Harvest Gardener) gears opening chapters toward beginners, detailing basics about herbs and their cultivation. A more challenging section on garden design includes tips on such considerations as maximizing sunlight, incorporating hardscape and establishing herbal lawns. In the central part of this guide, a season-by-season approach makes tasks in the herb garden manageable. Instructions are complete but not complex, e.g., the autumn topic ``Bringing Herbs Indoors'' covers pruning, dividing, transplanting, conditioning and pest management in a few direct, undaunting paragraphs. Sidebars, such as an ``Herbs and pH'' chart and ``Harvesting Hints,'' and illustrative photos punctuate the text. While the chapter on recipes and craft projects is sketchy and rather ordinary, the wrap-up ``Grower's Guide,'' a cross-referenced alphabetical (by Latin names) listing of over 50 common herbs, offers much to engage gardeners of varied experience levels.