Ebook: Put 'em Up!

From Publishers Weekly 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. A source listing is also included. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Judging from the number of books published on the subject, herbs seem to be the hottest trend in gardening. And why not? They are easy to grow and can be grown outdoors all summer and indoors all year. McClure, a botanist and author of six previous books, begins with a definition of herbs ("a plant that has fragrance, flavoring, or medicinal value" ) and then follows with a chapter on native habitats. Arranged season by season, McClure's book gives information on starting plants from seeds, propagation, pruning, fertilizing, mulching, disease and pest control, and weeding. There are chapters on growing herbs in containers and on recipes and crafts (potpourris and wreaths, for example). There is also a grower's guide, which gives planting, growing, and harvesting instructions for 64 herbs. To have 100 color photographs. *George Cohen*