Happy February! I hope all of you survived the holiday season. Alas, we are now in what I regard as the hardest part of winter—dreary weather and a sense that spring, while providing a few tantalizing days, is still too far away.
With that in mind, this month’s book is Abbie Zabar’s The Potted Herb (1988, Stewart, Tabori, & Chang). This perennial (pardon the pun) favorite is a charming and informative volume.
Zabar is a dedicated herb gardener whose passion for all things green is present on every page. She begins with a short history of gardening and the importance of plants to all of us, whether for medicinal or culinary purposes. After the history, Zabar provides a comprehensive, but not overwhelming, guide to growing herbs, whether from seeds or vegetatively. Her focus is on growing potted herbs, which I find wonderful. Since I live in an apartment, my only recourse is pots and Zabar has inspired me to get to the local nursery and get started. The instructions for growing are clear, concise, and suited to gardeners at any level. Zabar also discusses sources for interesting pots and taking your herbs from indoors to outdoors.
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Following her planting and growing instructions is a section on different herbs with descriptions, characteristics, and uses. If you want decorative herbs, there is even a section on creating topiaries. There is also a section of herbal recipes so that you can have the pleasure of creating dishes with the fresh herbs from your own garden. Two of my favorites are Warm Lemon Sponge Souffle with Lemon Verbena Leaves and Rose Geranium Jelly. The last chapter, Use and Delight, has many lovely ideas for “strewing herbs” around your home and those of your friends and family. I found many of her ideas both delightful and practical (a rare combination). Also, there are a variety of projects for which you need no special skills (another bonus for those who are, like me, missing the creativity/craft gene).
One of the most delightful aspects to this volume is the illustrations, which Zabar executed. They are, for lack of a less-overused word, charming, in the truest sense. They are uncomplicated and absolutely perfect for the text. In short, get this book. You will spend several very pleasant hours reading and then several more planning your own potted herb garden.
Peace and good gardening,
Victoria |
BOOK REVIEW ARCHIVE
May 2007
Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen Laurie Colwin
Apr. 2007
Art of the Inner Meal: Eating as a Spiritual Path, Donald Altman
Feb. 2007
The Potted Herb, Abbie Zabar
Jan. 2007
Monastic Gardens, Mick Hales
Dec. 2006
Hotel Pastis, Peter Mayle
Nov. 2006
Best Food Writing 2006 edited by Holly Hughes
Oct. 2006: Bleeding Hearts by Susan Wittig Albert
(Berkeley Prime Crime, 2006)»»
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