Customer Reviews

Herbs and Spices for Florida Gardens: How to Grow and Enjoy Florida Plants with Special Uses

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a great guide to growing herbs, all year long. The fact that it is broken down into the actual different parts of the state is a great help. Being in the herb business for 10 years, it is nice to see somthing so spacific. In Florida, just a few miles means a difference in temps and weather conditions, this book addresses each in its own right.

This book will be the most used reference in your possession if you are trying to grow herbs in Florida. I have an herb business, and it has been a godsend. Ms. Brandies has not only explained how, where and when you can grow literally ALL the herbs and spices available, but she has even divided Florida into North, Central & South growing climates. For those of you who have been struggling with herb books written for the Northeast or Texas, this one fabulous book will save you time, money and frustration.

I consider this book a must for any Florida gardener's library. The book covers a wide variety of herbs and their ability (or lack of) to withstand Florida's hot and humid climate. Ms. Brandies writes from experience and her knowledge of the the subject matter has been invaluable in assisting me with making a success of my own garden.

I bought this book for my wife, who is into natural health remedies. She absolutely loves this book. She not only learned alot more about growing herbs, but harvesting them and what to do with them after she has them. She's happy I'm happy.

Herbs And Spices For Florida Gardens, by herb gardening expert Monica Moran Brandies, is specifically designed to help the aspiring gardening grow and enjoy Florida plants that have special culinary, medical, floral, and horticultural properties. Black-and-white drawings succinctly illustrate the methodical instructions and advice, as well as the basic wealth of practical and descriptive information concerning a vast variety of plant species. A handy, no-nonsense reference for everything from simple window ledge gardens to involved and complex personal plots.

Normally I want to see a garden book have colorful pictures using the plant in the landscape. Some simple black and white drawings are shown. That is the only negative I can think of but this guide is so good and loaded with so much great information that I am giving it five stars.

It lists the pros and cons of growing herbs and spices in north, central and south Florida, remembering that the zones are different. It makes a difference! Besides the common name it lists the botanical name of the plants. Why do you want to know this? Because when you want to buy tarragon are you getting true French tarragon or Mexican tarragon? They are very different plants and enjoy different climates. To simplify matters a wonderful cross reference of common and botanical names is found at the back.

A mail-order and resource directory, places to visit, local herb societies and plants the attract butterflies and hummingbirds are among some the topics you'll read about. Herbs that do well indoors or can be used as ground covers are listed. Necessary warnings on using the plant medicinally is found at the end of some descriptions; a big plus since I sometimes think we forget that not every herb is made to be consumed.

I found this wonderful book at my local library while trying to find something to read on herb growing. Floridians have to tackle heat and humidity for a good portion of the year which can cause many plants to succumb. It is definitely not the same as growing herbs up north or out west. So, whether you are an experienced gardener or someone who has just moved here, this book is a keeper. I am going to put it on my wish list.

There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there. -Indira Gandhi

I purchased this book after many years of South Florida gardening just to add to my library, not expecting to find new information, but I did! I highly recommend to anyone growing herbs and spices in Florida.

On a personal note, I especially like how Monica communicated her bemusement at the need to water edibles in Florida. After years of food gardening here myself, I still can't quite get used to it :)

I needed advice and found it here. This is not just an herb book but also one of the best gardening books I've read. I've been a gardener and farmer all my life and I've looked over more of these books than I can remember. Bottom line, this will be a go to book now that I'm gardening here in Florida's challenging climate. Actually fun to read!

It's great for south Florida home herb growers especially since our climate and growing season is so different from most reference books.

If you're interested in what herbs to plant in Florida, when, where, and more...don't order this book! I've been growing herbs for about two years now and thought this would help me out. The book caught my eye when it listed that it is broken up by North, Central, and South. Wonderful....however, this is the letdown. The author DOES NOT talk about all of the herbs you can grow in these three areas. The author simply visited 3-4 local nurseries/herb farms and writes about what they grew in their location. Other than this, the book had the same information about herbs as most of them do. Don't waste your time! I wish I could tell you it was great...sorry!