Customer Reviews

The Lavender Garden: Beautiful Varieties to Grow and Gather

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lavender is a mysteriously elusive plant that encompasses many different facets of enjoyment. Botanists talk of color and leaf shape and ignore fragrance. Perfumists sniff the air for the sweetest smell. Landscapers push for the toughest or the smallest or the largest. And, gardeners want them all. The Lavender Garden sorts through some of the most asked questions and makes the task of choice a bit easier. Brief sections on choosing the right lavender, planting the lavender, pruning the lavenders, and using the lavenders provide just the right amount of information for the novice grower.   Particularly useful are the tips garnered from folks who work with the plants. The craft and recipe section is enjoyable and answers those pesky questions, like when to cut and how to dry and what is a lavender wand.  There are few points we couldn't embrace, like putting sand or gravel in the soil and using chemical fertilizer. But, overall the information is helpful in choosing the right plants for the right place and use.  It is Lavender 101 and a great starting point for those just discovering lavender.

I purchased this book to determine which variety of lavender would be best for a new garden I was planning. Not only did it address my technical questions regarding each of the varieties, but it also unfolded this plant's fascinating history, diverse uses (including old European recipes for lavender flavored foods) and a has directory of lavender farms. Learning about the many varieties of lavender and their growing requirements is just the beginning of what this terrific book will reveal to you.

Grew up with vast fields of French lavender as a child and lavender is a daily part of my life still. Love this book because it gives so much useful information on soil requirements, watering and best type of lavender to grow where you live. There is also a great recipe section in the back part of the book with the Buttermilk Lavender Bread and Lavender Lemon Shortbread (which is a cookie) being two recipes that even the most manly of men would even enjoy. Beginning on page 112 the author has given a Farms and Garden listing for throughout the states Canada that carry lavender items. On page 116 the author provides a good map of the United States and the different growing zones for those interested in growing lavender. Will also note the book is beautiful and one that I love to simply pick up and re-read often.

Mr. Kourik has provided thorough detail on all aspects of lavender - history, uses, species, cultivation and even recipes - in one gorgeous all-inclusive book. Beautiful photographs. Truly a pleasure to own.

Heather Neill | The Scentual Body

I enjoyed this book because it didn't assume you were a botanist, but explained things in a way that answered my questions and yet wasn't too simple. Compared to the several other of the Lavender books that I have purchased I felt that this one was the most complete, it had a nice breakdown of the lavenders and good sections on growing. It is a book of substance and readability. My advice is that if you want a book to get you started and only want to buy one book, get this one.

For Lavender lovers, this is an elegant text book with luscious photographs, lively & colorful fonts & a wealth of information on the botany, choosing, cultivation & crafting of this best-loved herb. Wondering what to give that gardening friend of yours? This is it! An Impressionistic bouquet of gorgeous photos & a worthy text for a lovely herb. Only my nose was left out - no scratch & sniff patches! ...

Of the five books on growing and using lavender, Robert Kourik's book provided the most practical information on growing lavender. It is well written and nicely punctuated with beautiful photographs.

THE LAVENDER GARDEN, Exactly the specific sourcebook I needed for my backyard "mini lavender farm". These lovely shrubs grow very well here in our "Mediterranean" Sacramento climate with minimal care, except for an occasional "haircut." The plant's culture and care are specifically addressed and the recipies are a bonus of the book. Very pleased.
"charley lala"

This is a great little book all about lavender. It contains lots of information and beautiful pictures about the many types of lavender available. If you were to only buy one book on lavender, make it this one.

Lavender is my latest garden discovery -- easy to grow, hardy, useful, beautiful.