Customer Reviews

Lavender

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

 

 

A true lavender lover should own this book in my opinion if for no other reason that its beautiful lay out of the lavender of Provence thru all the seasons, in photographs and words. The books cover grabs your attention and as I sat and savoured the richness of the colour of the lavender I found myself actually smelling the growing flower, as if I were right there. On pages 56,57,58 I smiled as I looked at the almond trees that were dotted throughout the fields of lavender. Almonds being another delicious treat in France as well as here in California.

The one photo on page 83 of the old stone building in the midst of the fall lavender that has been harvested and the plants now resting, reminds me a great deal of a painting that Georgia O'Keeffe would have painted had she seen the lavender field shown.

Love the photos on pages 94 and 95 showing the sheep grazing amongst the lavender and the large field of lavender surrounded by vast fields of wheat, which remind me of areas around me, here in California. No wonder so many French settlers came to my area of California in the 1800's.

Then there are the winter photos of lavender fields at rest, with on beautiful photo on page 112 showing a man with his herd of goats, which is another reminder of the beautiful simplicity of life in Provence. Page 113 show a large over view of sleeping lavender field with sleeping vineyards and nut trees as well. Anyone who thinks nature is dead in winter need on view this photo as well as the one on page 115 with the fresh snow, tops of lavender plants under mounds of fresh snow and a path of what appears to be rabbit tracks in the snow.

The photos in combination with the beginning text of the book where one reads about the rich history of lavender in this region of France and how it is cultivated and used makes this a book that I am so happy I bought.

This is a SUPER-sleeper of a coffee table book. The info on this valuable herb is fascinating (do you know the difference between lavender and lavendin?), BUT some of the pictures of the countryside -- specifically the ones taken when the lavender rows are in brilliant purple (okay, lavender) against the surrounding greenery, soil, and trees -- are of a rare and surreally stunning beauty. Great production quality on heavy, semigloss stock. Get this bargain book for the visual exhilaration alone!

Also -- DO look into lavender essential oil, if you think this is just another lightweight "fragrance" herb. Lavender, besides having near-magical deodorizing properties, yields an essential oil so mild it is said to be usable on infants, ingestable in small quantities, and can be (usefully) poured on open wounds. Only sandalwood oil is reputed to be so innocuous, in addition to having potent healing/balancing properties.

In my experience, lavender can disinfect gum conditions, and a drop in the mouth in the evening cuts all craving for late night snacks! A few drops diffused in a room (or just brushed over the bedding, etc.) can transform stuffiness into a light, clean ambiance. Why not go for the whole knowledge/experience package?...

Very good photos of the lavender fields in all seasons. Excellent, informative and well-researched introduction. My only regret is that the print seems a bit gray and the brightness of the fields and contrasting colours in the photos are not optimized by this.

I like this book better than the first edition. It has more pictures of lavender in actual bloom! This is the only book that I've found of it's kind, so if you are a lavender enthusiast, go ahead and buy this!

Hans Silvester has lived in Provence for more than thirty years. During that time he has photographed lavender fields in all seasons and for all reasons.

This book begins with a brief history of lavender and explains about hybrid lavandin. Then for the rest of the book it is only filled with beautiful pictures without captions. This is unfortunate as I would have loved to know where the fields were located. There are also some other pictures of Provence that are not lavender fields which looked interesting and needed captions.

What this book lacks is information on how to grow lavender. This would have been useful to me since I just planted two lavender plants in pots on my deck. A section on how lavender plants are used would have also been enjoyable to read.

So if you are just looking for pictures of lavender fields then this may be the book for you. If you are looking for information on planting or using lavender (say in soaps) there is no information to be had. For more infomation on how to grow and use lavender try:

Lavender: The Grower's Guide

Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb (Herbs (Stackpole Books))

~The Rebecca Review