The Pleasure of Herbs: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying Herbs [Paperback]

Phyllis V. Shaudys (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 1986

This lively book is brimming with information about herbs and herb growing. 298,000 copies in print.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Whether it's creating an herbal wreath for Christmas, a circular herb garden in April, a bridal bouquet in June, or a savory harvest feast, this lively book is brimming with dozens of exciting things to do with herbs every month. You'll learn to plant an indoor herb garden, make herb breads and jellies, grow and use everlastings, create pomanders and herbal pet aids, and much more.

Each chaper presents a potpourri of projects appropriate to a different month. In February, for example, you plan your spring gardens -- a perennial fragrance bed, an all-purple garden, and all-thyme garden, a knot garden. Meanwhile you luxuriate in a lavender bath and sip a hot tisane (herbal tea) -- or perhaps concoct an herbal valentine. November, on the other hand, features recipes for poultry stuffings, directions for making gift baskets, potpourris, and Thanksgiving condiments, and instructions on bedding down the garden for the winter.

An extensive "Gourmet Gardening" section begins each chapter, with advice on seed-starting, soil preparation, companion planting, organic pest control, harvesting, and garden wrap-up.

The book also includes:

* A culinary "herb-of-the-month"

* A chart of botanical names and families

* Harvesting and preserving tips

* Shaudys's previous work, Growing Fragrant Herbs for Profit, with advice on how to package, display, price, and promote herbs

* A brief encyclopedia of herbs

* A list of herb suppliers

* A bibliography

* A chart of herb uses

About the Author

A homemaker, publisher, business owner, author, and lecturer who specializes in herbs, Phyllis Shaudys lives in Pennsylvania where she established an herbal business in 1976, a result of a hobby she started in 1960. She is the author of five books, two of which are Storey books: Herbal Treasures and The Pleasure of Herbs. Additionally, Phyllis publishes a quarterly newsletter, Potpourri from Herbal Acres and has also been published in Women's Day, The Mother Earth News, The Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record and Whitchappel's Herbal, Flower and Garden. Phyllis has three children and lives in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First edition. edition (January 8, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882664239
• ISBN-13: 978-0882664231
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best book for beginners-bar none!!!, June 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pleasure of Herbs: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying Herbs (Paperback)

This is definitely the best herbal book for the beginner or the experienced, to plant, grow harvest, cook, craft, it's all here. I have a hard time to put it down, in order to get anything don

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After 13 years continues to be a good read..., May 30, 2005

By 

China Petals "Garden of Books" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pleasure of Herbs: A Month-by-Month Guide to Growing, Using, and Enjoying Herbs (Paperback)

For fun, pleasure, and practical know how this is by far the best herb book I have in my library. I first discovered this book at our local library when I was young married and living on a very tight budget. Thirteen years and several books and magazines later, I continue to turn to Shaudys book. Through the years I have not always had an herb garden either and you don't need one to enjoy or use this book! There are YUMMY recipes that call for either dried or fresh herbs and crafts galore. The info on growing herbs is very helpful too. I love the month to month format; there are no glossy hyped pictures, just lovely quotations introducing us to the month followed by a bounty of non-intimidating information on growing using and enjoying herbs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful herbal, January 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The pleasure of herbs: A month-by-month guide to growing, using, and enjoying herbs (Paperback)

I've read and re-read Phyllis's books, this one is a keeper! I've been growing herbs for years and I refer to this book alot. There's wonderful recipes, hints, crafts, and information that the common herb gardener can use. Nothing fancy, just every day, every month common sense. I highly reccomend this book, and her other one as well, Herbal Treasures. Phyllis is currently working on a third book, but as far as I know it's not out yet.