The perfect gift for your greenfingered family and friends THE BEST GARDENING BOOKS OF THE YEAR GARDENS ILLUSTRATED Informative and enthusiastic i Paper An important and accessible herbal for the 21st century For anyone delving into herbs for the first time or those who want to broaden their herbal repertoire in the garden and home, this book is much needed Gardens Illustrated Think of your garden before your medicine cabinet for basic ailments and everyday woes Cant sleep? It doesnt actually send you to sleep – its not a sedative – but Camomile does relax you to a point where sleep is the best option To best describe a plant as gentle seems a bit feeble, but the truth is that is what it does best: calms and cools Hay fever allergies? Nettles have been recognized for their antiinflammatory properties, particularly for allergens You can drink up to 3 cups a day of nettle tea per day to fight hay fever, as well as the symptoms of other environmental pollutants Insect bites? Many beekeepers use lavender oil to relieve bee stings and reduce swelling and in folklore lavender essential oil has long been used to treat minor burns and reduce pain and improve healing Lavender essential oil can be used directly on the skin, but should be kept out of the eyes, nose, mouth and sensitive mucous membranes A charming, modern miscellany of herbs for gardeners, cooks and armchair botanists alike Lovingly cultivated by horticultural expert, Herb Society president and Guardian columnist, Alys Fowler, this charming guide celebrates everything there is to know about herbs and their significance in our gardens, kitchens, medicine cupboards and daily lives With her unparalleled horticultural experience, Alys explores the abundance of uses of these incredible plants and writes beautifully about how herbs have become entwined in our lives past and present Designed to inform, entertain and delight, this book offers a fusion of botanical, practical, cultural and historical information, accompanied by beautiful line illustrations, and will be a welcome and wellthumbed addition to many a potting shed, kitchen shelf and bedside table