Herb Gardening for Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Book

A decent starting place for those new to the fascinating world of herbs, Herb Gardening for Dummies covers everything from garden design (traditional knots to a simple window box) to proper care, feeding, and usage of these versatile plants. The plant encyclopedia is cleverly written, informative, and gives ideas on how to use these little critters once you've harvested them--the authors are considerably more cautious than herbal guides written by professional naturopaths, which can be a good thing for newcomers to the field. Organic methods of pest control and fertilization are emphasized, as these plants are often grown for human consumption. Choosing the right plants for your growing conditions and interest level is important, and there's lots of helpful advice on these topics. The downside to this book is its lack of pictures. There are lots of line drawings, but they tend to show particular stages of a process, rather than each step. Color photos are limited to one section, and since the photos are separate from the descriptions, they don't add much value to the book. With bullet-point lists, icons for highlighting categories like "ecofriendly" or "time-saving," and simple tables and charts, how-to photos aren't essential. For folks who learn best with straightforward reading, the presentation won't be an issue, but if pictorial aids are what you need for learning, look elsewhere. --Jill LightnerRead More