The Lavender Garden: Beautiful Varieties to Grow and Gather

by Robert Kourik

Book Overview

Gorgeously fragrant, invigorating, and rich with healing properties, lavender has been cultivated from the beginning of recorded civilization. Today, gardeners everywhere are discovering that growing lavender is a simple and wonderfully rewarding pleasure. The Lavender Garden is a beautiful guide to planting and using this versatile herb in all its forms. There is a variety of lavender to suit almost any setting, indoors and out, and here garden expert Robert Kourik profiles 16 of his favorites. From sky blue to dark violet varieties, he explains which will thrive in dry climates, which are perfect for arrangements, which will fill an entire room with a delightfully romantic fragrance. Once ready to harvest, readers can turn to recipes and directions for baking lavender desserts and breads, preparing lavender teas and syrups, arranging sheaves of lavender into delicate wands (a perfect gift), and even making lavender bath oils and perfumes. Now you don't have to live in the South of France to enjoy the sweet smell and subtle beauty of lavender.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811815706
• ISBN13: 9780811815703
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 1.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Nice Book

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.

One of the BEST books on the subject

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.

no nonsense book for lavender lovers

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.

Tons of information and fascinating facts

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.

A lovely book sure to make you fall in love with lavender...

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