The complete herb book

Between work, kids and taking care of a growing family, there isn't much time for flower gardening. But if you can manage a moment here and there, you need not forsake the wonderful world of herbs. Their scent and flavor, beauty and charm touch every woman's heart. It's the legacy of the homemaker that extends back to ancient times when women gathered these same wild plants from the countryside.

Herbs are the useful plants. They retain much of their wild vigor, making herb gardening as easy as growing weeds. Once planted, most will naturalize to produce a greater harvest with each new season. Plus they're downright cheap. You can buy rooted seedlings at the supermarket, saving a trip to the garden center. They're easy to transplant from a friend's older patch, too. Once established, many thrive on neglect.

With exploding interest in a greener lifestyle, we're re-evaluating how we garden and why. This is reflected by the new edition of Jekka McVicar's "The Complete Herb Book" (Firefly $29.95). I don't often go for English publications because they can be at variance with what we do here in the States. But this affordable paperback is so well done that it will become dog-eared in my library, already stuffed with less-stellar publications about herbs.

So what made me take notice of yet another herb book?

First of all, it is very well illustrated with beautiful photographs of both the plants and some of their applications. Inspired by the pictures, I want to try to create many of the beautiful garnishes or the 250 recipes throughout the book. But maybe it's more than that. The graphic layout of each page makes it easy to find the information, too.

Most herb books come from a particular point of view, such as cultivation or cooking or folklore. This one offers equal amounts of all three plus much more. McVicar's book lays it all out for easy access without too much or too little to sift through. It includes detailed tips about propagation, pests, diseases, maintenance and harvesting. Because so many people grow their herbs in pots, there's some good stuff on how to do that or not, depending on the plant. You also get details about medicinal and practical applications.

Throughout the book there are bright red warning graphics. These point out potential toxicity, poisons and other areas of serious concern. Many of the useful plants contain potent alkaloids that can be dangerous not only to gardeners but also to children or pets.

A detailed section on propagation tells you how to sow seed, take cuttings and layer and divide herbs, which is key to getting your garden bigger without spending a lot.

Sample color plans will help beginners know what plants to buy to start. The plans also illustrate little gardens with collections geared to salads, general cooking, Italian cooking and aromatherapy. Perhaps most useful of all is the section on harvesting, preservation and storage of herbs by drying and freezing.

This is the most efficient herb-garden guide on the market today, and an affordable gift to anyone who wants to know herbs better. These pages become sheer inspiration to the culinary aficionado.

(Maureen Gilmer is a horticulturist and host of "Weekend Gardening" on DIY Network. Contact her at her Web site www.moplants.com or visit www.diynetwork.com.)