The Lavender Lover's Handbook: The 100 Most Beautiful and Fragrant Varieties for Growing, Crafting, and Cookin

by Sarah Berringer Bader, Janet Loughrey (Photographer)

Overview

With its intoxicating scent, gorgeous wands of purple flowers, and silvery foliage, lavender is one of the most sought-after plants. But the horticultural reasons for choosing lavender go far beyond its beauty. Lavender attracts beneficial insects, requires little water once established, and is deer resistant.

In The Lavender Lover's Handbook, lavender grower Sarah Bader teaches gardeners how they can successfully grow this beloved plant. Featuring the 100 easiest, most stunning lavenders available today, this beginner's guide provides a complete checklist of the color, fragrance, size, and foliage of each plant, in addition to basic pruning, spacing, and planting requirements. The text is rounded out with tips on how to harvest, cook, and craft with this wonderful herb.

Its abundant variety, hardiness, fragrance, and culinary uses make lavender one of the most popular and versatile plants. And now, with this practical and accessible guide in hand, it's easier than ever to grow at home.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781604692211
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/01/2012
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	153,295
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Sarah Berringer Bader has always been drawn to lavender. In 2000 she purchased a five-acre farm south of Portland, Oregon, and after visiting the Sequim Lavender Festival in Washington and seeing rows and rows of this wondrous herb, decided to create a test plot of 365 plants despite knowing nothing about planting lavender. She learned through trial and error, helped by a little-known society of lavender pioneers who had dedicated their careers to cultivating, growing, and preserving the true species of lavender. Soon she purchased many varieties of lavender from a seasoned grower in Oregon who had propagated starts from his own extensive collection acquired over a twenty-year span.

In 2005 she planted almost 5000 lavender plants with more than ninety cultivars and began propagating her own starts from cuttings. She opened her farm to the public and began holding the classes that inspired this book. Sarah and her farm, Lavender at Stonegate, have been featured in regional publications, on television and radio, and in Grower Talks and Country Gardens magazines.

Editorial Reviews

Bader's encyclopedic encomium to varieties of, and uses for, lavender is missing the fragrance of the plant, but little else. Almost 200 color photos make the case that 100 varieties of lavender—or some fraction thereof—are worth drying, drinking, and dreaming about. Bader explains lavender's characteristics and differences among species in helpful details; there's even a color photo guide to help lavender aficionados parse their purples and violets. Chapters offer recipes and crafts guides; beyond sachets, try lavender syrup or truffles. Lavender can be added to a home-crafted cleaning solution because it has antimicrobial properties. Not everyone can grow every lavender. Gardeners in temperate climates can't use certain species, but every gardener can have a gorgeous scented field of the color purple if they pick the right lavender variety and prune it as it matures. This useful book will suit both novice and experienced gardeners. 190 color photos. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

“This book is the heady distillation of [Sarah Bader’s] knowledge."

From the Publisher

"... Bader offers an extensive collection of recipes and instructions for everything from lavender desserts and drinks to wreaths and wands."

Booklist

The book is filled with glorious pictures, tasteful recipes, fabulous crafts, and a wonderful education on growing lavender.

Akron Beacon Journal

"The best recent all-around lavender book with something for gardeners, crafters, and cooks alike."

Country Gardens

"... Bader offers an extensive collection of recipes and instructions for everything from lavender desserts and drinks to wreaths and wands."

Books Yarn Ink Blog

"The book is filled with glorious pictures, tasteful recipes, fabulous crafts, and a wonderful education on growing lavender."

Karen's Korner

"A field guide, growing guide, and craft guide all in one, The Lavender Lover's Handbook has something for anyone who loves this plant."

Books Yarn Ink Blog - Kristi Chadwick

Lavender is the beloved plant that first entices many into herb gardening, but its many varieties and numerous uses could prove daunting without this excellent guide. A lavender farmer herself in Oregon, Bader highlights old standbys as well as several cultivars released since 2000, though she discusses fewer varieties than Virginia McNaughton does in Lavender: The Grower's Guide. Impatient readers will appreciate her many quick lists for things like earliest bloomers, favorites by bloom color, lavenders with strongest scents, and best choices for hedges, containers, humid summers, or cold weather. Bader explains cultivation, companion plantings, and incorporating lavender into knot, rock, and edible gardens. Two wonderfully illustrated charts depict the wide range of both flower and foliage color, helping readers understand the color descriptors in the directory entries (though each entry has a clear photo, too). A nice selection of craft projects and recipes rounds out the book, though serious cooks will prefer Jennifer Vasich's The Lavender Gourmet. VERDICT This is the best recent all-around lavender book, with something for gardeners, crafters, and cooks alike.—Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

Library Journal