Herbs

The comprehensive guide to the care and cultivation of herbs : packed with information, and illustrated with more than 60 colour photographs. The range of plants classified as herbs is astonishing, including trees, shrubs, roses, climbers, ground-cover plants, alpines, evergreens and herbaceous plants - those that die back each winter to shoot again the following spring. For anyone wanting to garden with herbs, the sheer breadth of choice could seem daunting. But this comprehensive volume, by expert herb nurserymen, is the ideal guide on which ones to grow, where to plant them and how to use them. Simon and Judith Hopkinson focus on herbs as garden plants, to be valued as much for their scent and beauty as for their practical uses in cooking, potpourris and herbal remedies. They explain how to plan, plant and maintain a variety of herb gardens, including a formal culinary garden, a knot garden, a culinary herb corner and herb lawns. The Hopkinsons describe more than eighty of their own favourite herbs from the thousands grown around the world. Each entry lists the herb's ultimate size, soil and sun requirements, propagation and possible use. They also choose herbs for special purposes, including those with variegated and colourful foliage, those with fragrant leaves and flowers as well as herbs for edging, for difficult soils and special environments. Many of the recommended herbs are illustrated in full colour photographs, especially taken at the authors' own nursery by award-winning photographer Deni Bown. The authors Husband-and-wife team Simon and Judith Hopkinson started Hollington Herb Nursery, in Newbury, Berkshire, in 1976. Since then their nursery has been extensively featured on TV and radio programmes. They exhibited herb gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show for seven years, winning two Gold Medals. They now run two nurseries selling herbs to both retail and wholesale customers, as well as designing herb gardens and lecturing at Hollington. Simon Hopkinson is a member of the Council of the Herb Society.