A masterful, gorgeously photographed A-to-Z introduction to the full spectrum of herbal plants, including recipes, growing tips and tricks, DIY crafts, and more   For centuries, herbs have been prized for their beauty and utility in the garden, kitchen, and medicine cabinet. Modern garden master Stephen Orr’s lushly illustrated guide is the definitive resource for identifying, cultivating, and using these fascinating and varied plants.    With information on almost one thousand herbs, including detailed profiles of more than 125, each photographed in full color and accompanied by helpful growing advice, The New American Herbal takes the study of herbs and herbalism to an exciting new level. Orr covers the entire spectrum of useful plants, from culinary and ornamental to aromatic and medicinal, presenting them in an easily digestible format, giving you the tools to   • Learn how to plant and maintain a bountiful kitchen garden • Propagate, harvest, and cook with the herbs you grow • Use fresh, dried, and distilled herbs in seasoning blends, teas, vinegars, and more • Create an easy DIY hanging herb garden, form an herb topiary, and mix herbal remedies and essential oils • Whip up any of the 45 included recipes, such as Ragu Bolognese with Fennel and Lemon Semolina Cake with Lavender   Meticulously researched and exhaustive in its scope, The New American Herbal is an irresistible invitation to explore the versatility of herbs in all their beauty and variety. "A fresh, stylish and modern compendium on cultivating herbs in America for healthy eating--with stunning photographs."--Alys Fowler, Gardens Illustrated, Jan. 2015 The New American Herbal updates and builds upon centuries of herbals that came before it while offering a contemporary perspective. ...Orr writes, "Wherever we go, we transport our useful plants with us." Herbs were swapped while worlds were colonized. Indeed, Orr includes herbs from every continent, highlighting their uses and extolling their virtues... Some are familiar, many are exotic and marvelous, like postings in a travelogue. Did I mention that Orr is also a travel writer? I want to follow in his footsteps.- Lucy Leske, The Inquirer and Mirror 09/18/2014 Passion seems to be the guiding force behind this volume--an epic, encyclopedic, and utterly beautiful tome... Created during weekends upstate with almost full creative freedom, the book is as much a compendium of herbal facts, lore, and uses as it is a reflection of its creator--witty anecdotes and observations pepper the book's writing and Orr's own stunning photographs fill its pages.--Maxwell Tielman, Design Sponge, 10/9/2014 This indispensable guide opens on a mid-November afternoon when Orr has been working in his cold, muddy New York garden, where the rosemary and lavender and thyme are still thriving...Orr's affection for herbs shines through every well-researched page of this book; his wonder and delight are infectious...And he knows that just because a book is useful and intelligent, it doesn't have to look scholarly and dull. Orr's beautiful photographs have an approachable aura of romance.--Dominique Browning, The New York Times Book Review, 12/7/2014 Over a couple of decades, I have discovered how easy the majority of herbs are to grow in two very different city gardens, inside my apartment as houseplants, and at my small weekend lake cabin in upstate New York. There, I plant hundreds of herb varieties in a situation with too much shade and too many deer. Through trial and error, I've learned that most of these independent plants are more than able to fend for themselves when I'm not there during the week, or even when I skip visits while traveling. Also important, I know those plants that the always-ravenous deer won't eat (though admittedly that seems to change a little each year). I want every reader to realize that in a small quarter-acre in the country, in an ordinary suburban backyard, or on even a cramped city terrace ten floors up, herbs will thrive without too much fuss and provide a valuable harvest. It's one no labor-intensive vegetable garden can match square foot for square foot. All it takes is a snip here or a snip there and you've spiced up a stew, soup, tea, or cocktail. The goal of this book is to describe this vast herbal world by looking at its members as individual characters, while at the same time trying to be reasonable and manageable about the length and breadth of such a wide-ranging topic.The main section concerns an A-Z of major herbs that I've emphasized. Hundreds of others are included in lists or sidebars. My focus is on plants that North American gardeners can, generally speaking, grow in their gardens, though some species might be cold tender and need to be sheltered indoors over the winter. Each of these valuable plants leads down a different route for those interested in useful plants. I hope this book will help both the novice and the experienced gardener or cook d