The Ultimate Herb Gardener

From Zen gravel gardens for sitting meditation to complex tapestry-like parterres for elevated viewing, this British import presents a full range of herbal garden possibilities. Masterfully organized, the book offers several examples in large design categories: ornamental (a formal knot garden, an informal cottage garden); culinary (an edible flower collection, a small back-door garden); sensory (an evening arbor, a potpourri garden). A pocketful of miscellaneous theme gardens--medicinal, cosmetic, children's and wildlife--rounds out the compendium. Despite the book's thoroughness in pointing out style alternatives, its cursory, two-page treatments neglect obvious information needed by beginning gardeners: the key to the garden plans list plants only by their less-familiar botanical names, and neither the in-text plans nor the 101-plant directory includes zone hardiness information--a must for gardeners in the U.S. While the lush, soothing color photographs will draw the gardener's eye, Segall's text and design ideas unfortunately lack the verve and imagination needed to hold the reader's attention. Still, this visually inspiring presentation with its focused recommendation of particular herbs can serve as a useful introduction to herb gardening. (May)