Book excerpt: 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.