GROW YOUR OWN BOTANICALS

When you next reach for your gin and tonic, think of the botanicals involved. This splendid gallery of photographs and information is all about deliciously productive plants for homemade drinks, remedies and skincare. There are tips for growing plants in a small garden, preparing your plot, alchemists of the soil, tools, watering, sowing seeds, plants for free, growing under glass or in containers, raised beds and borders, on a balcony, shade dwellers and then we learn about scented botanicals, tisanes, homemade booze and making beauty products. The flowers and shrubs include the electric daisy, marshmallow, Roman chamomile, sweet fern, garden pinks and carnations, echinacea, sweet woodruff, hibiscus, juniper, English lavender, honeysuckle, bergamot, scented-leaved pelargoniums, comfrey and nasturtium among them. Herbs and spices include aloe vera, lemon verbena, French tarragon, Allspice, caraway, turmeric, lemongrass, cardamom, fennel, lovage, lemon balm, mint, sweet cicely, oregano, parsley, sage and thyme and even Szechuan pepper. And that's without fruit and veg like juneberry, a strawberry tree, delicious and nutritious samphire, cucumber to dwarf quince and fig and wasabi. An inspiring collection of 80 botanicals for any size of garden from a windowsill upwards and packed with innovative ways to use in the kitchen and home, a hibiscus cordial for cocktails to a calendula face cream. 208 large and beautifully decorated and designed pages, colour illus throughout plus a little black book of pests and diseases. 20 x 24.25cm, for foodies and gardeners, we look forward to trying out some of the gin ideas.