Skip to content

The Herb Lover’s Spa Book

Herb lover's spa book cover Sue Goetz loves to pamper herself. Even more, she wants you to pamper you. How? There is no single answer to this, but in the “The Herb Lover’s Spa Book” she ardently helps you create your own special place – a personal spa to nurture yourself.

This blissful goal isn’t reached without a lot of practical knowledge. The author’s experience as a garden designer helps you create a personal sanctuary in your own back yard. Similar principles are applicable to interior spaces, too.

Next, Goetz walks the reader through a concise list of herbal plants, each defined as “…cultivated for its usefulness in flavoring, perfume, or for cosmetic and medicinal uses.” Choosing, growing, harvesting, and preserving are all part of the lessons.

Finally, you create. Lotions and ointments to make your life a little easier, a little more enjoyable. The recipes are easy, difficult concepts are clearly explained, and there’s nothing else to do but try it. As you ease into your fragrance-enriched bathtub of steaming hot water, you’ll be glad you did.

Excerpted from the Summer 2017 Arboretum Bulletin.

Garden Tip #50

A book by Jekka McVicar called Seeds: the ultimate guide to growing successfully from seed (Lyons Press, 2003, $22.95) will help you turn your seedy hopes into plant reality. Thirteen chapters are divided by types of plant including ferns, grasses, shrubs, perennials and herbs. The practical information that applies to all kinds of seeds, such as what type of soil to use, and how to break seed dormancy, is included in the last chapter. Color photos illustrate throughout.

For online tips for seed starting go to:
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0170/pnw0170.pdf from Oregon State University.