Parsleys, Fennels, and Queen Anne's Lace: Herbs and Ornamentals from the Umbel Family

by Barbara Perry Lawton

Parsleys, Fennels, and Queen Anne's Lace is the gardener's introduction to the characteristics, cultivation, and history of one of the most distinctive families of the plant kingdom. These plants were well known to the Greeks and Romans—it was the juice of a member of the umbel family that Socrates was forced to drink—and the family was the first to be studied as such botanically, by Robert Morison in 1672. Yet even today the many herbs and ornamentals of this family are not as well known or appreciated as they should be. Parsleys, Fennels, and Queen Anne's Lace is for anyone interested in herbs, whether for their culinary value or as ornamentals.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2007

Reviews

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have gardened for years growing various vegetables, flowers and herbs. I purchased this book after watching some shows on the Cooking Channel that included food using parsley 'tea' and fennel pollen. I was amazed at the ingenuity of so many creative cooks and chefs that have started their own restaurants. And I love that they are willing to show how they use edible plants in new and different ways. That said, I thought I would educate myself by reading up on this much-overlooked plant family.

The author is a popular garden writer, speaker and photographer who has written extensively on gardening and horticulture. She is a member of the Garden Writers of America Hall of Fame. But who knew that Ms.Perry Lawton could fill 156 pages with information on the Umbel family?

The author begins with the history and myths surrounding this subject. She goes on to list poisonous members and medicinal information. She reminds you to proceed with caution because some deadly plants look very similar to edible ones. She continues by giving the reader information on culinary plants included in this family. Designing in the landscape, weedy Umbels, and pests and diseases pave the way for a complete catalog of Umbels.

There are black and white drawings along with colorful photos scattered among the pages. Lastly, there is a glossary and index of plant names. This is a well-written reference book that deserves a space on everyone's gardening shelf.