The Meaning of Herbs: Myth, Language & Lore

by Gretchen Scoble, Ann Field

"Take borage for courage. Send a bouquet of yarrow to declare war. Hang a sprig of rue at the door to keep witches at bay." Like flowers, herbs are steeped in myth and magic, secrets and lore. For centuries, their powers have been called upon to seduce lovers and dispel witches, send hidden messages and brew potent elixirs, entice the palate and soothe the mind. Illustrated with enchanting collages by acclaimed artist Ann Field, this delightful tribute to the meaning and magic of herbs offers a contemporary introduction to an age-old tradition. The text draws on botanical, mythological, and historical sources worldwide, from ancient Rome to Victorian England, from Asia to the Americas, presenting profiles of over 50 herbs favored through the ages. Blending fact, folktale, natural history, and original art, The Meaning of Herbs explores the language and lore of nature's most versatile and powerful gifts.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Nature, Gardening

108 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Rosa]

I like the collages, but they're not as perfect as the ones in The Meaning of Flowers: Myth, Language & Lore.

[Stacie]

Absolutely charming!!! I recommend for the herb grower looking for the casual tidbits. Most of the herbs titled in this neat little handbook are found in your garden or growing wild in your yard. Almost all can be googled these days, but it's a quaint little collection that offers a poetic description of origin. From Lavender swooning the heart to Dandelion as a divinatory tool, ans marjoram being hung above doors in Germany to ward away witches. Lots of colorful photos. My only complaint is that I wish there were more to the stories that are scratched at the surface. Quick read. Coffe Table Book.

[Julie]

Loved the short descriptions and histories of each plant, along with the meaningful object collages. I found myself trying to figure out the symbolism in each object included in the photos. I'm reading her Meaning of Flowers well!

[Brandi]

I enjoyed reading this, but I would have liked different illustrations. I don't think the artist did the subject matter justice.

[Shelby]

Fun and interesting, but where are the sources? I have trouble believing anything that was said in this book considering the authors are a graphic designer and an artist, neither of whom have a history in botany or herbalism. All of these facts could have easily just been a mishmash of things they looked up on wikipedia.

Also a lot of weird formatting errors.

[Omari]

Such an easy read. It really feels like a basic introduction to herbs, but I loved the authors writing as it was very quirky and witty. Simply enjoyable.

[Juli Anna]

Wacky formatting errors throughout, including embedded paragraph symbols.

[Lele-Usham]

Stated that otegon was named after oregano, lol. There is some good info here but it needs to be verified with another source, because of the random misfire of info.

[Bladestryke]

A very quick read but full of very interesting information. A must for anyone who grows herbs or is interested in herbology.

[Kelila]

Entertaining, but some of the facts are wrong.