Lavender for All Seasons: A Gardener's Guide to Growing and Creating with Lavender Year-Round

by Paola Legarre

An essential guide to to the multifaceted plant, from a passionate gardener.

Lavender for All Seasons covers everything you need to know about the basics of growing lavender. Inspirational crafts and recipes that follow the seasons of the year will empower readers to discover how to integrate lavender beyond the garden and into the apothecary, pantry, and crafting space. For over twenty years, gardening expert Paola Legarre has been implementing sustainable farming practices, nourishing soil life, avoiding herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, rotating plantings with cover crops, and encouraging pollinators and beneficial insects through diversified plant hedgerows, and companion planting. With Legarre as a guide, readers will

   ·The basics of growing lavender in different zones and conditions
   ·Growing requirements for healthy plants, including advice on pruning, pest control, propagation, and more
   ·An array of the best lavender varieties including species and cultivars for cooking, essential oils, crafting, landscaping and more
   ·Incorporating lavender as a key pollinator plant in your garden   
   ·How to harvest and preserve lavender flowers for multiple uses, including techniques for drying and distilling
   ·Enjoying the harvest with delicious recipes incorporating lavender as an essential herb in the kitchen


 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Lauren Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book covers absolutely everything about lavender - from container gardening to farming Lavender, from planting to harvesting to using in food and homemade cleaning products. Beautiful photos throughout. Would make a lovely coffee table book but is definitely a comprehensive guide as well.

ARC from NetGalley

[Mikey ಠ◡ಠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this book from NetGalley thinking it would be a fun little book filled with cutesy things to craft and cook with lavender for each season. However, this book is an extremely in depth manual about all things lavender. How in depth you ask? We're talking color, structure, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, and cultivars for lavender and growing it. There's even a section dedicated to how to grow a FIELD of lavender, if you so wish. Now in 2025 I'm not sure who among us has the resources, time, and ability to grow a FIELD of lavender, but you know what, choosing to think positively I guess anything could happen. So thank you, Paola, for the guidance. Now before you're too put off there are dedicated sections to crafting and cooking with lavender and which lavenders are best used for whatever it is you're trying to do. I'm very pleasantly surprised by this all things lavender guide and plan to pick it up when it comes out! Four stars because while I appreciate everything that was put into this book, I don't think it sounds very beginner friendly (not that it claims to be) and I have been known to kill mint before and if you know anything about mint you know that's honestly a feat in and of itself.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish this book were scratch and sniff because I would have loved to be immersed in the heady fragrance of the lavenders photographed on these pages! Visually this is an impressive book but more than that it’s highly informative.

I did not know there were so many varieties of lavenders nor that they encompassed such a wide range of colors. The author details the varieties, offering specific information regarding growing, flowering, and use. She also provides recipes for incorporating lavender into foods as well as balms.

The book is useful to both the hobby grower as well as the professional grower, giving suggestions on how to make lavender farming work in both scenarios.

An extremely useful guide that has me wishing for Spring and it’s only October!!!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a lavender lover like me, Lavender for All Seasons is a dream come true book! Truly exceptional, the best of the best. Whether you admire this stunning plant from afar or you grow it, this book has it ALL. And then some. It engrossed me to the point of practically imagining it was scratch and sniff! And the lush photography...swoon. Lavender is practical, luxurious, and incredibly versatile. What could be more enchanting than walking through a sea of lavender, trailing your hands through the aromatic flowers and listening to the buzz of happy bumblebees?

Author and owner of her Sage Creations farm in Colorado, Paola Legarre describes her inspiration as a young girl, including the family friend who grew the glorious "Provence" cultivar as her front yard. She then explains lavender uses throughout history such as mummification and to cover castle floors. Of particular interest to me as a master gardener is anatomy of the plants, chemistry, pollination, lavender compounds, and even an electron microscope photograph of oil glands. Hardiness zones are explained (I sadly cannot grow any lavender in my zone 2a part-time home but happily do in my zone 8b Mediterranean home where it is a very, very big deal, including lavender festivals). Paoloa's invaluable tables and charts are invaluable, very clear to follow. Listed are several cultivars including where they grow, their habits, colour and uses. Not only that but she explains soil preparation, diseases, weather protection, companion planting (love the kitchen herb companion table), propagation, and even a bud maturity scale which will help me so much. This book is chock full of lightbulb moments.

But there's more! Paola suggests using lavender for deoderizing carpets, creating bath soaks and candles, and using buds as greeting card confetti The final section contains several wonderful culinary recipes including ground lavender sugar (I've made lavender sugar but hadn't thought to grind it!), lavender honey (my favourite things on lavender scones), chocolate lavender shortbread with sea salt, lavender extract, lavender chili spice mix, herbed compound butter, and hot cocoa mix. But it's not all about food. Massage oil, all purpose lavender cleaner, and dog shampoo are just a few other ideas.

I am a relative beginner to growing lavender and this life-enriching book has taught me so much. I already feel better armed and confident about growing it and using it in new-to-me ways. The possibilities are thrilling!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Lavender for All Seasons is a graphically pleasing and information rich volume by lavender farmer Paola Legarre. Released 3rd June 2025 by Hachette on their Timber Press imprint, it's 264 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

Beautifully photographed throughout, it's part memoir/recollection with instagram worthy lifestyle shots as well as panoramic views of lush and abundant lavender fields in bloom looking like they came straight out of Provence, and part practical tutorial guides for selecting, growing, maintaining, harvesting, and using lavender of various cultivars.

The author is experienced , seems to really know what she's talking about, and includes a lot of interesting scientific background (and some spiffy macro and electron microscope photos of lavender parts. The photography is top notch throughout and it would make a lovely coffee table book just for the photographs.

The crafting/tutorial parts of the book are simple enough for all crafters. Tools and materials are given in a bullet list. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units, with a conversion chart for metric included in the back of the book. All the tutorials (and there are many, both culinary and crafting), are very well photographed with easy to follow instructions. The crafting tutorials include wreaths, floral arrangements, sachets, oils, cleaning/shampoo/& scented products.

The author/publisher have also included bibliography and links & resources lists in the back of the book as well as a cross-referenced index.

Four and a half stars. It's a beautiful, inspirational book. The commercial cultivation content parts of the book will have a relatively limited audience, but the inspirational aspects are great (and it's possible to adapt parts of her advice to home gardens and smallholdings).

It would be a great choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as for community garden/coop/gardening group libraries.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poala Legarre has written a beautifully illustrated book about a subject she is passionate about: LAVENDER.



I was drawn to the title of this book because lavender is one of my favourite herbs. The essential oils made from this healing plant has lulled me to sleep, has soothed burns from oil splatters, and lightly scented my busy workspace.



I certainly do plan on ordering this lovely book from my local library. I am sure that the gorgeous illustrations (scattered throughout the book and accompanying the various recipes on how to cook with lavender) are something wondrous to behold.



I will confess that it took me quite some time to get through this book because it was only available on the NetGalley Reader Ap. I never succeeded in opening this ARC on my desktop computer browser, and reading this on my iPhone XR never did this beautifully crafted book justice. All that lovely lavender in its varying colours - shrunk to a few inches. Why, oh why, does everyone assume that we readers and reviewers have the latest iPad or gizmos? I have my ancient Kindle, my old XR iPhone - which still works very well, thank you!, a useless Samsung tablet that closes down at its own whims, and an extremely large and very old (probably 1st or 2nd generation) iPad that is not compatible with the NetGalley Reader ap. From now on, any ARCs that can only be read on the NetGalley Reader ap will be by-passed by me.



As I said, from what I could see of it, this book was a labour of love by the author, Paola Legarre. For this reason, I am rating it a 4 out of 5 glowing stars, despite the fact that it took a Herculean effort on my part to read it and squint at the various illustrations. My thanks to the author and her publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavender for All Seasons by Paola Legarre
A Gardener's Guide to Growing and Creating with Lavender Year-Round Paperback – June 3, 2025
An essential guide to to the multifaceted plant, from a passionate gardener.
Lavender for All Seasons covers everything you need to know about the basics of growing lavender. Inspirational crafts and recipes that follow the seasons of the year will empower readers to discover how to integrate lavender beyond the garden and into the apothecary, pantry, and crafting space. For over twenty years, gardening expert Paola Legarre has been implementing sustainable farming practices, nourishing soil life, avoiding herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, rotating plantings with cover crops, and encouraging pollinators and beneficial insects through diversified plant hedgerows, and companion planting. With Legarre as a guide, readers will discover:
·The basics of growing lavender in different zones and conditions
·Growing requirements for healthy plants, including advice on pruning, pest control, propagation, and more
·An array of the best lavender varieties including species and cultivars for cooking, essential oils, crafting, landscaping and more
·Incorporating lavender as a key pollinator plant in your garden
·How to harvest and preserve lavender flowers for multiple uses, including techniques for drying and distilling
·Enjoying the harvest with delicious recipes incorporating lavender as an essential herb in the kitchen
The pictures are wonderful.
Lots of good information.
I Highly recommend this book.
Lavender for All Seasons by Paola Legarre is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Paola Legarre.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Chatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I initially expected "Lavender For All Seasons" by Paola Legarre to be a beautiful coffee table book filled with inspiring photographs, but it surpassed my expectations in every way. This book is incredibly comprehensive, providing detailed insights into everything from soil preparation and different lavender varieties to detailed profiles, proper harvesting techniques, and even precise cutting methods.

What truly impressed me was how thorough the information was, clearly demonstrating the author's extensive knowledge and passion for lavender cultivation. Whether you're starting with a small garden bed or aiming to scale up to commercial farming, this book covers it all. As someone planning to plant 50 Munstead lavender plugs from Farmer Bailey this spring, I wish I'd encountered this invaluable resource earlier. The author’s recommendation of Edelweiss lavender for hydrosols caught my eye, as I love discovering unique varieties that aren't typically available at local nurseries. It’s exactly the kind of specialized guidance I was hoping to find.

An extra delight for me was the book’s relevance to my gardening zone and region, Colorado, which made the advice even more practical and encouraging.

My sincere thanks to the publisher for granting my wish through NetGalley. If you're considering growing lavender at any scale, this book is an essential and inspiring guide.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone with a few lavender plants in my landscape, I was intrigued by the possibilities offered in this book. In Lavender for All Seasons, Paola Legarre distills over two decades of hands-on experience into a beautifully written and visually rich guide that is equal parts gardening manual, seasonal craft book, and celebration of lavender’s enduring charm.

This book is a gentle, beautiful guide to not only enjoying the beauty of the lavender plant in my garden, but how to care for it more completely, and use it for crafting and perhaps trying a recipe to bake with it.

The photography by Kenneth Redding is a standout—lush and inviting. It not only illustrates techniques but captures the serenity and beauty that lavender brings to daily life. The colors bring out the beauty of each variety of lavender.

Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the opportunity to read this ARC copy.

[Lee Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavender for All Seasons - Paola Legarre

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow, this book has such beautiful photography and amazing detail, very informative and it’s clear Paola likes to share her love for lavender with others (that’s why I’m here) the baking and the crafts are always my favourite in books like these and there are lots of things to be made right here.

Can’t wait to make….

🪻All purpose Lavender cleaner! 🪻
I love the smell of Lavender and I stick by what I always say “Lavender is my favourite scent ever!”
🪻Lavender wreath! 🪻
I can imagine the lovely lavender scent throughout my home (I wouldn’t put the wreath on the front door as it would probably get stolen or broken by the local dickheads but not only that I want that smell indoors!)

I personally found the presentation inspiring and I can’t wait for this years lavender harvest 👌🏻🪻💜

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavender for All Seasons by Paola Legarre is a super book about growing lavender along with craft and recipe ideas in the book.

I really enjoyed this book adn picked up lots of new tips for growing my lavender plants. The Author has a huge amount of expertise on the subject which shines though.

I think my favourite thing about the book was the beautiful photographs. They are stunning and makes you want to get lavender plants like in the photos. There are such great ideas for crafting and recipes to make your mouth water as well. Its a book you will return to time and again for help in your growing,

Thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for the ARC Copy of this book. My review is my own opinion.

[Sofya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavender for All Seasons
Author: Paola Legarre
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is like a lavender encyclopedia! It lists so many different varieties of lavender with details on grow zones, origins, flower descriptions and more. Then it goes into how to grow, propagate and harvest. The author also features different culinary uses for lavender, as well as, different seasonal crafts including making salves. This is such a fantastic resource that would be great for beginners and advanced gardeners alike! Highly recommend adding this to your shelf!

Thanks to NetGalley, Timber Press and Paola Legarre for an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts in this review are my own.

[Bargain Sleuth Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I developed a love of lavender lemonade a few years ago, and I also come from a family that makes a lot of their own food stuffs, whether it's gardening or going to farmer's markets or mushroom hunting. This year, I decided to make my own lavender syrup for my tea and lemonade.

This book offers up a lot about lavender! From the many different types of lavender and how to grow them, to the plethora of recipes, I'm going to get a lot of use out of this book. The pictures are gorgeous, and the text is very informative. Recommend!

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read as someone who visited the Hunstanton Lavender farm and has some lavender plants in my garden too, I was really happy to read this book and hear about how someone's family has history of growing and nurturing the plant through generations.

Learning the history and uses of the plants over the years was really interesting with surprising depth and detail about the plants, with beautiful photo's showing the plants in all their colour glory and detail it was a beautiful book in layout and design the passion the author has for the plants clear to see.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

From choosing which varieties to plant, to harvesting and enjoying your yield - this is a comprehensive guide to all things lavender. Packed with gorgeous photos, there are also plenty of recipe and craft ideas. (There's even one for dog shampoo!)



A great book for both beginners and experienced gardeners.

Thanks to NetGalley and Timber Press for sharing.

[Loretta Runyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about my 4th time trying to grow lavender. After reading this book, I think I may have it this time! I certainly hope so!
This book has encouraged me to keep at it. There are many uses mentioned that I never knew of. If I can grow a nice harvest, I have some friends I now know I can barter with!
The book isn't just about growing lavender but what all you can do with it! I love that the author adds craft ideas & recipes.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was interesting and I learned alot! This is full of information from planting to cooking lavender. This book teaches about the basic parts of the lavender plant which was interesting. The photos are really pretty throughout and do a great job of showcasing just how beautiful lavender is. If you enjoy gardening, I would highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Paola Legarre, Timber Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

i absolutely love lavender. i actually have a tattoo of lavender! so this book was so fun to read to learn more about how to plant lavender, harvest it, and things i can do with it. in the summer, by me, there are a few lavender fields and i love going there to harvest lavender bundles, so this summer i will be having to try some of the cooking and craft recipes💜

[Mary Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All things lavender! Information on pretty much anything you’d need to grow and use lavender. Aimed at gardeners with a decent sized plot but crafters and cooks who have access to the right supplies would also enjoy certain chapters. Good bibliography but the sources section leaves out the eastern and southern US states. A great gift book and a good basic resource.

[Thebestdogmom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book. So much information about lavender. Somethings I knew and a lot I didn’t. I know I’ll be making some of the recipes too!

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal; full review appears there.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning book about lavender. So many colors, varieties, and photographs of them. This is the only lavender book you would ever need!

Thank you Netgalley and Timber Press for the ARC!

[Anna Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Lavender For All Seasons by Paola Legarre.

This was a beautiful book full of information on different types of lavender. It gives a history on Paola’s lavender journey and her knowledge into the plant in general.

It details how to select the variety you will need to plant for your needs, growing, caring, harvesting and using the lavender. It also has chapters for cooking and crafting with lavender. I’m adding the recipes for simple lavender syrup and lavender honey to my recipe collection, as they look delicious.

Lavender For All Seasons is the perfect book for the flower lover.

[Simona Gianotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dopo il periodo "rosa" è arrivato il mio periodo "lavanda". Questo manuale è una fonte notevole di spunti sia per la coltivazione che per l'utilizzo di questa bellissima piantina. Spunti che vanno dalla profumazione (ça va sans dire) ma anche il suo impiego in cucina (per tisane, biscotti, mix insaporitori con altre erbe aromatiche, ecc. )