Secrets from a herbalist's garden A magical year of plant remedies

Dunbar (The Spirit of the Hedgerow), founder of Botanica Medica herbal apothecary, gives readers a glimpse into her herb cabinet in this uplifting guide. "There is no greater alchemy," she writes, "than collecting healing plants from your garden or the wild transforming them into medicine." The recipes that follow are organized by season: Elderberries and turmeric help immunity and are a good fit for winter; spring equinox is a time for "detoxifying" with nettle and ground elder; cornsilk and elderflowers are good for "hot and itchy conditions" in summer; and autumn is a good time to use dandelion and lawn daisy for "joints, which stiffen and ache." As well, Dunbar shares tips for gathering and foraging: California poppies are "very well suited to pot growing," while linden trees are easily found in most parks. Charming black-and-white line drawings punctuate the pages, and Dunbar's compassionate approach will appeal to readers looking to get in touch with nature: "When you pick some leaves, do give it a stroke of appreciation, for it is a generous and powerful ally." Readers with an affinity for natural remedies will find this a resource worth returning to. (May)