Maumee Valley Herb Society

By Geraldine Adamich Laufer

This beautiful book describes a tussie-mussie as a “talking bouquet”. A tussie-mussie is a circular nosegay made of fragrant herbs and flowers in a holder that tells a story according to the language of flowers. Such a bouquet may express sentiments as athletic victory, faith, friendship, forgiveness, generosity, good health, joy, love, protection, sympathy, wealth or wisdom. Eight pages of sentiments are found in this book. The word tuzzy mussy first appeared in the Oxford English dictionary in 1440.

Since the sixteenth century, these little bouquets have been considered essential. They were carried, worn in the hair, pinned to gowns, or suspended from chains. Where the tussie-mussie was worn changed its meaning. If worn in the hair, it meant caution, but when worn in the cleavage, the meaning was friendship. If worn over the heart, this was a declaration of love. So many sentiments could be included in these bouquets that dozens of dictionaries were published during the nineteenth century to help decipher the language of flowers. Read the rest of this entry »

By Barbara Segall, Louise Pickford and Rosa Hammick – published by Ryland Peters and Small

This book is divided into five sections. The first section, Super Herbs, profiles the authors’ choices of twenty super herbs. Their list includes Basil, Bay, Chamomile, Chervil, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Sorrel, Tarragon, and Thyme.

Gardening with Herbs suggests various ways to grow herbs both indoors and out, such as planting herbs among vegetables, making herbal hedges, growing herbs in containers, and other ways to add herbs to your garden.

Living with Herbs discusses making such items as potpourris, sachets, pomanders, and a winter wreath. Herbs are used to provide a pleasant aroma to a log fire, as decorations throughout the home, in making cleaning products, and bath and body products.

Cooking with Herbs includes recipes for vinegars, dressings, oils, butters, appetizers, snacks, entrees, salads, desserts, and beverages.

The A-Z of Herbs discusses more than 70 herbs and tells the height and spread of each, the zones they grow in, and culinary uses for each herb. This book is beautifully illustrated and I believe you will find it a good read.

Written by Marybeth Landis