The Herbal Year

An enchanting, beautifully illustrated guide to seasonal plants—showing the long history of herbal remedies and their uses today

“[A] charming almanac. . . . Hart-Davies, a writer and botanical illustrator whose watercolors enliven her book, . . . offers a lively combination of folk history and modern science; they overlap in intriguing ways.“—Priscilla M. Jensen, Wall Street Journal

From sweet violets in spring to rosemary in winter, via marigolds, sage, elderberries, and hops, every season has its own bounty of herbs and plants.

Christina Hart-Davies presents a delightful guide to common plants as they appear throughout the year. Drawing on writers, storytellers, and poets from across the centuries, she examines the long history of herbal remedies. She shows how plants have been used for healing and unearths the stories and beliefs that surround them—including simple recipes for use at home.

Fully illustrated with exquisitely detailed watercolours, this is an inspirational guide to exploring our age-old relationship with plants. Readers will discover the hidden secrets of the plants that surround us and, through this, will be able to reconnect with our place in nature. We have relied on plants throughout our history. We still do, and, with luck, we always will.

Author Biography

Christina Hart-Davies is a renowned botanical illustrator and writer. Her watercolours have featured in prestigious collections worldwide and have won many awards, including six RHS gold medals. She has illustrated many books and field guides, most notably The Collins Wild Flower Guide, and is the author of A Wild Plant Year, The Greenwood Trees, and The Whole Story.