Cultivated since ancient times for their medicinal, culinary and fragrant properties, herbs are one of the most versatile plant groups. "Herbaceous" is a complete guide to the growing of herbs - from planning and designing a herb garden to harvesting and using herbs for cooking, cosmetics, perfumes and medicines. This A-Z guide to herbs includes: the historical background on the cultivation of herbs through the ages; a comprehensive guide to growing herbs covering everything from preparing garden beds to propagating, harvesting and storing; special spreads that cover preserving herbs, edible weeds, herbal teas, culinary herbs, medicinal herbs and insect-repelling herbs; history of herb garden design, descriptions of famous European and Asian herb gardens, and ideas on designing your own herb garden, from traditional to contemporary; a problem-solving guide, including organic control of pests and diseases; and step-by-step projects.