New book (aka The Genus Lavandula)

Re Scott's message, I'm sure The Genus Lavandula will be available pretty soon over your way.  And it's well worth the wait as you already know having had a peep at it!.

Re Kathy's posting, both of Virginia McNaughton's books are still widely available as far as I'm aware.    Her first book, The Essential Lavender was published in 1994 in New Zealand and I'm glad to see it is still about.  Her second book, Lavender, the grower's guide, published 2000, is distributed by Timber Press in the US.  I was privileged to be asked to write the foreword to this book and I have always included Virginia's books on my brief reading list on the web and intend to continue doing so.

Susyn Andrews, co-author of The Genus Lavandula, visited Virginia (among others) in New Zealand during preparation of the monograph, and Virginia is widely quoted in relation to the New Zealand and Australian cultivars.  Susyn also visited Andy Van Hevelingen in Oregon (again among others) in her quest to discover the origins and identities of modern cultivars.  Art Tucker (Delaware State University) with Brian Lawrence has contributed a chapter on essential oils and their uses.

The revision of the horticultural taxonomy presented in this book is an outstanding and significant contribution to the study of Lavandula and will be of interest to lavender growers and nursery owners worldwide. Sorry if this sounds like a review, but it's difficult to overestimate the value of the book as a state of the art document.  The authors still call for responses and information from readers in the knowledge that further work is necessary.  I have here omitted reference to the revision of the classification by Tim Upson, other co-author, simply because of space.   And if you are still reading this, I know you will enjoy the book.

Joan Head
Editor The Lavender Bag
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