By Jim McCausland, Sunset senior garden writer

Mike Lee is a gifted Northwest horticultural artist, gardener, nurseryman, and landscape architect, so when he imagines a garden, it’s just a short step from there to reality. You can see and follow an example of his work by ordering a copy of his Garden Herbs poster from Good Nature Publishing in Seattle. In it, Lee shows a perfect little herb garden that features 32 kinds of herbs in situ and in closeup.

Using the poster as a planting plan, you could recreate this in your own garden, and never have to buy herbs again. Get the 18- by 24-inch laminated version for $20.

Apart from herbs' magnificent fragrance, their wonderful culinary potential, and the drought tolerance of most, herbs also tend to be deer resistant. If you live in deer country, that may be the biggest draw of all.