What our editors are reading this month.

Written by acclaimed Arizona lavender farmer and cooking instructor Terry Barlin Vesci and Phoenix-based journalist Jessica Dunham, “The Lavender Companion” contains inspiration and ideas for bringing the fragrance and flavor of the versatile purple herb into daily life. The book profiles popular varieties, their recommended uses and the history, lore and medicinal properties. From watermelon summer salad to lavender ice cream, more than 40 recipes showcase the flowering shrub in delicious dishes, crafts and body products. $26 (hachettebookgroup.com)

“Elevated: Art on the High Line” by Cecilia Alemani is a compelling chronicle of the public art program that has transformed New York City’s High Line into an open-air art gallery. Through detailed narratives and striking imagery, the tome highlights the intersection of contemporary art and urban landscape, capturing the essence of this unique cultural experience. $60 (phaidon.com)

“Taliesin West: At Home with Frank Lloyd Wright” by Phoenix Home & Garden contributor Nora Burba Trulsson, provides an intimate exploration of Wright’s iconic desert retreat, offering fresh insights into his visionary design philosophy on organic architecture. This richly illustrated hardcover with photography by Andrew Pielage captures the essence of Taliesin West as both a home and a laboratory for architectural innovation. $45 (rizzoliusa.com)

“The Aluminaire House” by Jon Michael Schwarting and Frances Campani, is an in-depth examination of the pioneering dwelling, its significance in modern architectural history and its influence on sustainable building practices. The home was conceived and constructed by architects Lawrence Kocher and Albert Frey as an exhibition house for the Allied Arts and Industry and Architectural League Exhibition of 1931 at the Grand Central Palace in New York City. Constructed of mostly aluminum and glass, it was intended to be mass-produced and affordable, using inexpensive, off-the-shelf materials. This meticulously researched volume provides a comprehensive narrative of the structure’s design, construction and enduring influence. $40 (gibbs-smith.com)