The North Carolina Unit is a member organization of The Herb Society of America, Inc.  We have 65 members who live from Wilmington to Cashiers.  Most meetings are held in Greensboro.

We are bonded by our interest in the fragrant, useful plants called herbs, and by our interest in gardening, research, cooking, crafting, research, writing, and assisting our community.

Members of the public are welcomed at our meetings.  Please CONTACT US to reserve a seat.

If you would like to stay for lunch, we will give you instructions for mailing in your reservation, which must be made by the date(s) indicated below. 




FROST FLOWERS on Cunila origanoides, Maryland dittany
C.Katherine Schlosser
Frost flowers form only on a few plant species, including our native Cunila, which smells like thyme.  The temperature and humidity have to be perfect for the "flowers" to form at the base of dead stems.  They are delightful to watch, and these were observed in my front yard on December 5th. 

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2018 - 2019 Meeting Schedule

Upcoming programs:
 
December 20, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. 
Place:  Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program:  Annual Holiday Brunch & Festivities
· Bot & Hort, Susan Dorn
Þ Brunch:  $12.00 to Roman Lavore by December 10th
Þ No Business—Just enjoying the holidays together!
 
January 17, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Place:  Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program:  HSA Notable Native Herb 2019--Equisetum (horsetail).  Katherine Schlosser will present a program on the Notable Native Herb Program and the 2019 selection.
· Botany & Hort, Susan Dorn
· Unit Business:  Terry Wheeler, Chair
Þ Lunch:  $12.00 to  Roman Lavore by Jan. 7th
 
February 21, 2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Place:  Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program:  Flax and Linseed.  A presentation by Susan Edquist and Barbara Harris.
· Botany & Hort, Susan Dorn
· Unit Business:  Terry Wheeler, Chair
Þ Lunch $12.00 to Roman Lavore by Feb. 11th
 
March 21, 2019,  2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Place:  Paul J. Ciener Bontanical Gardens, 215 South Main Street, Kernersville, NC  27284 
Program:  David Culp—The Layered Garden
· Unit Business:  Terry Wheeler, Chair
 
April  17—18, 2019  HERB SALE 
Place: Greek Orthodox Church, Westridge & Friendly
Set-up:  April 17th.    Sale:  April 18th    
 
May  16,  2019 at 9:30 a.m.
Place:  Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program:  Stesha Warren—Forest Farming and Foraging.
· Botany & Hort, Susan Dorn
· Unit Business:  Terry Wheeler, Chair
Þ Lunch $12.00 to Roman Lavore by May 10th

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Eastern box turtle,  Terrapene carolina​

Eastern box turtle                                             Katherine Schlosser

A lot of attention is given to pollinators these days, and rightly so.  But there are other garden helpers in our yards.  One is the Eastern Box Turtle, populations of which are now declining due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation.

We know well that they eat a number of things in our herb and vegetable gardens, especially tomatoes.  What I never thought about before is that what they eat also gets dispersed (in a natural but "private" manner), and that dispersal includes SEEDS!

Some of the plants that are dispersed in this manner include our native plants such as passion flower, redbud, pokeberry, blackberries, Mayapple, Solomon's seal, and grapes.  There are likely many others but this is an area not especially well researched.

The fellow above was spotted in my front yard the 1st of November.  He was moving quickly so the phone camera, being close at hand, allowed me to "catch" him (yes, I believe this is a male as his tail is long.  Females have shorter tails.  There are other ways to tell but I don't like to disturb them by picking them up.)

This may be the same one I have seen in my yard for the past 10 years.  If so, he looks healthy and I hope he has a mate and that they have been reproducing.  

There is lots of helpful information for providing good habitat in your yard and neighborhood at Neighborhood Box Turtle Watch. 

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Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans

                                                       Photo courtesy Anne Abbott

Pineapple sage may still be in bloom in your garden.  It is one of the last nectar containing herbs available to hummingbirds and long-tongued bees.  We enjoy is for its' luscious pineapple fragrance.  The flowers can be sprinkled in salads to add color and maybe a little flavor, but don't overdo use of this herb.

Herb Gallery

Not much better than a lovely picnic featuring herbs with a group of friends.

Monarda bradburiana, formerly M. fistulosa, eastern beebalm.

Gillenia trifoliata, Bowman's root.