"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
-- Aristotle
-- Aristotle
NC Unit, Herb Society of America, Inc.
2024 - 2025 Program Schedule
September 19, 2026: The Peace Garden with Carroll Larkin
October 17, 2024: The Fall and Winter Garden with Meg Shelton of Shelton Farms
November 21, 2024: Habitat Gardening with Native Species with Dale Batchelor
December 19, 2024: Holiday Celebration
January 16, 2025: Tea Gardens with Christine Parks
February 20, 2025: Skunk Cabbage? Really?? with Carol Ann McCormick (with NC Botanical Garden)
March 20, 2025: The Forest Garden with Katie Loovis
April 17, 2025: Herbal Dyes with Barbara Harris
May 15, 2025: Annual Meeting & Picnic
All meetings begin at 10:00 am, lunch following the meeting.
If you are not a member and would like to attend a meeting, please use the contact form below so we can give you location details.
October 17, 2024: The Fall and Winter Garden with Meg Shelton of Shelton Farms
November 21, 2024: Habitat Gardening with Native Species with Dale Batchelor
December 19, 2024: Holiday Celebration
January 16, 2025: Tea Gardens with Christine Parks
February 20, 2025: Skunk Cabbage? Really?? with Carol Ann McCormick (with NC Botanical Garden)
March 20, 2025: The Forest Garden with Katie Loovis
April 17, 2025: Herbal Dyes with Barbara Harris
May 15, 2025: Annual Meeting & Picnic
All meetings begin at 10:00 am, lunch following the meeting.
If you are not a member and would like to attend a meeting, please use the contact form below so we can give you location details.
Seeing Winter.....
British soldiers peering through fallen pine needles.
c. K.Schlosser
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British soldiers lichen, Cladonia cristatella
This pretty little lichen can be found widely scattered around North Carolina, though mostly overlooked until the tops of some of the branches turn bright red. Those red parts are spore producing bodies known as apothecia. Released spores are unable to produce new plants (they need assistance of alga), but may also serve as a warning to animals NOT to eat them - they are toxic to most. Or so some think; others think the red attracts herbivores that spread the spores. They are not useful to us as a food source, and even Native Americans list its usefulness only as food for elks. They do, however, transfer nitrogen from the air to the soil in a form usable by plants and they break down old wood which returns nutrients to the soil. They can grow on rocks which assists in breaking rock down eventually adding nutrients to the soil. As with most lichens, an absence of lichens is a indication of the presence of air pollution and an unhealthy atmosphere. |
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LOTS OF HERBS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
Autumn is finally in the air, and we still have a number of herbs available in our gardens, many of which will be useful for our holiday celebrations. To the left is one of my favorites, Allium cernuum, Nodding onion, which bloomed well into September. It grows to about 10" tall in my garden (in nearly full sun) and is perfect as a border plant. There is another species in North Carolina--Allium allegheniense which is found in only 4 northern western counties. It grows a little taller, and flower color is a little deeper - more magenta than the pink of Nodding onion. All parts of Allium species are edible, bulbs, leaves and flowers, with a distinct but less harsh onion flavor than the big onions we buy at farmers markets and groceries, or grow in our gardens. The bulbs can reach about 2 inches x 3/4 inch, and can be roasted or chopped to use in recipes. Chop the stems for use in salads or cooking, or use as a garnish on plates--or use them to tie little bundles of asparagus or whole green beans. The flowers can also be used to decorate plates with the familiar onion fragrance, or put them into a bottle of vinegar and allow them to steep for a couple of weeks. Then strain them out and you have a lovely onion-flavored vinegar. If you use white vinegar, it will turn a pretty pink. The 2nd photo to the left was taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway!
3rd photo to the left is Variegated sage, Salvia officinalis 'Aurea' The flavor is just what you expect from sage. The variegation simply brightens little spots in your garden. The leaves can be used fresh, or brought inside to dry. Sage has been an important medicinal plant since the earliest of time. It's reputation expanded to include its use to ward off evil spirits. In Germany a proverb evolved advising "for a ripe old age, in May you eat sage”. We highly recommend it, especially around Thanksgiving. A Herb Society member from Maryland, Susan Belsinger (author of many wonderful cookbooks), suggests using dried sage leaves in the cornbread that you bake for use in making stuffing for turkey. Genius idea! Sage also works well with apples, so if baking an apple or a pie, add a little sage to your recipe. If you are making fresh cranberry sauce, add a little chopped sage. 4th photo to left - Sage in bloom K.S. From Sue H. - bringing plants inside
I'm sending you a picture of my Streptocarpus that I got at Big Bloomers 2 years ago. It is better known as Cape primrose.
I kept it outside in a shady place that got dappled sunlight. As nighttime temperatures cooled, I brought it inside. Some species of Streptocarpus have medicinal or culinary properties, though I don't recommend using this plant except for its beauty. S.H. |
Rose hips (Rosa rugosa)
Ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving
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When you have finished with garden tasks, plan a visit to a forest to soak in the tranquility and beauty of the season. Carry a thermos of tea with you!
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