Volume 9, Issue 1, January 2000
The Black Swamp Herb Socity, with Gardens at the Wood County Historical Center
A Potpourri of Thoughts & Events
For years Christmas sales and special events were marked by the sight of Angela Bair, our treasurer, flying in with the cash box stuffed with change, receipt books, calculator, pencil and all that was needed. She has filled out the forms and handled the sales tax to keep us legal. Many, many thanks for the years of service. Due to her many life pressures Angela is retiring from this job and Sandy Hayden will be taking her place. Thank you Sandy.
After Christmas sales of Aromawraps remain brisk. Completed wraps are in a plastic bin in the Chicken Coop if anyone is interested. The Society gave wraps as parting gifts to retiring Andrew Kalmar and Pat Smith. When in pain they can remember us fondly. We will have a sewing party in February, as this is a year round project.
On the next page are some ideas for a “Children’s Garden.” Neither are terribly complicated. If anybody is interested in making that a special project, perhaps with a friend, let Frances or Chris know.
Progress report on the Chicken Coop! A contractor and electrician have been out to survey the job. Estimates are being made on complete rewiring. We are looking at a new fuse box, fluorescent lighting designed for unheated buildings and outlets on every wall. Doors (notice the plural) will be made accessible and we are talking dry wall over the “historic” lathe work. Imagine the joys of a wooden floor.
Share any high priority remodeling ideas you have with Frances.
Monday, January 24 with Marlene Long and Louise Savage hostessing, is our first meeting in the new year. The Master Gardener Program will be lead by Phyllis Hyder. We are invited to MVHS March 11 book signing with Joy Larkham of Creative Vegetable Gardening at 2 pm at the Botanical Garden. Reservation are $3.00. Mark your calendars for the annual joint bus trip on August 16 to Cleveland Botanical Gardens plus other joys.
Phyllis e-mailed:
“I am a relatively new, but passionate gardener! This passion has led me to become a Master Gardener (class of *99). I am Vice President of the Maumee Valley Herb Society and a member of the Organic Garden Club at the 577 Foundation and the Countyside Garden Club. A fair number of my volunteer hours are spent in the herb garden at the Toledo Botanical Garden and the Waterville Land Lab. At home, I experiment with composting (including vermicomposting), water gardening, and tend to a variety of mixed perennial beds. Mostly I enjoy interacting with gardeners who share my enthusiasm to learn more and experiment with all facets of gardening and who are eager to pass on their experience to others.”
Recipes for a Child’s Herb Garden & Love
(From the website of the Herb Society of America)
A Pizza Garden
Allium sativum – Garlic
Allium cepa – Onion
Brassica oleracea – Botrytis Group Broccoli
Capsicum Annum – Pepper
Coriandrum sativum – Cilantro
Cynara scolymus – Artichoke
Lycopersicon esculentum – Plum, or Roma Tomato
Ocimum basilicum – Basil
Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum – Oregano
Petroselinum crispum var. neopolitanum – Italian Parsley
Spinacia oleracea – Spinach
Language of herbal love
“There’s fennel for you, and columbines. There’s rue for you; and here’s some for me. We may call it herb of grace a Sundays. O, you must wear your rue with a difference. There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they wither’d all when my father died.” Ophelia, Hamlet Act IV, Scene 5
Herbs have served as symbols of human emotions in many cultures and over many generations. A medieval painter used flowers and herbs as so many cartoon captions.
In Victorian England there was a revival of such sentiments and a codified language of love, potentially useful to planners of engagement parties, weddings and anniversaries.
Burnet: a merry heart
Calendula: health, joy
Carnation: admiration, pure love Dill: good spirits
Johnny-jump up: happy thoughts
Ivy: fidelity, wedding love
Lamb’s ears: support
Lavender: devotion, undying love, luck
Lemon verbena; unity
Marjoram: blushes, joy
Mint: warmth of feeling
Myrtle: fidelity, everlasting love, married bliss Oregano: joy, happiness Parsley: festivity Queen-Anne’s lace: protection
Rose (pink): beauty, grace; (red) passion, love, luck;
(while) unity, love, respect, innocence
Rose geranium: preference
Sage: domestic virtue, long life
Silver-king artemisia: sentimental recollections
Thyme: courage, strength
Verbena: faithfulness, marriage
Wormwood: affection
An International Garden
Allium christophii – Star of Persia
Allium fistulosum – Welsh Onion
Allium satiimm var. ophioscorodon – French Garlic
Arctotis spp. – African Daisy
Artemisia dracunculus – “Satova” French Tarragon
Lavandula Angustifolia – English Lavender
Lavandula stoechas – French Lavender
Matricaria recutita – German Chamomile
Nepeta sibirica – Siberian Catmint
Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum – Greek Oregano
Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian Sage
Petroselinum crispum var. neopolitanum – Italian Parsley
Tagetes erecta – African Marigold
Tithonia rotundifolia – Mexican Sunflower
Zinnia angustifolia – Mexican Zinnia
Rosemary – herb of the year – folklore
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you love, remember.”
– Ophelia, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
Rosemary has long symbolized love, loyalty and friendship. Rosemary sprigs dropped in a grave is a gesture to remember and celebrate the deceased. Medieval Europe thought of rosemary as a guardian against evil and a plant that would grow only in the garden of the righteous. A wreath of rosemary was a study aid in ancient Greece. In homes where rosemary flourishes the woman is supposedly in charge. “Rosemary will not grow well unless the Mistress is master.”
Some Hip Ideas
It is a pleasure just saying the phrase “rose hip.” Saying and seeing are not doing anything. Advice from the February The Herb Companion, written by Toledo’s Rachel Albert-Matesz, gives some clues.
Rose hips are ready to pick as soon as they have attained their mature color. Light frost brings out sweetness, but hard freezing and thawing are not good. Do not use hips from chemically sprayed plants. Process soon after picking to preserve Vitamin C content.
To dry hips – wash large hips, cut off blossom and stem ends, cut in half, remove the seeds, spread on trays, and dry in an oven set at 110 degrees until hips are hard and brittle. Small hips can be dried whole. Store in airtight jars.
May be frozen in plastic bags after washing and trimming.
When ready to use, cover hips with water and simmer until soft. Strain out any seeds and use the pulp for jam or jelly. (See Sage Thymes, September 99).
Recommended reference for those interested in medicinal herbs: Earl Mindell’s Herb Bible.
‘The plants that are closest to you are those of your childhood. Those are the ones you truly love.”
– V.S. Naipal
