Photo credit: Kim Rush Lynch
Join us at these upcoming events.
The Herb Society hosts several signature events each year in addition to our member meetings. Please see our calendar below for more information about our programming and events.
Under the Arbor Series.
The Potomac Unit, a well as other members of the Mid-Atlantic Units of the Herb Society of America, presents a series of informal drop-in, free demonstrations on herb related topics at the US National Arboretum each season. Check back here for details.
Annual Herb Sale.
Each year the Potomac Unit hosts an herb sale with unique offerings in conjunction with the Friend’s of the National Arboretum’s annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale at the U.S. National Arboretum. The last weekend in April, this plant sale is a good source for finding unusual herbs and whimsical herbal crafts. Visit the the FONA website for more information: http://www.fona.org.
Chili Celebration.
Love chili peppers? So do we! We are excited to host yet another fantastic chili pepper celebration at the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum in October 2022.
Our calendar below may have more information about these activities.
Herb Study.
The Herb Study group meets to further their knowledge of herbs through research and study. They also enjoy snacks sharing their culinary experiences with dishes incorporating a featured herb.
Rose Beads.
Rose beads are botanical beads made of compressed roses strung together like a garland, often used as an aromatic necklace. The Rose Bead group meets bimonthly, usually on Fridays. Please contact us to participate or to purchase herbal jewelry designed and created by Potomac Unit members.
Herbal Workshops.
The Herbal Workgroup sponsors a series of “hands-on” workshops focusing on growing, crafting, and cooking with herbs. Most workshops are fee based.
Greek Gods
Members from Herb Society of America's Mid-Atlantic Units will highlight herbs associated with Greek Gods, the theme of the entrance to the National Herb Garden. The Pennsylvania Heartland Unit will be showcasing Asclepius, the Philadelphia Unit will show herbs of the zodiac and the Potomac Unit will showcase the herb of the year - Achillea/yarrow.
Yearly Plant Sale
An Abundance of Herbs for Sale!
Are you looking for a hard to find herb?
We will have over 85 varieties of herbs for sale.
Medicinal Herb Garden at Antietam National Battlefield
Dr. Greg Susla will talk about his work in expanding the 19th century medicinal herb garden on the grounds of the Pry House Field Hospital Museum on the Antietam National Battlefield. The garden has over 35 different herbal varieties that are representative of plants that would have been grown during the period in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The presentation will be on Zoom.
Connie Hilker – owner of Hartwood Roses
Connie Hilker – owner of Hartwood Roses in Fredericksburg, VA. Connie to speak on preserving heirloom roses. Connie is a lifelong gardener with over 600 varieties of roses in her personal collection. She is the chair of the Heritage and Preservation Committee of the American Rose Society, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Rose Foundation, and Old Garden Rose chair for the American Rose Society Colonial District. Connie manages the documentation, preservation, and restoration of the historic rose collection at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, and is the rose consultant at the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The event is free and guests are encouraged. There is plenty of free parking and refreshments will be served.
Annual Chile Celebration
The Herb Society of America Units in the mid-Atlantic area come together to provide information about chiles, as well as different chiles and food made with chiles to taste. The event is free and open to the public.
Under the Arbor Event
The Herb Society of America Units will come together and can answer herb-related questions.
The Perfect Bite
Come gather in-person September 14, 2022 (Wednesday) from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at the US National Arboretum classroom for our first program of the year.
Important Information to know before you go -
Cooking Demo + Tasting/RSVP We are excited to announce that Susan is prepared to provide us with a cooking demonstration and recipe tasting from her new book during the program. For this activity, we will need to let Susan know how many people plan to attend on September 14 in advance. If you are interested in attending the program, please send an RSVP to Kari Barrett at kpbrrtt@gmail.com by September 7.
To Receive an Autographed Book at the Meeting We are not able to sell book at the USNA but Susan has graciously agreed to deliver pre-purchased books to interested members at the meeting. If you would like a copy of Susan’s book delivered to you at the September 14 program, please email Susan directly at sbcooks@susanbelsinger.com with potomac unit hsa book order in the subject line. In your email, let her know how many books you want and who she should autograph it to. You can then mail her a check or pay her through Paypal or Venmo (@sbcooks). The cost of the book is $23.99.
Alternatively, members can send her a message and check ($23.99 per book) through the mail by September 5 (to ensure she receives your request in time).
Table at Blooming Hill Lavender Farm
The Potomac Unit will have an educational table and can answer herb related questions.
Under the Arbor Event
The Herb Society of America Units in the mid-Atlantic area come together to provide information about a particular herb-related theme and for June it is tussie mussies.
Under the Arbor Event
The “Under the Arbor” events are literally under the arbor (i.e., outside) in the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. Herb Society of America Units in the mid-Atlantic area come together to provide information about a particular herb-related theme, which is roses for May.
Montgomery County Master Gardeners Grow It, Eat It Event
The Potomac Unit will have an educational display and can answer herb-related questions. This is outdoors; the rain date is Sunday, May 15. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
How to Make Tussie Mussies
The Potomac Unit will demonstrate how to make tussie mussies.
Glencarlyn Spring Celebration and Plant Sale
The Potomac Unit will have an educational display and can answer herb related questions.
Potomac Unit Meeting with Holly Schimizu
The Potomac Unit’s next meeting will feature another well-respected professional horticulturist who has been educated locally, at the University of Maryland, and has dedicated herself to educating locally. Now retired, she is sharing her education and gardening experience literally in and near her own backyard in the Village of Glen Echo MD and in the sustainable gardens of a home in Lewes, Delaware.
Long-time member of the Potomac Unit and first curator of the National Herb Garden, Holly has been watching and working with roses over the years as she served in, as it is said, The DMV (District of Columbia, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and Virginia’s Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, while also living in the State of Maryland).
Holly Shimizu will present a program called “Fragrant Low-care Herbal Roses” just in time to help prepare us for sharing about Roses on Saturday, May 21st at one of the National Herb Garden’s Under the Arbor events. The event will be on Zoom.
www.hollyshimizu.com
Potomac Unit Meeting with Lincoln Smith of Forested
Lincoln Smith of Forested in Bowie, MD will discuss the principles of forest gardening with examples from Forested and other forest garden projects. He and his team test forest gardening methods, offer classes, and design forest gardens for a variety of clients.
November Herb Study
During this month’s herb study, we will discuss herbs associated with digestion, including fennel, betony, and a few words on cascara sagrada.
Potomac Unit Meeting with Janice Cox
Janice Cox, an herb enthusiast who uses herbs to create natural beauty products, will share inspirations on the topic of "Natural Beauty from the Garden.” She has written five books, is the beauty editor for Herb Quarterly Magazine, and is an editorial advisory board member for Mother Earth Living Magazine.
Herbal Lunch with Cookology Culinary School
Join us for a cooking demonstration with light fare! The menu will feature Spanish tapas, seared shrimp with spicy tomato relish; goat cheese croquetas, and dates wrapped in crispy ham with balsamic reduction.
Herb Study - Stimulating, Cheering & Uplifting Herbs
On Sunday, October 17, there will be an herb study from 2 to 4:00 pm, at Barry Eigen's home. Everyone is welcome to come; you do not have to present or talk and are welcome to listen. This is program is managed by Mary Schwegler so if you have questions or if you plan to attend, please email or text so she can get a proper headcount.
Chile Celebration
There will be a celebration of chiles Under the Arbor at the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum October 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The garden is full of different chile peppers and while all are edible, some are more prized for their ornamental appeal. Some may be available for tasting.
Annual Picnic
All Potomac Unit members are invited to our first in-person get-together since January 2020. We are having a potluck lunch at Barry’s and Rosemary’s home in Ellicott City on Sunday June 6 from 11:00 to 2:00 pm (or whenever you feel like leaving). Plenty of space inside and outside; bring a dish. We will have lunch first and then a short business meeting to vote on new chair positions. Also this is when the current chairs give an oral report on the activities of the previous year.
Please RSVP to Barry via e-mail or phone. We would like a head count. Also, we would like to have a plant swap so bring any divisions, cuttings, and seedlings you have. This does not have to be just herbs, but can be any plant you would like to share. Please label what you are bringing with your name and the plant’s name (in case the new owner has questions). If we have leftover lemongrass plants we will sell them for a nominal fee to cover costs of propagating them.
Please contact Barry by June 1 at barryeigen112@gmail.com or call (410) 531-5463. He lives at 12205 Mount Albert Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042.