October 16, 2014 (Third Thursday) Time: 9:30 a.m. Meet and Greet 10:00 a.m. Presentation and Meeting

Transcription

1 October 2014 Newsletter of the Herb Society of America Pioneer Unit Volume 22, Number 2 October 8 Hunter's Full Moon - October 22 Board of Directors Meeting Menke House Parlor Festival Hill October 31 All Hallows' Eve Date: MONTHLY UNIT MEETING October 16, 2014 (Third Thursday) Time: 9:30 a.m. Meet and Greet 10:00 a.m. Presentation and Meeting Location: St. John's United Church of Christ 516 North Colorado Street, Burton, Texas Directions: Take Highway 290 west from Brenham to Texas 125 Spur West (East Mulberry Street). Head north to North Colorado Street. The church is at 516 North Colorado. Program: Speaker: Angels: Hosts: Lunch: After: Serve Up Good Times with Herbal Liqueurs and Cheeses Billi Parus Henry Flowers and Pam Traylor Cindy Nash, Marijane Lipscomb, Ann Allen, Pamela Murski, Linda Hartson, and Pam Traylor Favorite Fruit, Cheeses, and other Accompanying Dishes Book Club

2 Page 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR Howdy y all! Oh, the time of wonderful cool breezes, late season flowers, and falling leaves is finally here. I love all the seasons of the year, but perhaps autumn is my favorite. Lots of things are going on to keep us busy. We ve already had a few work sessions and some items for the Thyme Well Spent Shoppe, such as the vinegars, homemade vanilla, and many of the hypertufas, are ready for sale in the spring. An upcoming hypertufa workshop will teach more of our members how to make these interesting creations which are great additions to our gardens. There will be many more work session opportunities, so keep your ears peeled and get involved. In late September the HSA South Central District Gathering was held in Fredericksburg and quite a few of our members attended. Unfortunately I was not able to attend so Vice Chair Tony Scanapico represented the Pioneer Unit in my place. The day before the Gathering started I was honored to have HSA President Susan Liechty and Vice President Rae McKimm visit Festival Hill for a garden tour, lunch, and then a tour of the concert hall. Sue Edmundson brought them up from New Braunfels on the morning of a rainy day and thankfully the rain held off after they arrived and didn t start up again until after they left. We all had a great time and I had the chance to tell them a bit about our Herbal Forum and they got to see the hypertufa containers and mushrooms we have made, which they said were impressive. Festival Hill s four herbal kitties Parsley, Chervil, Tarragon, and Chives also helped to show them around and kept us all entertained. As a token on behalf of the Pioneer Unit I gave Susan and Rae each a bottle of our new 'Limon Pepper' and a jar of cinnamon basil strawberry jam. They are both great leaders for HSA and hopefully those of you who were able to attend the Gathering got a chance to meet them. If not, perhaps Susan will be back for the Herbal Forum in the spring. I am told that the grape vine wreaths that Linda Rowlett made and some of our members decorated for use as table centerpieces and door prizes were a big hit at the Gathering. Mary Reeves also graciously donated many wreaths which she made from a wide variety of materials for use as additional props on the tables. I m hoping that someone took a few pictures and will share them with us. Finally I have gotten the letter tiles for the Sensory Garden alphabet walk finished and in place. It took a bit longer than I had expected, but they are there. With cooler weather we can finally think of planting the color wheel with violas and dianthus for the cooler part of the year, which is about half of the school year. The garden is looking great and if you haven t stopped by to see it in a while, do so when you have a chance. Now that I ve gotten the tiles done perhaps I can finally get the bulletin board in place as well. There is always too much to do and too little time in which to get it done. Just a quick reminder that now is the time to start planting cool season crops such as parsley, chervil, kale and other greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce and such. It is also a great time to think of planting hardy perennials, shrubs, roses, and trees. And don t forget about sowing poppies, larkspur, Nigella, and wildflowers such as bluebonnets, coreopsis, and corn flowers. I like to sow my sweetpea seeds around Thanksgiving, so if you don t have seed start to look for them now or get them ordered before you forget. They are fantastic cut flowers and I personally think that we should all grow and enjoy them. Our October meeting will be special with our affiliate member and HSA Tidewater Unit Chair Billi Parus coming all the way from Virginia to give us a program on herbal liqueurs and cheeses. It is sure to be great and I hope to see you there. Best wishes for a pleasant autumn, Henry Flowers Unit Chair

3 October 2014 Page 3 FROM THE PROGRAMS CHAIR Remember: The October meeting is October 16th, the 3rd Thursday of October. Not the usual second Thursday. Thanks to Dianna Reed for filling in for me at our September meeting. I had to go out of town unexpectedly, and she jumped in to help out. Dianna says that the meeting went extremely well, that our speaker, Kyle Harrell, was a very energetic and informative speaker, so much so that our members asked lots of questions. And that she finally had to take the microphone from him. She said Kyle was kept busy through lunch answering questions. He did tell everyone they could contact him through his website: (Please remember, as mentioned in the last newsletter, you can go to Google and enter Texas Red Worms and you ll get lots of websites to give you information. As a word of caution, just stick to the ones that are college/university/community sponsored for getting the more reliable info. The folks selling their products may be slanting the info. However, even with these sites there are reliable ones such as our speaker s website.) Dianna took many notes to be passed along. Among them are: There are 1,800 species of worms around the world. They are on every continent except Antarctica. Worm castings are ph neutral. The beneficial bacteria in worm castings can eliminate pests, termites, and ants in soil. The earthworm is the "digestive tract" of the soil. Worms fertilize, aerate, and add life to the soil. And learn by doing -- don t get caught up in the rules of raising worms. One final word on this subject. I remember from my Master Gardener experiences in Dallas that the most successful vermicomposting and folks who stayed with it the longest were the ones who went the route of using "small" containers such as for the disposal of kitchen scrapes. Now, getting back to our October 16th meeting date. You ve asked in our annual membership renewal forms for some way to bring the Herbal Forum workshop/lecture speakers to the meetings so you could experience their programs first hand. Well, folks, this is one of them. Billie Parus, an Affiliate Member of our Unit, has done lots of workshops for the Forum. She s a long time member of HSA and has presented programs at the national EdCon and elsewhere within the HSA community. The October 16th program, "Serve Up Good Times with Herbal Liqueurs & Cheeses," is going to be a lot of fun. On October 16th, the third Thursday of the month, you ll learn a lot from her. Isn t it amazing how many times I can repeat that we meet on October 16th. Undoubtedly someone is going to be so excited about seeing Billi s program and show up a week early for the meeting. So, come to the meeting on the proper date and enjoy the fun of learning how to do what s right to have herbal liqueurs and cheeses as part of your own home s entrainment gala. See you at the meeting. Tony Scanapico (Hmmmmm. I wonder if I should go by St. John s a week early at that time of the morning and.hmmmmm?)

4 Page 4 MINUTES OF UNIT MEETING HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA PIONEER UNIT SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 Henry Flowers, Chair, welcomed members to the first meeting of the new Unit year. Diana Reed, standing in for Tony Scanapico, Vice Chair, introduced Kyle Harrell who presented a lively program on "Texas Red Worms for Composting and Gardening." We learned that there are hundreds of different kinds of worms and the best one for vermicomposting is the Texas jumper worm. Diana thanked Kyle for his program and reminded us that the October meeting is the third Thursday of the month instead of the second Thursday. Henry asked members to be sure to pick up the new Yearbooks today. He thanked Georgia Sowers, Vice Chair Membership, for her hard work compiling the Yearbook and asked everyone to double check their addresses and phone numbers. Henry noted some new additions in the back of the Yearbook a Request for Reimbursement Form, Hosting and Angel Responsibilities information, and a Quick-Connect list of member phone numbers, as well as addresses for meeting locations. Henry reminded members that the First Baptist Church in Chappell Hill (February 2015 meeting) has moved to a new location. Betty Pior, Hospitality, thanked speaker angel Cathy Comiskey and the hostess team and said sign-up sheets for Thanksgiving lunch were available today and would also be available at the October meeting. Karen Cornwell announced that four visitors were present Janet Reynolds, Pat Garratt, Pam Harrington, and Joanie Havlick. Henry announced that he will attend a meeting of the school board at Brenham ISD on Monday, September 15th, at which outdoor education will be a topic. The Sensory Garden is currently looking good and more work on it will be needed as fall progresses. Henry reminded members of the District Gathering in Fredericksburg on September Grapevine wreaths are available today for members to take home and decorate for table decorations for the meeting. Carolyn Thomas, Herbal Forum Coordinator, announced a hypertufa workshop to be held on October 9th at 9:00 a.m. at Festival Hill with space for 8 participants. Ann Allen and Sara Holland are planning a mustards workshop contact Carolyn if interested. Henry reminded members that Unit scholarship applications are due today and he has a form. Two scholarships are available for $ each and recipients can use the scholarship funds for a range of activities including preparing and presenting a program to the Unit and researching and writing an article for the newsletter. The Thyme Well Spent shop needs more dried spearmint, oregano, and thyme for herbal blends, and Kay Von Minden has embroidery and aprons for members to pick up and work on for the Forum. June Smith announced that the book club would be meeting after lunch to choose books for the next year. Henry thanked everyone and the meeting was adjourned for lunch. Respectfully submitted, Pat Cox, Secretary

5 October 2014 Page 5 MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Our meeting in September was well attended with even a couple of members' husbands present. Larry visited with Ginger Hoffmaster, and Cindy Nash brought Robert with her. Janet Reynolds from Cypress came with her friend Louise Rice for another of several past visits. Wanda Hubbard brought her neighbor friend Pat Garrett from La Grange, and Johanna Hoiseth invited her friend Pam Herrington, also from La Grange, for their first visits. Both of these ladies plan to be with us again. And Joanie Havlick joined us again with Pat Cox. Joanie has helped out in the past at Forum and with the Host teams, for which we are appreciative. The new yearbooks and HSA membership cards were available at the September meeting and will be at the October 16 (third Thursday) meeting at St John's United Church of Christ in Burton. Workshops are coming up so remember to stay posted about them in the newsletter. These present opportunities for earning volunteer hours as they are designed to prepare for items to sell during Forum in March. Also, participating in a workshop provides a great sense of reward in making and crafting items for pleasure. Hours are being reported timely as always and Membership thanks you. If you have any questions or concerns about membership, please feel free to contact gzsowers@att.net or call There are a couple or more prospective members who may wish information about various items, and I or other of our members are always happy to help guide you. Enjoy a great fall season. Herbally, Georgia Sowers VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH Louise Rice is our Volunteer of Month for October She is a gracious and competent member, who dedicates hours of time helping the Thyme Well Spent Shoppe before, during, and after Forum with the sales team. Louise is also a great cook, as evidenced by the wonderful quiche and frittata type dishes that she brings to meetings. Thank you, Louise, for all that you contribute to the Pioneer Unit. Your efforts are truly appreciated!

6 Page 6 Herb of October Hops Hops is an interesting plant and I ll admit that I don t know a great deal about it other than that it is a major flavoring component in many modern beers. At Festival Hill we do have a specimen of it growing in the Pharmacy Garden and it does produce fruit. But unlike many other herbs, I ve never used it in any way. If I liked and could drink beer then maybe I would I would use it in making my own brew, but I don t and so I won t. Perhaps it has some other interesting uses let s see. Hops is a vining plant that is native to Europe, eastern Asia, and North America. Its botanical name is Humulus lupulus and it belongs to the family Cannabidaceae yes, the same family to which hemp and marijuana belong hmmmmm. The generic name Humulus comes from the plant s Slavic-German name khmel and the specific name comes from the Latin lupus, meaning wolf and likely in reference to the plant s straggling vining habit on other plants. Hops is also notably dioecious. This term literally means "of two houses" and refers to the fact that there are separate male and female plants. It is the female plants that produce the cone-like hops fruits that are desirable for use in beer. The only thing that the male is good for is pollinating the flowers of the female in order to get seed production. This is fine for those interested in breeding new hops varieties, but beer producers frown on using hops fruits that contain seeds and thus hops growers do not normally include male plants in their production fields. In production, hops plants are grown on tall trellis systems that keep the plants tidy and off the ground and which aid greatly in mechanical harvest. When the fruits are ripe papery in texture, having a good odor and without spots they are harvested and dried. Most harvesting is done by mechanical means, but in some areas they are still harvested by hand. The opportune time for harvest is usually a window of about a week. In the US about 75% of all the hops produced are grown in the Yakima Valley of Washington state. After harvest they are thoroughly dried and then kept cool until used. With the change in US laws regarding the home-brewing of beers, the demand for hops has greatly increased. The growth in the number of micro breweries has also greatly increased demand. It is estimated that home brewing of beers has now surpassed the popularity of home brewing of wines. Before hops were used to flavor beers (which is possibly the oldest man-made beverage) other bitter herbs such as ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) were used for that purpose. German brewers are believed to have been the first to use hops for flavoring and the earliest recorded evidence comes from the ninth century CE in Abbot Adalhard s Statutae Abbatiae Corbej. It is Continued on next page

7 October 2014 Page 7 believed that hops were not cultivated in England until the fifteenth century. Both Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII did not like the taste of hops in their beer and thus prohibited its use. Another notable aspect of hops is that the essential oils, especially humulon, are antibiotic and thus help to keep beer fresh for a prolonged time. These essential oils have also been shown to be effective in the inhibition of certain types of cancer. It is estimated that about 98% of all hops produced are used in beer. The rest are likely used in flavoring other alcoholic beverages known as bitters and also as a flavoring for tobacco. The young shoots of the plants can be eaten as a boiled vegetable (I m not sure that I ll try it as hops are covered with prickly hairs, just like borage). The distilled oil and extracts of hops are used for food flavoring and in soft drinks, as well as some perfumes. The fruits of hops can also be used in the stuffing of dream pillows as their aroma is said to help promote peaceful sleep. We ll be harvesting some hops at Festival Hill to use in dream pillows we ll have for sale at the Herbal Forum next March. In addition to a plethora of varieties which are grown for their fruit production, there are some varieties which are grown as ornamentals most notably the Golden Hops H. lupulus Aureus, which holds its color well even in hot sun. There are some variegated forms as well. Thus I ve learned that although most hops are used as flavorings for beers, they do have other uses and the plant is quite fascinating. In 2019 hops will be the herb of the year hmmmmmmm. It is the policy of The Herb Society of America not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Henry Flowers Pioneer Unit Garden Chairman October Birthdays October 5 Ginger Heath October 13 Carla Lessard October 14 Mary Ann Hillegeist October 21 Janice Stuff October 27 Betty Pior

8 Page 8 The Herb Society of America, Pioneer Unit Botany Study Group Data Sheet Botanical Name/Etymology: Fouquieria splendens Engelm. Generic name honors Pierre Edouard Fouquier, a Parisian medical professor and naturalist. The epithet splendens is Latin for glittering or shining (or figuratively, magnificent, splendid) referring to the flowers. Family Name: Fouquieriaceae (Ocotillo Family) Common Name(s): ocotillo, candlewood, coachwhip, Jacob s staff, devil s walking stick, slimwood and vine cactus (not a cactus) Origin: Eleven species, all of which are endemic to Mexico except F. splendens which occurs in deserts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California and the southern tip of Nevada. Growth Habit: Trunkless, candelabra form, cluster of 6 to 30 arching branches, this spiny shrub is composed of vertical to ascending wand-like branches arising from a root crown; branches 3-20 feet long but only 1-2 inches in diameter; leaves ephemera, following rains; clusters of scarlet, tubular flowers at stem tips. The flowers are in dense clusters, with 5 sepals, 5 petals 5/8 inches long, united below, and stamens. Two kinds of leaves with blades of primary leaves dropping off and the petioles develop into heavy thorns. Clusters of secondary leaves later appear in the axils of the thorns after rains, irrespective of root absorption. Slow growing but can live to 200 years. Growth (Cultural) Requirements: Desert flats, rocky slopes, and mesa throughout the Trans- Pecos; west to California; northwestern Mexico including Baja California. Propagation: Seed or cutting. Chemistry: At least 12 iridoid glycosides, monotropein methylester, adoxoside, loganian, and various polymerizing waxes and resins. Plant Part(s) Used: Flowers, bark, roots, and stalks Time of Harvest: Flowers in spring bloom season; other parts any time. Culinary Uses: Flowers are edible. The Cahuilla Indians of southern California are known to have consumed both the flowers and seedpods; in addition, they prepared a sweet tangy beverage by soaking the nectar-laden flowers in water. People in rural areas of northern Mexico and current native plant enthusiasts recommend eating the flowers fresh or dipping them in a batter for frying. The Tohono O odham of southern Arizona press the nectar from the blossoms and harden it somewhat like rock candy. The seeds were traditionally parched and ground into a flour by the Cahuilla to make mush or cakes, although our modern palates would find the alum-like taste and tiny hairs a bit unpleasant. Medicinal Uses: Several diverse medicinal uses are reported but no single use is particularly frequent or dominant. Apaches relived fatigue by bathing in a decoction of the roots; the Haulapai made a soothing bath of the same for sore feet. A tea from flowers was used by the Cahuilla for coughs, and Hispanic folk medicine still uses the same to treat coughs, sore throat, and late menstruation. A tincture made from stems was used to treat lymph circulation, pelvic congestion, bladder infections, and tonsillitis. The dried and powered root was also applied by the Apache to wounds and swellings. Continued on next page

9 October 2014 Page 9 Other Uses: Waxes and resins are produced on stems but not usually in sufficient quantities to be valuable, but have been found occasionally in cleansing, waxing, varnishing, and waterproofing leather products. The stems with resins are excellent fuel for starting campfires. In Coahuila used for fuel in rustic stoves. Along the US Mexico border, fences are made to keep things both in and out depending on your need i.e. goats in, coyotes out. Stems are cut, aligned vertically, put in a shallow trough and covered lightly with soil. They can start leafing and flowering even before the stalk takes root. Miscellaneous Information: Brilliant clusters of reddish-orange tubular flowers bloom from March to June, in time for the northward migration of hummingbirds which, along with carpenter bees, are the prime pollinators. Bibliography: Matt W. Turner, Remarkable Plants of Texas, 2009 UTPress; Campbell and Lynn Loughmiller Texas Wildflowers. A Field Guide, 2002 UT Press; Michel Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West It is the policy of The Herb Society of America not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Carolyn Thomas August 21, 2014 BRENHAM ISD APPRECIATION OF VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR LEARNING AND THE SENSORY GARDEN At the Brenham ISD School Board Meeting on Monday, 15 September, Outdoor Education Specialist Natalie James gave a very enthusiastic presentation on the programs of Outdoor Education on all levels K 12. She emphasized the coordination of outdoor projects with the grade levels, where our Sensory Garden is a perfect experience for children in Kindergarten and Elementary grades. She also promised to have good new plans for this year to visit the gardens and nature centers. And most of all, she and the School Board thanked our volunteers for all we are doing to enhance education. Then she introduced the Master Naturalists and Henry Flowers and me, representing our Unit for the Herb Society. As soon as this year s schedule is made, we can plan our sessions, and please come and share the joy of nature s discoveries with the children! Verena Aeschbacher, Volunteer Coordinator

10 Page 10 Our District Gathering, Fredericksburg, September 19-20, 2014 The Herb Society of America s South Central District Gathering was a fun place to be. The event began Friday afternoon with a Wine Trail tasting tour. It was a smash, or maybe some of the participants were, towards the end, that is. Thankfully, we traveled in chauffeured vans, to three wineries, for we each had a total of 15 to 18 different wines to taste in a roughly 4-hour period. But, we must keep in mind that we were on that tour to study herbs, and grapes are herbs too. Saturday morning began with a welcome by our District Delegate, Gloria Hunter, a member of the Texas Thyme Unit. She welcomed the national President, Susan Liechty, from Delaware City, Ohio, and the Vice President, Rae McKimm, of the Ozark Unit, a unit of our District. Rae has been to Festival Hill, so many of you will recognize her when you see her and Susan at our coming March 2015 Herbal Forum. It was a good sized crowd, for 69 members and guests were registered. There were two programs. The first was by Gayle Sutherland of the North Texas Unit and was about heat and drought tolerant herbs. The second program, held in the afternoon, was by Bill Varney of Fredericksburg, owner of Urbanherbal, a business making and selling herbal products. The new HSA members I spoke with were very impressed with both programs for they learned of the selection of heat/drought tolerant plants one can garden with and they liked learning how herbal products are made and sold. Many of the ladies were very pleased to have the time built into the program that allowed for shopping. One lady told me she had just about completed her Christmas shopping. There was a District Meeting to conduct the business of running the South Central District. Items of Pioneer Unit interest were: The next Gathering will be the first weekend of October, 2015, being held at the Ozark Folk Center, Mt. View, Arkansas. The following Gathering is to be held at Festival Hill in the fall of For the Pioneer Unit, the highlights of the Gathering were the bountiful recognitions of the Saturday night s dinner table top decorations. Henry Flowers, Mary Reeves, Mary Doebbeling, Linda Rowlett, Carolyn Thomas, and Pam Traylor produced exciting and vibrant combinations of wreaths for each of 10 tables. At each table there were two small plain wreaths with a glorious large wreath on top of the two. Following dinner, the wreaths were given out as door prizes. Each drawing winner was able to select from any of the subsequent remaining unclaimed wreath combinations. There was much gnashing of teeth as the ladies and some of the men had to decide which set of wreaths to take home. At one point, for those of us sitting down front where all the action was, it looked as if there might be, well (?), a "conflict of desires," to put it politely. But all worked out well and all winners went home offering many thank yous to the Pioneer Unit members who made the wreaths. If you ve never been to a Gathering, try to attend one and mix with the Members at Large and the members of the other units. The main purpose of the Gatherings is to get HSA members to socialize and to get to know and become friends with the other members. After attending a few of Gatherings, they sort of become fun family reunions. Tony Scanapico Vice Chair, Programs

11 October 2014 Page 11 YOU SHOULD SEE THIS GARDEN! Several months ago, the Pioneer Unit Book Club read a book about the gardens of Beatrix Potter, the author of the Peter Rabbit books. Last week I was lucky enough to visit Hill Top Farm, the first property that Potter purchased in the Lake District in England. The pictures below are a few of the many photographs I took of Potter's house and gardens. Although the growing season is waning, the gardens remained charming. Linda L. Rowlett, Editor

12 Page 12 SOUTH TEXAS UNIT Our 42nd Annual Herb Fair It's Fall Y'all - Thyme to Dig In! Saturday, November 1, a.m. - 9 a.m. Early entrance for customers having placed advance orders 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Open to the general public No Admission Fee West Gray Multi-Service Center 1475 West Gray Street, Houston (across from the Home Goods and T.J. Maxx shipping center) Again this year, purchases may be made using Master Card, Visa, check or cash! The proceeds from the Herb Fair support the South Texas Unit's educational activities as well as the donations to area arboreta and gardens (ex. Festival Hill Institute, Center for Contemporary Craft), the Herb Garden at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., and to the educational outreach programs of The Herb Society of America. The Herb Fair also supports the annual scholarships to Texas students studying botany or horticulture. We appreciate your support.

13 October 2014 Page 13 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat BSG = Botany Study Group FH = Festival Hill SG = Sensory Garden Hypertufa Workshop 9:00 a.m Pioneer Unit Meeting (one week later than usual) 17 Hill Country Unit Herbal Luncheon November 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat BSG = Botany Study Group FH = Festival Hill SG = Sensory Garden 1 South Texas Unit Herb Fair Pioneer Unit Meeting THANKSGIVING

14 Volume 22 Editor: Linda L. Rowlett, Ph.D. Pioneer Paths is a publication of The Herb Society of America, Pioneer Unit. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $10.00 per year. The Mission Statement of The Herb Society of America: To promote the knowledge, use, and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experience of its members with the community. - Chair Henry Flowers Vice Chair Programs Tony Scanapico Vice Chair Membership Georgia Sowers Secretary Pat Cox Treasurer Janie Plummer Pioneer Unit The Herb Society of America Post Office Box 23 Round Top, Texas 78954