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The Newsletter of THE SOCIETY OF AMERICA, POTOMAC UNIT Vol. XLV No. 02 March April 2021

PRESIDENT’S CORNER WEBINARS & WORKSHOPS

Well, the good news is that spring is around the As you know the Herb Society of America has corner. I cannot wait to get into the garden. done a fabulous job of providing members free Although we will not have our annual herb sale at webinars every month. These are recorded so if FONA this year, we can still purchase herb you cannot make it you can always watch them at local nurseries or purchase seeds online. I find later. Now they are hosting workshops that have a myself purchasing more seeds and plants with no nominal fee and are not recorded. The first one is guilt whatsoever -- I feel fully justified because of The Basics of Propagating Pelargoniums and this pandemic. Since I do not have to commute to Other Plants by Mary Maran on February 25, 2:00 the office, I figured the money I saved on gas to 2:30 EST. For members it is only $5.00 and should go to ! I have more time to look at $7.00 for non-members. You have to go to the what is available in catalogs and I am discovering HSA website to register. a world of herbs I have not heard of and would love to try. I just ordered seed packets of two new from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. These are from Ghana: African Nunum ( gratisimum) and Akoko Mesa (Ocimum basilicum). Also, I was looking at the Mountain Valley Growers website and discovered conehead (Cordiothymus capitatum) (the name alone is a reason to buy the seeds); pink savory ( thymbra) which is used in the herb mix Zatar; and moujean ( inaguensis), the of which add a flavor to tea. Growing herbs is a never-ending adventure! Peggy Riccio The next one will be on March 30 at 2:00 EST [email protected] and will be A Feast of Spring Herbs and Vegetables with Liz Barbour of The Creative Feast. Registration will open March 9.

As for webinars, the next one will be March 23 at 1:00 EST entitled The Virtues of Violets with Kathy Schlosser. Remember if you missed a webinar you can log in and watch it free anytime. (see more information on these in Upcoming Events) Peggy Riccio

1 is renowned for its soothing and warming qualities. It is also good for digestion and conveys a sense of well-being. Masala Chai is seemingly everywhere in the US today but it is easy enough to make at home and can be fun to experiment with as well as provide an intoxicating blend of spicy aromatherapy. The tea base for Masala Chai should be a tea that can stand up to the and is complementary. Assam black tea from is a good choice for starting out. Some classic spices used to make the tea include , , , , and . Other options might include , , star , , lemongrass, licorice root, rose petals and orange peel. You can have fun and mix it up to reflect your preferences. Workshop participants shared the tea and combinations that they tried at home. Jo Sellers’ Fog recipe is included here as well as a classic Masala Chai recipe

that Kari prepared during the workshop. Annual Member Tea and Masala Chai Throughout the workshop there were a Workshop – January 2020 number of questions such as where to buy good tea (on-line suggestions were – Little On January 10, we virtually held our Annual Red Cup Tea Co., Camellia Sinsensis, Potomac Unit Membership Tea in conjunction Elmwood Inn Fine , Bellocq, Floating with a craft and culinary workshop on Masala Leaves, Stone Teahouse, Rishi, Paru Chai. There was a good turnout of members Tea Bar, Upton Teas, Dobra Tea, David’s and a gladness to connect even if it had to be Tea and locally ChingChingCha, Teaism, via the web. We started the event talking Great Falls Tea Garden, Capital Teas, about our favorite tea or type of tea with MeiMei Fine Teas and Blooming Hill for preferences varying widely from green tea to lavender infused tea) as well as where to buy anything but green tea and classic Darjeeling. spices (on-line suggestions were Mountain We even had a few tea ladies properly Rose Herbs, Richters, Penzeys, Spicewalla, wearing their hats for afternoon tea. Burlap & Barrel). After a chance to catch-up, Kari Barrett Kari closed the workshop with the following walked the group through a presentation on tea proverb: “Masala Chai, The Spice Tea of India.” In India, the generic word for tea is chai with The first time you take tea with someone you “masala” meaning a combination of several are a stranger, spices. Masala Chai has many variations The second time you become an honored with each person/family/company having their guest, own special combination of spices and The third time you become family. method of preparation. Ideally, the drink you Kari Barrett end up should excite the palate, calm the nerves, and please the stomach. 2 . Add the sugar and milk and bring to a boil. . Remove from heat and add tea leaves. Cover and let steep 4-5 minutes. Strain. . Warm up your mug by filling with hot water. Empty water and fill with tea. . Finishing touches to your chai might include a stick of cinnamon, a dusting of cocoa, a quick grating of , or whip cream on top! Kari Barrett

TEA RECIPES

Classic Masala Chai Ingredients: 4 cardamom pods 1 cinnamon stick ¼ teaspoon ground ginger (or whole dried ginger crushed or fresh ginger size of a quarter) 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (optional) 2 whole cloves (optional) 3 cups water ½ cup milk

2 tablespoons black tea LONDON FOG TEA RECIPE 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar (or to ) BRING 2/3 CUP WATER TO A BOIL, REMOVE FROM THE HEAT AND ADD 1 EARL GREY TEA BAG AND Method: 1/2 TEASPOON DRIED LAVENDER. COVER AND STEEP 5-8 MINUTES. . Measure out all your ingredients. COMBINE 1 1/2 TEASPOONS SUGAR AND 1/4 . Crush cardamom and break up TEASPOON VANILLA IN A MUG; STRAIN THE TEA cinnamon stick in a mortar. INTO THE MUG - AND STIR. . Put water in a pan. Add all the HEAT 2/3 CUP MILK WITH A FROTHER; POUR INTO cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, black THE MUG, SPOON THE FROTH ON TOP AND SPRINKLE WITH MORE DRIED LAVENDER IF pepper and cloves. DESIRED. . Bring to a boil and simmer for a few JO SELLERS minutes. . Remove from heat and let stand 3-4 minutes to allow spices to infuse.

3 HERB STUDY

Hello Herbies! We are putting the final touches on the 2021 Herb Study program. The first two meetings will be held via Zoom at 7 pm, Thursday March 25, and 7 pm, Thursday April 22. For now we have stayed with the 7 pm meeting time to accommodate members who have afternoon commitments preventing them from joining us earlier. In accordance with this year’s theme of We may schedule an early May discussion of , tentatively the meeting calming herbs and include heartsease agendas will include the following: (pansy/viola, the 2022 Herb of the Year). Then we’ll take a break for the remainder of May and March 25: Focus on INFLAMMATION June while we work on our gardens. General discussion of Inflammation as a symptom Watch out, bees! Inflammation hazard in the Cheering and uplifting herbs will be next. Do we garden (S. Staples) have any aromatherapy devotees among us? (P. Kenny) Finally, we we’ll wrap up with digestive herbs in the fall including a call-out to , the 2021 Birch, oil of wintergreen and methyl salicylate Herb of the Year. (M.L. Winder) (other participant(s) TBA: want to talk about calendula, arnica, plantain, aloe, The presentations are intentionally short to allow yarrow, jewelweed, or another inflammation several people to contribute, to stimulate fighter or wound treatment?) discussion, and to reduce research burdens to the essentials. Life is short. Summaries of April 22: Focus on CONTAGIOUS DISEASE Commission E monographs are available online. General discussion of contagious disease Resources to get started include Medicinal Herbs: Historic disease fighting before modern medicine A Beginner’s Guide ( Gladstar), Tyler’s (B. Reece) (J. Sellers) Astragalus (P. Herbs of Choice (Varro Tyler et al), and The Kenny) (other participant(s) TBA: want to talk Handbook: A User’s Guide to Medical about echinacea, chameleon , licorice, holy Herbalism (David Hoffmann). , elderberry or your favorite anti-infection herb?) Let us know if you can join us, we are a jolly group. Call or email me, we have lots of ideas for Presentations are scheduled for five to ten interesting herbs, and want to hear from you! minutes, and should include: names of herb (English and binomial); provenance of herb Yours in Herbs for Use and for Delight, and whether we can grow it locally Mary Schwegler (no/annual/perennial/); what the herb is [email protected] claimed to do, whether it is effective, and parts used; safety and source of information; picture of herb or sample of live plant. Optional are: PARSLEY: READ ALL ABOUT IT! historic or folklore uses; related plants; any other interesting information including growing and The International Herb Association has published usage experience and instructions for salves, the resource guide for the herb of the year: teas, and so forth. Parsley. You don’t have to be a member to order this for $21.95. Plus, there are resource guides This Covid year of isolation is our opportunity to from prior “herbs of the year” that you can order. study herbs that are not edible, and we wouldn’t ordinarily take the time to consider. Next year we’ll be back to a culinary focus.

4 BIDENS (B. Pilosa) petals: Bidens pilosa has white petals, Bidens The Plant—not to be mistaken for Joe & Jill. bipinnata yellow. Distribution: A “cosmopolitan weed’ native to Max, the cat, who adopted us because his South & , now very widespread owners, our young neighbors, got a little yip-yip throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the dog he cannot abide, came in with what we, in world; can be found introduced (see below) & Pittsburgh, grew up calling “beggar’s ticks” on his widely naturalized in Africa, , , tail, dreadful-things when they are on your socks America & on many islands across Indian & and sweaters. The last time I remember them Pacific Oceans. being in my Potomac Unit, Herb Society of Description: Herbaceous annual or perennial America, experience was during the Ginny Tyson- depending on host country’s climate. Stems erect, natural-dye-workshop-era, 1990s? when we went square, most can be 20 cm.- 1 meter to Ruth and Ed Smith’s Farm in Madison VA and high. Dark green opposite simple 4-20 cm. learned that the foliage of the genus Bidens leaves. on branching stems are pinnate (or yielded a yellow dye, as do so many of the pinnatifid) with 2-3 pinnae and a single terminal members of the Aster family. The name, from the leaflet. Daisy-like heads of white or yellow Latin simply means “two teeth”, you can see why have short petals. Dark brown-black seeds are by looking at the seed shape. described as linear achenes (small, dry with a single chamber and ovule attached to the ovary wall at a single point). Seedlings have lanceolate cotyledons, first true leaf similar to later leaves. History: Said to be heterogeneous which means composed of parts of different kinds, having widely dissimilar elements, not homogeneous. A single plant can produce 3000 to 6000 seeds.

Some years ago I was actually glad to see that we had some Bidens by the end of our driveway because I think the leaf shape is interesting. There are about 50 accepted species’ names, with some having subspecies, and 4 hybrids listed on the ITIS.gov website. Family: Asteraceae; Tickseed tribe Note: The common name “beggarstick” is also used for hounds-tongue/Cynogloglossum of the family.

Since there are 230-240 known Bidens species. I cannot say that Bidens pilosa/Spanish Needles are more common than Bidens bipinnata/Spanish Habitat mode of dispersal &propagation: The Needles, Soapbush Needles, listed as medicinal elongated seeds are spread in a cluster with the by Foster/Duke. The foliage of my variety looks teeth out to catch a ride as if they were on a like the latter. Both have sparsely arranged short merry-go-round looking for the next hitch to take a 5 hike on; which could be an animal’s coat, Elpel, Thomas J. 2013. Botany In A Day - The machinery or clothing. Easily removed from plant; Patterns Method of Plant Identification. HOPS not so easily removed from recipient. Press/Pony MT. Culture: The Hindawi Publishing article says Foster, Steven and James A, Duke. 2014. easy-to-grow. The on-line catalog of Strictly Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants of Medicinal Seeds LLC, Williams, OR, considers Eastern and Central North America, 3rd. ed.. Bidens pilosa a fast-growing annual that “prefers Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing/Boston, a sunny location in disturbed soil”. They caution NYC., p.165. that contact with the fresh plant can cause Newcomb, Lawrence. 1977. Newcomb’s photosensitivity so wash hands with soap & water Wildflower Guide, An Ingenious New Key System right away after contact. I didn’t know or for Quick, Positive Field Identification of the experience that. I ordered 20 of their seed for Wildflowers, Flowering and Vines of $3.95 and I will plant 20 of my seeds saved from Northeastern and North-central North America. last year of B. bipinnata. They suggest that Little, Brown and Company, Boston, Toronto, pp. “germination takes 1 week to 1 month”; we shall 392, 394, 440. see. Uses: Culinary: Despite that caution, Bidens is NOTE: Of the seven Bur Marigolds or Beggar described as a good edible, palatable and safe Ticks listed in Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, potherb. Under Traditional Uses, the Hindawi 1977, Bidens pilosa and B. bipinnata are not; I article states that the whole plant, the aerial parts, could understand that as years of research and and/or the roots, fresh or dried, is an ingredient in taxonomic work as occurred to try to make sense teas or herbal medicines. of this genus…and my copy is OLD! Medicinal: I have seen both listed having similar Photos: the blossoming plant from Google medicinal uses in Google Scholar. Images, Robert V. Blittersdorff, others pk. Pat Kenny Let’s choose Bidens pilosa as our species most Pat Kenny’s additional Note: "B. pilosa has been reported to often listed. For external use, it is frequently be useful in the treatment of disorders such as inflammation, immunological disorders, digestive disorders, prepared as dry powder or tincture, and as a infectious diseases, cancers, metabolic syndrome, wounds, powder, maceration or decoction when used as snakebites, and many others". an internal remedy. The bioactivities of only seven In "Middle America" - colds, influenza, sore throat, eye of the 60 flavonoids present in B. pilosa have infection, nosebleeds, stomach ulcers. been studied, but it is traditionally used to treat a wide variety of the ailments of people in Africa, Cameroon, Central America and the West Indies, , Cuba, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Uganda, and “Middle America”. I did not read the whole Bartolome article, so I do not know where that is considered to be.

45 ailments are listed for which the Bidens plant, in one form or another, is used. I had no idea what I was getting into when Max, the cat came in with beggar’s ticks on his tail.

References: Bartolome, Arlene P., Irene M. Villasenor, and Wen-Chin Yang. 2013. Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae): Botanical Properties, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and , 51 pages. 6 UPCOMING MARCH MEETING Lemon-Lavender Pots de Crème Supreme Recipe & FARTHER AFIELD I imagine that even if you don’t speak French you have guessed that these lemony, silky-smooth custards are called “pots of cream.” The name is apt, as these little desserts have a unbelievably velvety- creamy texture. The , lemon, lavender, and cream are supremely good together--which is why this one of my all-time March 10 at 7pm – We will be ZOOMING once favorite desserts. It’s also why I included the recipe in again. Topic: The Art of with Lavender. my most recent book, The Art of Cooking with Speaker: Potomac Unit Member, Nancy Baggett. Lavender. She has a wonderful cookbook with the same name. You will need 6 to 8 oven-proof small ramekins, pot de crème cups, or custard cups to prepare these. Election of officers Ramekins that are 2 1/2- to 3-inches in diameter and The nominating committee, Jo Sellers, Kim Rush hold around 2/3 cup are ideal. The classic tempered Lynch, and Penni St. Hilaire are proposing the glass custard cups are on the large side but will do, if following slate of candidates for the Unit for the that’s all you have. Set them on teacup saucers to years, 2021-2023: dress them up a bit.

President: Peggy Riccio Tip: Yes, these are super-rich, but don’t be tempted to Co Vice Chairs Kari Barrett and Pat Kenny lighten up the recipe by substituting milk for some of Recording Secretary: Lisa Faustin the cream. The lemon juice would cause the milk to Treasurer: Barry Eigan curdle, but the cream stays completely, succulently Nominations may be accepted from the floor. smooth.

Oh, Go Ahead—Pamper Yourself! 2 cups heavy whipping cream April 11, 2021 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 1/4 cup clover honey Craft & Culinary Workshop: DIY Herbal Spa Favorites

Presented by Tina Zaras, KIPOS Botanicals 3 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar, to taste More details will be shared as we get closer to the 2 tablespoons dried culinary lavender buds date. 1 tablespoon lemon (yellow part of the peel) LEMON LAVENDER POTS DE CREME Nancy Baggett Pinch of

7 large egg yolks, lightly beaten with a fork

1/4 cup strained fresh lemon juice

Dollops or piped swirls of sweetened whipped cream dollops for garnish

Fresh lavender blooms or sprigs for garnish, optional

In a medium non-reactive saucepan, bring the cream, honey, sugar, lavender buds, lemon zest, and salt just to a boil, stirring until honey and sugar are dissolved. Turn the heat off and let the mixture steep for at least 30 minutes and preferably 1 hour. For a more intense flavor, cover and refrigerate an hour or two longer,

7 tasting occasionally until the desired lavender taste is achieved. While the NHG Committee has not cancelled the May 22 multi-unit Under the Arbor program, we To complete preparations, position a rack in the are not really expecting it to happen. We do have middle third of the oven; preheat to 325 degrees F. some hope for the September 18 Potomac Unit Lay a tea towel in a deep roasting pan or flat baking Under the Arbor (topic to be determined) and the dish large enough to hold the ramekins. Set 6 to 8 October 9 chile celebration. Hope to see you in oven-proof ramekins or cups, spaced slightly apart, in the garden soon. the pan. Reheat the steeped cream mixture to very Penni St. Hilaire warm but not hot, stirring; set aside. Let’s raise our glasses, lift our “spirits” and pay a In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks until very frothy little homage to one of the Potomac Unit’s favorite and smooth. Gradually pouring in a thin stream, whisk annual themes at the National Arboretum. the warm cream mixture into the egg yolks, continuing until all the cream is incorporated. Whisk and Chile Pepper in the lemon juice until evenly incorporated. Strain Recipe the custard mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a 2-cup glass measure, stirring and pressing down on the zest. Pour the mixture into the ramekins, dividing equally. Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it comes at least halfway up the sides of the dishes.

Bake for 20 minutes. Begin testing by jiggling a custard cup; as soon as the crème is set except for about the center 1/2-inch, the custards are done. Carefully remove the pan to a cooling rack and let stand until the custards are cooled. Cover and refrigerate them for up to 3 days. Let warm up just slightly before This spicy and sophisticated gin is easy to make. serving. Garnish with little dollops or piped swirls of Enjoy on the rocks or add tonic water with a twist whipped cream. Add lavender sprigs, if desired. of lime. This homemade style of gin is often Makes 6 small and 8 mini-desserts. called compound gin, made from vodka and spices. It may not be clear like authentic gin, but Nancy Baggett it’s just as flavorful.

Ingredients NATIONAL HERB GARDEN NEWS 2 tablespoons juniper berries 2 tablespoons Moraccan coriander seed 1 teaspoon dried orange zest The Garden is cold, wet and weedy. Curator 1 teaspoon wjholespice berries Chrissie Moore has been repotting the 1 pinch saffron tropicals and potted plants, a heavy, dirty ½ teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns task. Seeding for the spring and summer will 4-6 Chile de Arbol chiles begin soon. Displays may be somewhat 1-750 ml bottle vodka subdued this year as some maintenance tasks are taking precedence. A lot of soil was Instructions taken out of the rose garden in to reduce the Put juniper in a quart jar, pour vodka. Cap the jar bad onion, and one hopes, a couple of other tightly and let it infuse for 12 hours or overnight. bad guys, and so the soil will need to be After 12 hour pre-soak, add the rest of the herbs replaced, some roses too. Volunteers are still and spices to the vodka. Let it sit and infuse for 36-72 hours. Taste as you go. waiting to be invited back but hoping for good Strain the infused gin into another jar in a cool, weather when it happens. dark place for up to a year. 8 the liquid starts to thicken to the point that it becomes difficult to work with. Place the pot back on the stove over low heat until it warms up and becomes runny again. When you're done filling all the molds, pop them into the fridge so that the gummies can firm up. The amount of time it will take for the gummies to firm up depends on the size of each gummy, but in general it should be about 1 - 2 hours. When they're ready, pop them out of the mold and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Instructions for Agar Agar: Mix together the elderberry syrup and water. Add 1.5 teaspoons of agar agar to the liquid mixture and place the liquid in a small saucepan ELDERBERRY GUMMIES RECIPE or pot. Turn the burner to low heat For Goodness Sake. and when the liquid is at a simmer stir constantly for one minute, then remove the saucepan/pot Ingredients: from heat. ⅔ cup elderberry syrup (or any syrup you have If you're using c powder and/or probiotics, made in the equal parts honey to tea style) allow the mixture to cool to 105F - 110F, then stir ⅓ cup water in the powder and go to the next step. 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin or 1.5 teaspoons Pour the mixture into your silicone mold. If you're of agar agar (make sure to follow the ratios on the using the gummy bear molds, use the dropper agar agar package that you use as it may be provided to make the process easier. If the liquid different than the brand I selected) starts to thicken to the point that it becomes difficult to work with. Place the pot back on the Instructions for Gelatin: stove over low heat until it warms up and Mix together the elderberry syrup and water. becomes runny again. Pour 1/2 cup of the liquid into a small bowl. Place When you're done filling all the molds, pop them the remaining liquid in a small saucepan or pot. into the fridge so that the gummies can firm up. Turn the burner to low heat. The amount of time it will take for the gummies to While the liquid is warming up you're going to firm up depends on the size of each gummy, but prepare the gelatin. Just keep an eye on the in general it should be about 1 - 2 hours. stovetop - when the liquid is hot but not boiling, When they're ready, pop them out of the mold and remove the saucepan/pot from heat. For me, this store them in an airtight container in the fridge. usually happens just after I finish preparing the gelatin. To prepare the gelatin to be added to the saucepan/pot: Add 1 tablespoon of the gelatin to the liquid in the bowl and stir it in with a fork. Repeat this process, stirring each time, until all the gelatin has been mixed in.

When the stovetop liquid is hot but not boiling, stir in the gelatin mixture and whisk thoroughly to Mid Atlantic District Delegate News smooth out any lumps. If you're using powder and/or probiotics, allow the mixture to 2021 Education Conference and Annual cool to 105F - 110F, then stir in the powder and Meeting go to the next step. We have received some lovely submissions for Pour the gelatin mixture into your silicone mold. If artwork for the logo and the staff will be sending you're using the gummy bear molds, use the out a catalog of the work for YOUR vote. The dropper provided to make the process easier. If 2021 Educational Conference and Annual 9 Meeting will be held June 10-12 and whilst it will 20, 2021, ticket price: $40.00. be virtual, it will be similar to the usual event. It Virginia Historic Garden Week is still ON (April will be multi-day, it will include the Annual 17-24) thus far but tickets must be purchased Meeting, the District Meetings, Speakers on a directly from them online. variety of subjects and some fun things we are Leesburg and Garden Show (April 17 & still working on. 18) is still ON but is being moved to Morven Park to enable restricting numbers entering at any The 2021 District Gathering in Malvern, PA on given time. Sept. 24 & 25 is gearing up and we all hope to be Philadelphia Flower Show,temporarily for 2021, is vaccinated and in the midst of herd immunity by moved outside and to June (June 5-13) due to that time. Wondering if we will have to wear Covid-19. Theme - Habitat - Nature’s name tags to be able to identify each other! Masterpiece. New location for this year - FDR Plans for both the 2022 Annual Meeting in Park Charleston SC and the 2023 Education Kim Labash Conference & Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge, [email protected] LA continue. 6/10-6/12, 2021 Virtual Ed Con & Annual Meeting. The Colonial Triangle Unit are eagerly working on Rose Beads Workshop the 2022 District Gathering to be held in Still on Hold until further notice. Until then, take Williamsburg, VA. time to stop and smell the rose beads you know probably have tucked away in that drawer. Upcoming Webinars February 25, 2021 2pm-2:30pm EST – Workshop Plant Propagation with HSA Philadelphia Unit Member Mary Maran

March 23, 2021 1:00 p.m. EST

The Virtues of Violets Kathy Scholosser, HSA Member and editor of END NOTE The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking with Herbs Violets have been sought after for thousands of We encourage all our members to help get the word out to all plant interested friends and colleagues that years. They have played a role in medicine, art, the Potomac Unit is ‘here and happening’ and eagerly literature, myths and rituals. Explore the botany, awaiting new people with a similar interest. We now where they are found around our country, and have a variety of membership levels - $15 (for the Unit some of the ways these shy little plants have newsletter). $25.00 for an interim (trial) one year Unit found themselves in our homes. membership as well as the traditional $ 60.00 HSA membership. We also have over half of our Unit March 30, 2021 at 2pm-3pm EST – Culinary meetings scheduled on an evening or weekend day Demonstration time to better accommodate those with a customary 9- A Feast of Spring Herbs and Vegetables with 5 work schedule. Liz Barbour, Chef and Author of Beautifully Opinions expressed in the are those of the Delicious: Cooking with Herbs & Edible Flowers authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Herb Society of America (HSA) or the HSA Potomac Some upcoming events that are to be held Unit. Responsibility for the safe use of any herb or herb virtually and some that are perhaps establishing a product lies with the reader. new ‘normal’……. Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners POTOMAC POTPOURRI is published September, Symposium is going virtual for 2021 date will be November, January, March, May and July by the March 6, 2021 ticket price: $45 plus processing Potomac Unit of The Herb Society of America, Penni fee. St. Hilaire, Chairperson; Laura Anthony, Editor Spring Loudoun County Master Gardening Symposium is & Summer and Cyndie Rinek, Editor Fall and Winter. Material appearing in the Potomac Potpourri may be also going virtual for 2021 - date will be March 10 reproduced. Potomac Potpourri should be credited as the source. Non-member subscriptions to the Potomac Potpourri are $15.00 per year. Send check made out to Potomac Unit, H.S.A and mail to: P.O Box 1055 Springfield, VA 22151

The content deadline for the next issue of the Potpourri is April 2020, 2021 to Laura Anthony at: [email protected].

News of member and civic or nonprofit horticulturally themed events is welcome. Publication is at the sole discretion of the editor, who reserves the right to edit for brevity or any other reason. Neither the Potomac Unit nor the Herb Society of America endorses any product or event unless the product or event is specifically sponsored by the Unit or Society. The Herb Society of America is dedicated to promoting the knowledge, use and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experience of its members with the community. As previously stated, opinions expressed in the Potpourri are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Herb Society of America (HSA) or the HSA Potomac Unit. Any herbal information provided is for educational use only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you experience symptoms, see a physician for treatment

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