August Meeting

Herb Gardeners met for our monthly night meeting at the South Branch Library on August 18th. Janet and Beth presented a terrific program on The Multi-Sensory Exploration of Basil. They discussed culinary uses of basil, chemical components of the many species of basil, folk lore and medicinal uses. Club members tested their ability to distinguish the differences in taste and smell due to the composition of essential oils in basil leaves handed out by Janet and Beth. The girls also made refreshments featuring basil in the goodies. Thank you Janet and Beth for an outstanding program and delicious treats!

Club business followed the program. Items for discussion were: treasurer's report, special events update, herbal tea fair, herb gardens and upcoming night meeting programs. Natasha brought tea cakes for every one to sample and give consideration to be on the menu for our tea. Margaret presented information about fall gardening events in the Houston area. For your reference, the garden events discussed by Margaret will be listed in the Events Calendar in this blog. Kim introduced a guest at the meeting, Nicole.

Janet propagated 2 sweet aussie basil plants and gave them as door prizes. Margaret and Stephanie were the winners.

Herb Gardeners August Potluck and Day Meeting

Our day meeting was at Rosa's to begin planning for the February 28, 2009 Herbal Tea and Fair. Topics covered were: the schedule of activities for the tea day, hostess tables, tea menu items, herbal craft tables and SIG products for the fair. After the meeting, we enjoyed a wonderful potluck lunch.

Herb Gardeners of Montgomery County Members' Newsletter July 2008

July Meeting Recap:

This month's herb gardener meeting was a chance for our members to express their artistic talents through floral arrangements using the lessons taught to us by Kevin.

Members are needed to water the garden behind the community center. If you can commit to one day a month to water this garden, please contact Stephanie.

The club is also exploring whether to purchase a power point projector. Kim volunteered to find out information on the cost of a projector.

Rosa reported on the Herbal Tea and Fair.

Kim
Editor, Herb Gardeners Newsletter

Important Planning Meeting for Herbal Tea Fair

We will be having a planning meeting on August 14th, 10:30a.m. at Rosa's. A program and flyer for the event have already been created and we'll share that at the meeting. We want to hear everybody's ideas on every aspect of the event.

At this time we would like to thank the club for the tremendous outpouring of support we've already received. If you haven't signed up to help yet, then contact us and we'll find a position for you.

Please send herbal recipes to Kim. We need these to sell at the Herbal Fair.

Rosa & Camille
Tea Fair Coordinators

"Teacups & Garden Gloves"

Dear Herbies,

Next February 28th our club will be undertaking a new project that conbines two events which we've successfully created in the past; our Social Tea and our Herb Fair. Our Herbal Tea Fair will be at the Friendship Center at 2235 Lake Robbins Drive, and will have all the fun and informative elements that we've experienced at our past events. However this Tea will be on a larger scale to include friends and family. Out total attendance will be 60 and the cost of admittance is $15.

Beginning at 11a.m. and wearing party dresses, gloves and fancy hats, members and guests will share in a high tea of delightful herbal treats. Every attendant will receive a program and an herbal & rose boutonniere. Lois will be coordinating these floral creations. Seated at an herbal themed table decorated with fine china, we'll enjoy the serenity & companionship which is part of the 'Taking Tea' experience. There will be 10 tables seating six persons. I already have 8 hostesses for the tables and need 2 more. We'll be creating all the food for this event, and Carol B. is heading up this part of the planning.

After Tea, a wonderful lecture will be given by talented artist Elissa, who will also be donating a watercolor for our door prize. Elissa is a gifted speaker who is sure to inspire us in our own creative endeavors, whether it be in the garden, kitchen or crafting room.

Next comes our Herbal Fair where attendants will have the opportunity to ask questions of our experts and buy herbal gifts which our club will be making throughout the year. We plan to have 6 themed tables.

1. "In the Kitchen with Herbs" - Kim will be heading up this table. She'll be talking about nutrition and the delicious ways we can incorporate herbs into our cooking. Herbal vinegars and a collection of our herbal receipes are to be sold.

2. "Creating with Herbs" - (The hostess for this table has not been decided yet.) The projects we've made with herbs such as bath salts, tea dyed paper, potpourri and origami will be highlighted here.

3. "The Fairy Garden" - Camille will show how tiny fairies can bring a whimsical touch to our gardens.

4. "The Garden Plot" - Master Gardener, Margaret will sell herbs and answer horticultural questions.

5. "The Book Nook" - Leagal Eagle, Ida will have books from A to Z on everything herbal, for sale.

6. "Health and Home" - Fronica, knowledgeable in the use of medicinal herbs, will answer questions about utilizing herbs for our health.

Our goal for the Tea Fair is to raise funds for the club, increase membership, inform attendants of herbal use and HAVE FUN!

Rosa & Camille
Tea Fair Coordinators

Water Conservation

This has been a hot and dry season and we still have some hot weeks ahead before the cool fall evenings begin. This site offers some suggestions for helping your plants weather the Texas summer. Suggestions include choice of plants, water collection, mulching, watering times and amounts. For more information check out this site: Natural Resources Conservation Service .

You Can Do It...
Make a water collection pot with a faucet and hose to be placed below the air conditioning drain line or a gutter downspout. When the pot is full, the hose can be placed in any thirsty corner of the yard OR keep the faucet open for slow watering.

You Will Need: large fiberglass decorative planter, drill, brass faucet with a same sized nut and 2 rubber o-rings

1. Trace the threaded end of faucet on the planter.
2. Use a drill to cut the hole to fit the faucet. If you don't have a drill bit large enough, 'perforate' just inside the drawn circle to punch out the circle and file it smooth.
3. Put an o-ring over the threaded neck of the faucet. Put the neck through the hole and the other o-ring over the threaded neck. Screw the nut tightly to seal the faucet neck. (The o-rings are on either side of the fiberglass wall to make a waterproof seal.)
4. Attach a hose to the faucet opening.
5. Place the water collector under a water spout or AC drain line.
6. Raise the finished water collector by putting it on a few bricks to use gravity to increase the flow.

Please e-mail any suggestions/ideas/stories about your own water conservation or other topics to Kim.

Kim
Editor, Herb Gardeners Newsletter

Bay: Laurel or Leave It

There are two different kinds of culinary bay leaves: bay laurel, Laurus nobilis aka Turkish Bay and California bay, Umbelluraria californica. California bay is ten times stronger than bay laurel but the strength is not desired in cooking because it can have overpowering qualities of menthol and petroleum. Crushing or tearing of the leaf unveils a mild, sweet nutmeg-like scent.

Differences:
Laurus nobilis: Leaf is glossy deep green and shaped in an oval that is evenly tapered and pointed at the top and bottom ends, leathery and often the edges are wavy. Scent is a subtle, sweet spice.

Umbelluraria californica: Leaf is a narrow oval shape like a flame silhouette with the widest part towards the bottom and gradually tapering to a point at the top, pliable and the edges are smooth. Scent is strong menthol and petroleum.

When you harvest, tug the bay leaf downward until it snaps off. Mature leathery leaves have more flavor than soft new leaves. Fresh bay leaves will keep for more than a month in a small freezer bag in the refrigerator.

Fresh bay laurel leaves give a subtle sweet spice flavor to desserts, almost like nutmeg, vanilla and butterscotch. Steep the leaves in hot milk or cream to be used in custards, strain them out, or cook them with winter fruits, then discard before serving.

Kim
Editor, Herb Gardeners Newsletter