We’ll soon be heading to Michigan State University for the twenty -fourth annual conference of the Michigan Herb Associates on March ninth and tenth. Jim Long, who owns and operates Long Creek Herbs in Blue Eye, Missouri, and is a nationally known speaker and writer, is returning as the major speaker. One presentation will be on “Cutting Edge Plants”. He will tell us about many unique plants that he has entountered in his world wide travels and how some have been adapted for culinary and other uses in our gardens. He will also demonstate “Making Bentwood Trellises”. Some of the talks by other speakers will be ” Ar Rainbow of Colors in the Garden”, “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Horseradish, (the herb of the Year for 2011), but were Afraid to Ask”, and “Springtime Brunch Ideas with Herbs”.
There will also be herbal and garden items and books for sale, clay garden art and pots, pressed flower art, etc. We will have Herbal
Luncheons both days and a Banquet on Wednesday evening, a Silent Auction, Educational displays and much more. This is a trip that is always both worthwhile and enjoyable.

Horseradish is a more than 3,000 year old herb. Some uses in the past have been as an aphrodisiac, a treatment for rheumatism, and a bitter herb for Passover Seders. Early Greeks used horseradish both as a rub for low back pain and an aphrodisiac. This herb was also used to make a cough syrup and some people believed it to be a cure for almost anything. Even today, it certainly does clear your sinuses.
Legend has it that the Delphic oracle told Appolo” the radish is worth its weight in lead, the beet its weight in silver, the horseradish its weight in gold”. Evidence of this will be commented on throughout this year.
Other facts about this herb of many uses are that it has a lot of flavor, but only six calories in one tablespoon. This is a great h elp in planning flavorful foods if you are interested in losing weight. Horseradish can be added to many foods, and there are many recipes available. You will find some here throughout 2011.

Come and join us in the Conference Center at the Toledo Botanical Garden at 9:15 am on Wednesday, February 16th for our Annual Business Meeting that was snowed out in January. Jonathan Milbrodt from the Toledo Botanical Garden Horticulture Staff will tell us what is new and exciting in the field of Horticulture as he reports on his recent trip to the Environmental and Plant Trade Show held in Columbus, Ohio in January.

We thank everyone who helped make Heralding a success. Our members made jellies, mustards, vinegars, craft items, pet products, bath and body products, packaged herbs and mixed herbal blends, contributed to the bake sale and the silent auction, worked at Heralding, andhelped in other ways. We also thank the many people who visited us and purchased our products.

These recipes were in the July issue,2010, of The Herbal Messenger, Maumee Valley Herb Society’s Newsletter, and were sent by Leslie Snell. You will find these herbal cleansers easy to make and fun to use. Please try them.
Rosemary/Lemon Scrubber
1 part borax
1 part baking soda
4 drops lemon oil
2 drops rosemary oil
Mix together and enjoy using.
Lavender/Lemongrass Countertop Cleaner
1 cup water
1/2 tsp borax
1 Tbsp vinegar (lavender vinegar is great)
1 tsp cornstarch
2 drops each of lemongrass and lavender oils
Mix together and use.
Peppermint/Tea Tree Bowl Cleaner
2 cups water
1 Tbsp castile soap
5 drops tea tree oil
7 drops peppermint oil
Mix and use. This is an antibacterial spray cleaner.

Although we had terrible weather during two of the days, we had many people come to see us and buy from us. Many were very interested in the beautiful display of edible flowers and did purchase these. They also appreciated the signs telling about many of the individual herbs and the herb sale in general. Our members were able to assist many people who had questions concerning planting and using herbs, and also helped them to choose herbs for their individual gardens. We had many return buyers from previous years. All in all, our sale was quite successful.

Our May meeting, Wednesday, May 19 at 9:15 am will be at Jacob’s Garden in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. Jacob’s garden is located at the intersection of Sterns Road and Whiteford Center Road.
The program will be a Living Wreath Demonstration by Barb Leow. We will observe how to make a living wreath and also see one that was made last year. All of the plants in this wreath have continued to grow and you may be surprised to see how great this wreath looks.
Our business meeting will precede this demonstration.

It is almost time for the Spring Plant Sale in May. This year there will be a preview for TBG members on Thursday, May 6 from 4-8 pm. The rest of the sale will be open to the public. These dates and times are Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8, and Sunday, May 9. On these dates we will be open from 10 am to 5 pm. Both culinary and ornamental herbs will be available for you to purchase. Members of the Maumee Valley Herb Society will be present to help you make your selections and answer your questions. We will also provide information on growing, caring for, harvesting, and using herbs. About two hundred different varieties of herbs will be available. Come, see what we have, buy fron us and help us to support the Toledo Botanical Garden and especially the Herb Garden that our members plant and care for during the growing season. Then come back during the growing season and visit the herb garden. You will find this garden just beyond the Conference Center at TBG.

View our 2010 Spring Plant Sale List to learn what will be available this year.