I knew something was up as soon as I turned into the parking lot last Monday night. The air was filled with the aromas of freshly baked herbal bread right out of the oven. The closer I got to the front door, the stronger the aromas of drying lavender, thyme, bergamot, mint and rosemary were competing with one another to draw me in. I stopped and noticed something was odd about the potted bayleaf…somebody had given it a rather severe haircut and about one quarter of its leaves had been harvested to serve a higher purpose.
Sharon and Winnie with their herb garden
What I am talking about is the Herbs, Senses workshop Winnie Webb, Sharon Diefenthaler and Karen Morris were hosting in the conference room. With myself on the door, this session drew 24 people which is a very impressive turnout when you consider the original MEN advertisement listed a local pizza parlor as the reservations phone number!
Aroma therapy 101
These ladies really outdid themselves with the vast array of plants and props they set up to transform our rather bland conference room into a haven of tranquility and some of the most deliciously soothing aromas I have ever experienced. Each table had a fragrant herbal arrangement, the front presenters tables were groaning under pots of freshly dug rosemary, lavender, geraniums, mints, oreganos, chives, parsley and cilantro. The side tables were strewn with sachets, soaps, candles and an entire section from Franks arts and crafts. The show stopper was one of Linda Welch’s vertical garden pieces planted with herbs…what a novel, space saving idea!
Vertical herb garden
Herb drying rack
The kitchen counter displayed the herbal breads, gooey lavender brownies, herbed hot buttered popcorn and a rather interesting Vernors punch with bergamot, honey, bruised mint and wafer thin dried lemon slices.
Assorted herb breads
Sharon and Winnie shared with everyone their experiences with herbs and how pleasantly mood altering and uplifting the aromas can be to our weary psyches. Karen was spritzing the arms of the unsuspecting with a lavender oil based concoction that smelled terrific, while Sharon was showing how the woody stems of rosemary could be used for kebabs and Winnie demonstrated some basic herb drying methods with a homemade wooden rack. Karen and Sharon explained how to make spice bags, bouquet garnis and a tasty herb mix called “herbes de Provence”
Herbes de Provence
Rolling basil for freezer storage
Frozen herbsicles
Sharon told the group of her experiences visiting a special greenhouse that grows herbs and flowers organically as part of a patient rehabilitation program. I am also reminded of her own program with the ISD at Matthis’ greenhouse and how the kids all “fight” to work in the herb house when we are taking cuttings and transplanting. This is positive effect of aroma therapy!!
The herbal products and ideas table
The presentation ended with Sharon and Winnie talking about how easy and inexpensive it is to incorporate herbs and their aromas into just about any household use. As a guy, even I found that part interesting!
Good work ladies…your efforts were much appreciated. Everyone left full of herb bread and with an assortment of dried herbs, bags of bayleaves and sachets…and a greater appreciation of the benefits herbs can have on our senses.
This workshop is actually an excellent lead in to Georgann’s upcoming Culinary Herbs presentation on October 15, after the general meeting. Be sure to read the blog for details and some of the recipes that were covered in the workshop.
Monroe County Master Gardener Association 
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