What's New

2012 Herb of the Year: Rose

The 2012 Rose Guide is now available online.

Printed copies are now available from Headquarters Click here to purchase online

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.

For the first time, the map is available as an interactive GIS-based map, for which a broadband Internet connection is recommended, and as static images for those with slower Internet access. Users may also simply type in a ZIP Code and find the hardiness zone for that area.

No posters of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map have been printed. But state, regional, and national images of the map can be downloaded and printed in a variety of sizes and resolutions.

Click here to view the updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Virginia Commonwealth Unit marks 25th Anniversary

January 17, 1987 marks the first meeting of the Virginia Commonwealth Unit. Today, 25 years later the unit members maintain three garden projects.
Installed and maintain an herb garden at the Thomas Marshall House in Richmond, Virginia
In 2007, in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown landing, unit members planted a physic (herb) garden at the Citie of Henricus. The second English settlement in 1611, after Jamestown. Members also published booklets with illustrations and descriptions of the herbs.
In October 2011, members prepared, selected plants and planted an herb garden at the spinal injury unit, at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Adminstration Medical Center, South of Richmond, Virginia.
What does this group do when they aren't gardening? Four times a year the Gourmet group meets, each meeting has an herbal theme, i.e. recipes must include some combination of two or three herbs specified by the host.

Congratulations on sharing the use and the delight of herb for 25 years.

HerbWire - Bulletin from the HSA Library

The January issue of HerbWire, a succinct bulletin from the HSA Library featuring tips for finding herbal information and brief reviews of websites, books, and audio visual materials, is now available. The January issue focuses on "Fluorescent Lighting for Growing Plants". HerbWire is published monthly and the current issue may be viewed by going to Members Only page. Click on Newsletters and then HerbWire. To view previous HerbWire issues start at the Herb Society of America homepage. Click on the Resources tab on the top of the page. Click on Library & Resource Center from the drop down menu. Half way down the column on the right side are links to the current and archived HerbWire issues. Enter user name and password again if a pop-up box appears.
Updated 1/3/11

2012 Herb of the Year: Rose

The 2012 Rose Guide is now available online.

Just in time for the Holidays!

Enjoy the 12 Herbal Days of Christmas, by Betty Gasaway, HSA member from the Pioneer Unit
The traditional Christmas carol with an herb twist!

The 2012 Educational Conference Raffle winners are:

1st Prize: Conference Registration and hotel accommodations for two nights Susan Cunningham from California
2nd Prize: Conference Registration Deborah Winter from Western PA

Congratulations!

The 2011 Winter Newsletter is now online:

• Read about the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
• Check out the 2012 Award Winners
• Enter the 2012 Educational Conference Raffle

The Herb Society of America, Inc. announces its new initiative: Notable Native Herbs.

To bring attention to the vast selection of plants which can trace their origins to North America, The Herb Society of America, Inc. announces its new initiative: Notable Native Herbs. Each year The Society will choose a native herb as its focus; the selection for 2012 is spicebush (Lindera benzoin), an open-branched shrub native to the Eastern US and much of the Midwest. It’s clear yellow leaves in fall will brighten any landscape, and the scarlet fruits attract wildlife. Gardeners appreciate this adaptable shrub, which will grow further north and west than its native range. click here to view a press release and learn more
Link to the Essential Guide to a Notable Native Herb: Lindera benzoin (PDF members only)
Link to Plant Labels

Northeast District Membership Delegate Election

The election for the Northeast district membership delegate closed November 21th. Please join the board of directors in congratulating Dava Stravinsky, the newly elected membership delegate! Dava is a member of the Long Island Unit and has served on several national committees. Her three-year terms runs from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015.

South Central District Membership Delegate Election

The election for the South Central district membership delegate closed November 7th. Please join the board of directors in congratulating Gloria Cabrera, the newly elected membership delegate! Gloria is a member of both the Texas Thyme and South Central Units. Her three-year terms runs from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015.

Fall in The Nashville Unit's Herb Garden at Cheekwood Gardens- with their Scarecrow Little Sure Shot!
photo courtesy of Sally Sissel, Colonial Triangle Unit

2012 Award Recipients Announced

Please join the awards committee and the board of directors in congratulating the recipients for their accomplishments and in thanking them for their service to The Herb Society of America!
They will be honored at the Educational Conference and Annual Meeting of the Members, May 3-5, 2012 in Austin Texas.
Please plan to join members and friends of The Society as our recipients receive their well deserved recognition. The award recipients will be highlighted in greater detail in the Spring 2012 HSA Newsletter.

Click here to view the 2012 Award Recipients

THE CIVIL WAR AND HERBAL USES VIDEO

A group of Civil War- Era women discuss the hardships of living and how they cope with home-making cooking and gardening, as well as planning a wedding.
Starring the Mason-Dixon Herb Society:
Pat Sweetman
Pat Herbert
Diane Wittig
Kim Hollens
Introduction by Candace Riddle
Script written by Candace Riddle
Filmed and edited by Andrew Fake

Click to view the YouTube Video

NATIONAL HERB GARDEN FEATURED

Fox 5 Washington, DC, morning MyFox show reporter Holly Morris visited the United States National Arboretum on Thursday, October 6th. Chrissy Moore was one of the three features, highlighting the National Herb Garden. Chrissy shared recipes from Herb Society of America members!

Click here to view Chrissy and an interview with Dr. Hefferan
When the page loads, there will be a TV screen on the left. Underneath that screen are two small windows that say "Watch this Segment" the NHG is the one on the right.

Wisconsin Unit Field Trip to Old World Wisconsin

 Old World Wisconsin, a Wisconsin Historic Site, was opened in 1976.  The historic buildings on its extensive grounds come from all over Wisconsin.  Today, it is the world's largest museum dedicated to the history of rural life in the United States.

 The HSA-WI Unit has provided financial support for the site's herb garden at Sanford House as well as other garden related projects.

To view photos of Wisconsin Unit members at Old World Wisconsin

The 2011 Fall Newsletter is now online

• See the award winners from the Educational Conference
• Read about Civil War Herbs
• Read the news from The National Herb Garden
• Learn about our newest board member

Happy Birthday HSA!

Birthday celebrations lasting a week are great fun, but all good things must come to an end!
THANK YOU to everyone who sent Birthday greetings and gifts! Your contributions to honor HSA's 78th birthday totaled $500!  Click here to view HSA's Birthday Cards

Thank you to the Birthday Gift donors-

Verena Aeschbacher, Pioneer Unit
Sue "Big Sue" Arnold, Central Indiana Unit
Debbie Boutelier, Member at Large, Southeast District
Sandy de Holl, Philadelphia
Glenda Emery, Nashville Unit
Pat Greathead and Family, Wisconsin Unit
Julie Goltermann, Member at Large, Central District
Jean Ingalls, Western Reserve Unit
Linda Lain, South Texas Unit
Margarite Peterseim, Nashville Unit
Dorothy Piner, New Orleans Unit
Bonnie Porterfield, Western Reserve Unit
Cornelia Ryan, Western Reserve Unit
Kathy Schlosser, North Carolina Unit
Riekie Sluder, NorthEast Seacoast Unit
South Jersey Unit
Lois Sutton, South Texas Unit
Frankenmuth Mid-Michigan Unit

YEAR OF THE HERB PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED

In partnership with The Herb Society of America, National Garden Bureau, has announced the three crops that will be featured in their 2012 "Year of the" program.

For vegetables and edibles, it will be the Year of the Herb, which will be promoted in partnership with The Herb Society of America. Click here to read more...

Announcing the return of "Each One Bring One"

Who is the best recruiter for membership in The Herb Society of America?

You! A personal invitation from you is the most effective way to introduce someone to HSA. Who knows better than you what we offer and the advantages of being a member. In fact, isn’t that how most of us learned about HSA—from a member?

We want you to share your excitement and enthusiasm for HSA with your friends, family and anyone else you meet. Think how much The Society can grow if each one brings one. There’s something in it for you, too!

For every paid member that you recruit, you will receive $10.00 off your own membership dues at your next renewal, whether you are a member at large or in a unit. Five new members is a free one-year membership for you!

It doesn’t get any better than this! For more information, please contact membership@herbsociety.org. or Click here for more information about "Each One Bring One"

Gardens of Tuscany tour has been rescheduled....

to April 15-23, 2012,this is an exclusive tour for The Herb Society of America members and friends only.  In cooperation with Susan Worner Tours, join our tour guide, Caroline Holmes, 2011 HSA Award winner, well-known garden historian and past President of The British Herb Society along with fellow HSA members as we explore and further our knowledge of the origins of many herbs.
More information about the Traveling Educational Seminars will be available soon

GreenBridges...
newsletters are now available to all HSA members.  Click here to view newsletters