Redland Evening Herb Society Online

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Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 11:52 PM | Permalink

This Month’s Speaker:  Tracy Bossinger  
Tracy will be speaking about the  symbolic language of flowers  and herbs from
literary and historical sources.  
Herb of the Month:  Vanilla      

A Look Ahead:    

July 4, 2007: NO MEETING!  
Herb of the Month: Lotus

August 1, 2007: Leila Werner  will be teaching us some of  her
culinary magic.  
Herb of the Month: Elderflower  

September 5, 2007:
Kristin Jayd-Jimenez will speak about  butterfly gardening.  
Herb of the Month: Dandelion  

October 3, 2007: TBA  

Herb of the Month: Rue

Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at  7:30pm in the Fruit & Spice  Park Auditorium. All members and guests are welcome!  Our Tasting Table, Raffle  Ticket Drawing, and Door  Prize Drawing follow each  speaker.  

Monthly Society Project:  Come garden with us! Meet in  the Park at 10am on the Saturday following each monthly  meeting. You get free park  admission and free herbs to  take home. 

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 10:00 PM | Permalink

Description: Native to southern Mexico, vanilla is a climbing tropical orchid with oval leaves and heavy stems. Flowers are yellowish- green, with a hairy yellow center lip. Vanilla is currently grown in many tropical countries, most notably Madagascar and Reunion. Indonesia is also successful in
producing vanilla.

Cultivation: Vanilla orchids prefer moist, shady environments. They do not tolerate frost. Flowers bloom after the third year, and must be pollinated by hand to develop pods. Pods must then be cured to obtain the flavor, in a process developed by the Aztecs. Vanilla labeled as “Mexico” vanilla has
been cured by a steaming process, while “Bourbon” vanilla has been cured by blanching.

Culinary: Vanilla is used as a flavoring, and sometimes as a coloring agent for foods. It is most known for adding its flavor to sweet dishes, but can also be used for savories. It is commonly available as the whole pod or as an extract. The best quality pods should have white crystals on them when
you buy them.

Other uses: Vanilla is widely used an addition to perfumes, potpourris and cosmetics.

More about Vanilla:
• Vanilla is said to have been brought into popularity as a flavoring alone by Queen Elizabeth I.
• Most chocolate desserts contain vanilla to set off and complement the chocolate’s flavor.
• Vanilla sugar can be made by placing a vanilla bean in a sealed container with sugar. As you use it, add more sugar to replenish.

Sources:
Herbs and Spices for Florida Gardens by Monica Moran Brandies.
http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Vani_pla.html


“Ah, you flavor
everything; you are
the vanilla of society.”
-Sydney Smith

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 08:37 PM | Permalink

There will be no meeting in July, since the usual day falls on the 4th. Happy Independence Day!

The website is still looking for suggestions for improvements. Please visit REHSonline.com and become a member of the forums to make suggestions and contributions. You can also email Tao at info@umaatantra.com or Tracy at tracy@triskeledesign.us to add information, make suggestions, or tell us how
we’re doing!

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 07:04 PM | Permalink

All members and guests are invited (but not required) to bring a contribution to the monthly tasting table. The Tasting Table was filled by: Leila Werner—Calabasa Flan; Eliat Schmalbach— Peas; John & Marie Thorpe—Romaine Salad; Cheri O’Neal—Wheat-free Herb Bread; Cristine Worthley—Fruit Basket;
Kristin & Naja Jimenez— Balsamic Salad; Jean Bonnen— Polenta and Sorrel Salad; Penny Gordon— Banana Oatmeal Cookies with Thyme; Tracy Bossinger— Honey Wheat Sourdough Bread, Tarragon Tea. Tickets are on sale at the raffle table during each meeting, and are fifty cents each.

Raffle table donations were provided by: Penny Gordon—Bath Scrubbie; John & Marie Thorp—Holy Basil and Banjo Tobacco.

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 06:06 PM | Permalink

We wanted to acknowledge and thank the many people who have contributed recipes to the upcoming cookbook. Many current members participated, as did some guests and former members. A round of applause goes out to: Ana Kearson, Ann Hearin, Astrid Zedler, Bernice & Laura Cohen, Bruce Sutton, Cheri
O’Neal, DeAnna Alvarez, Diane Peerson, Donna Rich, Donna Weaver, Donnie Brown, Eliat Schmalbach, Dlena Jordan Bell, Gladys Sutton, Gloria Koppelmann, Jeanne Ross, Jim O’Hare, John Thorp, Joshua Pierre, Karen Bezold, Kristin Jayd Jimenez, Leah Sherman, Leila Werner, Lisa White, Liz Koppelmann, Liz
Watt, Lynne Bowers, Manny Crump, Margaret Jordan, Maria Lima, Marianne Donnell, Marlene Roffe, Mary Ann Poor, Marylu Zurbuchen, Meg Vandereedt, Melanie Bermudez, Neil Smith, Nina Hall, Nirmala Britto, Norma Shaw Huff, Pat Hudson, Patricia Williamson, Paula Kelly, Peg Wood, Penelope Gordon, Phellicia
Perez & Priscilla Peppas, Ralph Farley, REHS Library, Rick & Lisa Jacobson, Sandra Arthur, Sheron Amelung, Sue Gronholz, Susan Templeton, Tina Pavel, Tracy Bossinger, Velma Poteat

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 05:09 PM | Permalink

June 2: Propagation led by Chris Rollins. 10am-5pm. $40.

June 16-17: Tropical Ag Fiesta. 10am-5pm. $6. Children 12 & under free.

June 16: Lychee & Longan Workshop. 10am-1pm. $25

June 17: Hurricane Pruning. 10am-1pm. $25.

June 23: Mango Mania. 10am-1pm. $50 includes a mango tree to take home.

July 21: Banana Workshop. 10am-1pm. $25.

Registration is required for all classes. For more information on any of these events or to register, call the Fruit & Spice Park at 305- 247-5727.
Information can also be found by visiting www.fruitandspicepark.org.

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 01:11 PM | Permalink

Karen Esty from the Fruit & Spice Park was our speaker for May. She gave a wonderful presentation on making ‘floral waters’ - an easy version of perfumes. These scents can be used in homemade lotions, cleaning potions, or alone as room or body fragrances.

Karen demonstrated her method of steeping the herbs in vodka to obtain the waters using lavender provided by Penny Gordon. She also brought other scents she had made previously, both to share her experiments and to demonstrate that the fragrance develops over time as the tinctures sit.

Some of the herbs Karen has used include bay rum, lavender, rose geranium, and patchouli.

Karen will be returning in November with more samples of her work, and to let us see the progression on the tinctures she has already made, so look for her to return!

Thank you to Karen for an enlightening presentation!

Posted by REHS_Newsletter at 12:16 PM | Permalink