Volume XVIII, Issue 2, April 2009

Volume XVIII, Issue 2, April 2009

HERB GUILD THYMES

The Charlotte Herb Guild Newsletter 

April Meeting:

Annual Plant Exchange

DATE: April 14, 2009

TIME: 7:15 P.M.

LOCATION: Garden Council House

1820 East Seventh Street

Charlotte, NC 28204

VISITOR FEE: $5.00

 

Bring an herb for the Plant Exchange accompanied with a 5x7 card noting the plant name, growing instructions, and something about the plant. Prepare to go home with something for your garden. Bring extra plants if you wish and leave them on the porch.  

Hospitality: Netta Turnbull, Jennifer Warner, and Theresa Travelute

RSVP to Patti Harlan

 

Minutes of the March Meeting

Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs

Charlotte Herb Guild

March 10, 2009

At 8:00 P.M., President Dana DeBellis called the March business meeting to order and gave special thanks to hostesses Sandie Fenton and Hilda Norwood for providing tasty pizza toppings used by members to construct hand-made designer pizzas.  She also complimented the folks from GoodWood Pizza who fired up their portable oven and cooked pizzas for members.  The pizza social was a wonderful way to welcome members to a new year for CHG. 

The January minutes were approved without amendment and stand as distributed. The President announced that the Board proposed that CHG maintain a standing capital reserve of $8,000.  The membership approved the proposal. 

President DeBellis thanked outgoing President Mary Beth Collins for her hard work and terrific organizational skills that resulted in a great 2008-2009 year for CHG.  The guild presented Mary Beth with a gift certificate to Sur La Table.

Margery Orell, newsletter editor, introduced the new CHG Blog designed to be an online format for current and archived newsletters.  The blog will publish current and previous meeting minutes, an events calendar, photos and recipes.  The newsletter will now be available in three online ways: email via attachments (.rtf and .doc) and www.charlotteherbguild.blogspot.com. It is also mailed in hard copy to some members and will continue in that format.            

Patti Harlan, program co-chair, explained and distributed all the events planned for the next year.  The calendar included hospitality volunteers for each event.  The calendar and list of hospitality volunteers are also available on the CHG blog. 

Shirley Patton, membership chair, reported that 30 members are current with their dues.  The deadline for dues was the March meeting.  She also noted that the Guild has a maximum of 42 members. There will be some openings for new members this year.  Sandy Simonson was introduced as a guest. 

Treasurer Dixie Kelly reported a beginning balance on 1/13/09 of $14,384.53; total expenses of $142.52; deposits of $99.00, and ending balance on 01/13/09 of $14,341.01.

Mary Ann Nagel and Jane Ireton, liaisons with the Hezekiah Alexander House at the Charlotte History Museum, reported on their work in the herb garden located nearby the House.  April 15^th will be a work day, beginning at 10:00am.  Any CHG member can come to work in the herb garden. Park at the Charlotte History Museum on Shamrock Dr., alert the desk staff and they will give directions to the herb garden.

The President asked for a volunteer(s) to be liaisons to the Garden Council and/or volunteers to attend monthly Garden Council meetings, held the 4^th Wednesday of the month, 9:30-12:30. CHG pays dues to the Council and it is an expectation that we will participate in the Council meetings.  The next meeting is March 25^th.  A sign-up sheet will be available for volunteers at the next meeting.

The President announced the following CHG Volunteer Opportunities:

•  Friday March 20^th, 5 to 9 P.M.   Davidson St. Gallery Crawl. Volunteers are needed to drop off food made from CHG cookbook recipes to the McGill Rose Garden.
• Saturday, April 19^th, 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.  Hezekiah House Colonial Days. Volunteers are needed to sell cookbooks and plants. Table set up starts at 8 A.M. Food provided.
• May 16^th.  The Mt Holly Farmers Market. All morning.
• May 30^th.  The Matthews Farmers Market. All morning.

Please contact Dana DeBellis if you are available to help on these days. 

Madge Eggena gave a lively presentation on bay, the herb of the year. The folklore surrounding the bay plant may be its most interesting feature. It is said to protect one from lightening and witchcraft.  Bay grows successfully in our area and can become a very large tree.  It needs a planting spot protected from cold, winter winds.  The new leaves are not the best to use in cookery.  Instead choose older, leathery leaves as they dry successfully and are more aromatic.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Nardi

Recording Secretary

 

For those interested in pursuing GoodWood Pizza for other events, contact:  Brain & Jane Rollins, 980.241.9099, riverbendnursery@netzero.net or www.riverbendnursery.net