March 2018 Newsletter

The Charlotte Herb Guild Newsletter
March 2018

The Charlotte Herb Guild

Meeting of March 13, 2018

Garden Council House

1820 East Seventh Street

President Mary Beth Collins called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. and thanked the hostesses Anna Brandl and Susan Poel for providing the food for the evening.

Suzanne Williams, filling in for Membership Chair Margie Orell, introduced Donna Vittorio and Faye Janson, guests of both Lana Andrews and Phyllis Cutrell.

Mary Beth asked for approval of the January meeting minutes. Julie Courtney made a motion, and they were duly approved.

Anna Brandl presented Herb of the Month, discussing the benefits and uses of Elderberry.

Dixie Kelly gave the Treasurer’s report saying that the guild is in good shape financially with approximately $8000 in the bank, and the proposed budget for 2018-2019 will be sent out to the members.

Holly Jeffries gave a brief Farmers’ Market report. The CHG will have the same spot as last year at the Matthews market on Saturday, May 12. Small glass jars are needed for the tussie mussies. There will be a sign-up sheet distributed at the next meeting for working shifts.

Ann Baldwin and Mary Ann Nagel have met with the new director of the Museum of History, Andrea Focht. Andrea has worked with them to make access to a hose easier and has offered the Hezekiah Alexander house as the site of the CHG tea. The garden soil will be amended in early April with the help of Eric and Craig Ritchie. Planting will be in mid-May using herbs from Brenda.

Dana DeBellis is working with Craig to improve the look of Virginia’s Garden at the McGill Rose Garden. The city provides soil amendments, but Dana will be requesting about $200 for plants. Members are free to drop by Monday-Friday from 9:30-11:30 when Eric is working there.

Beth Burgin reported on her plans for the Council House Garden. She told members she will replace plants that are not thriving with plants that attract birds, including rosemary and sunflowers.

Mary Beth said the Garden Council will be having a plant and garage sale on April 7. If members have donations, please leave them upstairs at the council house or call Mary Beth.

Stephanie Holden spoke to the members about simplifying the food at meetings. Since we usually have only two hostesses, this can become burdensome and costly. She suggested each member provide one sweet and one savory that will each serve about 20 people. She reminded the group that the house has available whatever members would need in terms of silverware, dishes, serving platters, and cups.

Mary Beth brought up the topic of some members having difficulty driving at night, and the Executive Committee had suggested having the winter meetings on Sunday afternoon to encourage attendance. After some discussion, it was decided the January 2019 business meeting will be held in the afternoon.

Lana Andrews and Ann Baldwin, Program Chairs, discussed the upcoming trip to Asheville on Saturday, May 5th. The bus will leave the Council House at 8:00 am sharp and will leave Asheville promptly at 3:00 pm. A morning and afternoon snack will be provided by hostesses Lana and Phyllis, and members should bring a market basket or something to hold their purchase. More information will be forthcoming.

Lana introduced Stephanie Holden, who gave an interesting talk on making your own blended teas.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Oleson

Communications Chair