Herb Club Plans for Year Ahead

On the third Wednesday of every month (besides December), at Tamanend‘s farm house the discussion terns to all things herb.

This is when the Tamanend Park Herb Club meets, and the 60-plus members gather to talk about anything and everything related to growing and cultivating herbs.  

It’s not just basil and oregano though if that’s what you’re thinking.  

Club treasurer, Laura May pointed out that the term “herb” covers a wide range of plants that most people wouldn’t expect it to.

“The original definition of herb is a useful plant,” said May.  “So we get a lot of people that are interested in using herbs for cooking, health benefits, aromatherapy, craft projects - all that stuff.”

Founded in the summer of 1983 by four residents of Upper Southampton, the club has held an herb sale at the park on the third weekend of May every year. Funds raised at the herb sale go towards covering the scholarships the clubs grants to high school and college-level students.  

The club gives a $1,000 college scholarship and a $500 high school scholarship to students interested in pursuing a career in horticulture.

While the club discussed some matters pertaining to the herb sale, the real issue of the group's last meeting was next year’s upcoming Philadelphia Flower Show.  

Several of the club’s members present their work at the annual week-long March festival.  And on Wednesday they were given a lengthy presentation by Temple horticulture student, Brandon Huber.  

Huber, who, in addition to his studies, works full-time at Meadowbrook Farm in Abington township, discussed his many methods for preparing plants for the Philadelphia Flower Show.  

Already the winner of a best-in-show rosette, Huber is something of an expert on the giant flower expo.  

“It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed - propagating plants, growing plants,” said Huber.  

This years flower show features the theme of Hawaii: Islands of Aloha.  Much of Huber’s presentation was focused on “forcing” exotic plants that would otherwise be stubborn to grown in Pennsylvania climes.  Huber is adept at the art of growing impressive plants in unfavorable conditions, saying he learned most of his craft while gardening in a small city house in Northeast Philadelphia.  

The official rules of the flower show state that plants can be started no earlier than September for presentation in March.  Hence, a lot of indoor growing and the forcing of plants (i.e. tricking plants into thinking they’re somewhere much nicer than Philadelphia in February.)  

Huber’s work in and knowledge of the greenhouses at Meadowbrook Farm certainly come in handy here.  

“Forcing plants can be very stressful on the plant,” said Huber.  “At home I grow them under T5 lamps and keep a heating pad around if I need to give plants a jumpstart.”

Huber’s power-point presentation showed many of the plants he’d grown for previous flower shows and also plants he was planning on using at this year’s expo.  For each slide he went into a litany of techniques he used in growing his exhibits.     

“We have a lot of speakers that come and talk to the group,” explained May.  In the summer we had local cook book writer, Jim Tarantino, here.  People really seem to enjoy it, get a lot out of it.”

May said that new members to the club are always welcome.  The club charges dues of $10 per member per year.

 More information about joining can be found on their section of Southampton’s Community Clubs website:  http://www.southamptonpa.com/general-information/community-clubs.aspx 

“We get a lot of our members when they come out and see us at our herb sale,” said May.  “Everybody that joins really seems to enjoy it.”