Preparing our Herb Society exhibit for RHS flower show Tatton Park 2015 by Ruth Ridley
5th July 2015
Following last year’s medal success
We were really pleased when last year’s Herb Society team, led by Barbara & Peter Depledge, won a Silver Gilt medal at RHS Tatton with a design for a 16th century herb garden inspired by Gerard’s Herbal, with our 1636 copy of the book available to view on the stand.This year the theme is Thyme for Tea
This year the Cheshire flower show will be held on 22-26 July. To coincide with our theme celebrating the many garden plants which can be used for tea, we will be selling packs of herbal tea on the stand. Herb Society members will be able to take a pack free of charge, so do come along and say hello!
Medical Herbalist Barbara Wilkinson is organising the exhibit this year, and there are many behind-the-scenes activities that need to be carried out well before show week. This Spring Barbara liaised with the designer Margaret Kewley and herb grower Hooksgreen Herbs about our exhibit, and prepared an information leaflet about the use of herbal teas. More recently, she has been sourcing dried herbs, and growing some cornflowers and other herbs in her own allotment for tea-making. Last week she packed them with the help of local volunteers.
Growing and sourcing herbal teas
Cornflower coming into flower at the end of May on Barbara’s allotment
Herbs cut in Barbara’s allotment and ready for drying: nigella, lemon balm and vibrant cornflowers among others
Some of the dried herbs for tea supplied by Panacea and Herbs in a Bottle
Barbara says,
“I hope people will enjoy reading about the garden theme ‘Thyme for Tea’ when they get home and remember their visit to the stand and of course HS members can have the added advantage of tasting their free herbal tea in the peace of their own home.”She adds,
“…we would appreciate members coming to the stand as we would like their feedback on the display…I hope to have a book they can write in with memories of the show.”
Herb grower assists with exhibit
Herb plants being grown for the exhibit at Hooksgreen Herbs; arbour delivery arriving for the stand
Packing herbal teas
Happy volunteers packing herbal tea: (L) Margaret and Caroline; (R) June, Pat and Annie
Join the Herb Society
Members joining at Tatton will receive a free jute bag and pair of herb snips as well as the usual benefits such as subscription to Herbs magazine. Currently members joining by direct debit receive fifteen months for the price of twelve