Category: HSA

By Maryann Readal Horseradish—A Root With Bite Few plants can evoke such a range of emotions as horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), which can make you laugh, cry, and clear your sinuses all at once. Horseradish is an herb famous for its very pungent root. It is a cousin in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), along with cabbage,… Read more

By Chrissy Moore We’ve all had moments of déjà vu. Recently, while working alongside Pooja Pant, a former research scientist at the National Arboretum and a native of Nepal, we got talking about herbs from her homeland. I quickly realized during the conversation that Nepalese herbs were not in my wheelhouse…or were they? Some of… Read more

By Beth Schreibman Gehring The autumnal equinox, which falls on September the 22nd, is a spoke in the wheel of the year — the brief pause when day and night are perfectly balanced, before the tipping into the darker half of the seasons. In the old calendars, it was a time of harvest and gratitude,… Read more

By Maryann Readal Introduction to Butterfly Pea Butterfly pea, Clitoria ternatea, also known as pigeonwings, is an interesting, vibrant, blue-flowered herb with a unique shape that inspired the genus name Clitoria. The species name, ternatea, refers to the Indonesian island, Ternate, where the plant was first identified in the 1600s. It is in the pea… Read more

By Bevin Cohen Summer is in full effect right now and that means our gardens are overflowing with the season’s generous bounty of herbs, flowers, and early vegetables. Mint and lemon balm cascade over into the garden paths and our oregano patch has grown far beyond its designated borders. It’s time to harvest these wonderful… Read more

By Maryann Readal Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, has an unforgettable place in my memory. My grandmother always planted a drift of these spectacularly jewel-toned flowers along the banks of her driveway. Perhaps she was recreating the gardens of her European homeland, where nasturtiums have been a popular garden plant since the time of King Louis XIV,… Read more

By Kim Brown As gardeners we already know plants are amazing. They can have smells that are intoxicating, beautiful colors and patterns that mesmerize us, and beneficial properties that can help fight illness. Insects like beetles, honey bees, butterflies, and many more also find them attractive and beneficial, but how does pollen get from the… Read more

By Carly Amarant The word conjures a variety of meanings for different people. Does it refer to superstitions? Do you see an image of a witch riding on a broomstick in your mind? Does it describe something wonderful and exciting, or does it allude to supernatural forces at play? It is, in essence and in… Read more

By Maryann Readal Sumac, Rhus coriaria, is The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for July. It is truly an interesting herb and perhaps a little-known one for many of us.  Sumac is a deciduous herbal shrub or small tree in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae). The family includes more than 250 species, many of which… Read more

By Beth Schreibman Gehring Long before calendars and clocks, before schedules and spreadsheets, there were the sun and the stars and those of us who watched them closely—gardeners, healers, farmers, mothers. The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, was a sacred moment. A time of warmth and waiting, of ripening berries and blooming… Read more