For the third year the UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners is presenting its popular A Lavender Experience Workshop. Participants will:
- Explore the history of lavender and its uses.
- Learn about different types of lavender and how to grow them.
- Learn to make a lavender wand* and a stem lavender basket* (NEW!).
- Snack on lavender flavored goodies like lavender lemonade, salad, and shortbread.
- Get recipes for food made from lavender and dried culinary lavender to make your own recipes.
- Take home some lavender soap and scrub made by our UC Master Gardeners. (NEW!)
- Get a lavender plant to put in your garden.
Where: location mailed to participants
When: Saturday, June 22 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $30
Note: 35 spaces available
Questions? (209) 525-6862
Sign up online: https://ucanr.edu/lavender/2024
Master Gardener Instructors: Heidi Aufdermaur, Doone Cockrell, Denise Godbout-Avant, Bonnie Jones-Lee, Karen Jorgensen, Connie Lundgren-Gardner, Sandy Mann, Stephanie Ranon, Janet Wickstrom
If you cannot afford to pay full price for this workshop, please contact Anne at (209) 525-6862 or aschellman@ucanr.edu for a partial scholarship (while supplies last).
*Lavender wands and baskets can be placed in clothes drawers or cabinets to release a fresh scent and may last for years. You can also keep your wand or basket near your desk and inhale its relaxing fragrance when needed. Baskets can be used to store dried flowers, potpourri, or small items.
The lavender field image is from Pixabay and was published prior to July 2017 under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license https://web.archive.org/web/20161229043156/https://pixabay.com/en/service/terms/
/span>- Author: Jeannette Warnert
A sampling of the most aromatic and flavorful scented geraniums is available for public viewing and sniffing at the Fresno County Master Gardeners' Garden of the Sun, the organization's demonstration garden at the corner of McKinley and Winery avenues in Fresno. The collection was assembled by Fresno Master Gardener Emily LaRue.
She became familiar with scented geraniums when she purchased a citronella-scented plant marketed as a mosquito repellent. It didn't have quite the desired effect on the pest as she'd hoped, but the sharp smell when crushed between her fingers or just brushed while walking by piqued her interest. She began researching the plant and collected varieties of scented geraniums which mimicked the fragrances of lemon, ginger, nutmeg and rose.
Although the word geranium is widely known and accepted, it is botanically inaccurate, according to the Sunset Western Garden Book. The proper term is pelargonium and includes the showy shrubs with large clusters of red, white, coral or orange clusters commonly thought of as geraniums, as well as the related species with strongly scented leaves and less significant flowers.
“I learned that you can make tea using the scented plant's dried leaves, or simply add a leaf for flavor to your hot or iced beverage. Also, jelly can be made using the extracted juices from pelargonium leaves,” she said. “The leaves can add an aroma to meat dishes, salads and desserts, or leave a fresh scent in a drawer or the car,” she said. “I didn't know about all that before.”`
To share what she learned, LaRue adopted one of nine beds designated for herbs at the demonstration garden. She visited nurseries all over Fresno and the Central Coast to find 10 different scented pelargoniums to plant in the space. Stepping stones crisscross the plot to give visitors up-close access to all the specimens. She has also added a pot with a scented pelargonium to the garden plot, demonstrating that the plants normally do very well in containers.
“Pelargoniums can be planted around a yard where people might sit and enjoy the fragrance, or walk by and sense the unexpected aroma,” she said.
The pelargoniums prefer full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. The plants should be watered regularly during the growing season in Fresno and are drought-tolerant when mature. Pruning can keep the plant from becoming woody and leggy. LaRue plans to maintain the demonstration plants in 24- to 30-inch-wide mounds. The Sunset Western Garden Book suggests scented pelargoniums may not survive a winter freeze in Fresno, but other sources report it doing just fine as a perennial.
“I'm really anxious to see how the garden grows,” LaRue said. “This is all experimental for me. It's going to be fun to watch.”
She said she'll continue searching for additional varieties of pelargoniums, which enthusiasts have bred in dozens of scents, including chocolate mint, cinnamon, eucalyptus, peppermint, orange, balsam and apple.
The Garden of the Sun, at 1750 N. Winery, Fresno, is open to visitors from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Master Gardeners Spring Garden Tour on Saturday, April 20. Admission is free.
![Nine garden beds like this one are dedicated to growing herbs in the Garden of the Sun, the UC Master Gardeners' demonstration garden. (Photo: Sarah del Pozo) Nine garden beds like this one are dedicated to growing herbs in the Garden of the Sun, the UC Master Gardeners' demonstration garden. (Photo: Sarah del Pozo)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/106028.jpg)
- Explored the history of lavender and its uses.
- Learned about different types of lavender and how to grow them.
- Snacked on goodies made from lavender, like lavender lemonade and shortbread.
- Made a lavender wand.
- Took home a lavender sachet and lavender plant.
We hope you will join us for a relaxing time, while making new friends and learning all about this rejuvenating herb. This year, the Lavender Committee will be giving away lavender eye pillows instead of sachets.
Where: Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, Harvest Hall rooms AB&C, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, 95358.
When: Saturday, June 24 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Cost: $30
Note: 30 spaces available
Questions? (209) 525-6862
Sign up online: https://ucanr.edu/lavender/2023
Master Gardener Instructors: Nancy Robinson, Heidi Aufdermaur, Bonnie Jones-Lee, Connie Gardener, and Janet Wickstrom.
If you cannot afford to pay full price for this workshop, please contact Anne at (209) 525-6862 or aschellman@ucanr.edu for a partial scholarship (while supplies last).
*lavender wands can be placed in clothes drawers or cabinets to release a fresh scent and may last for years. Or keep your wand near your desk and inhale its relaxing fragrance when needed.
Humans have been fascinated by herbs and their uses for millennia. Some of the earliest written documents contained information about herbal remedies, and the use of herbs for medical treatment was first recorded on papyrus scrolls in ancient Egypt. One of the oldest preserved medical texts, the Ebers Papyrus, was apparently found in the 19th century by Egyptologists conducting excavations in the Necropolis at Thebes. Written around 1550 BCE, the Ebers Papyrus is believed to be a compilation of other, earlier medical texts; it contains remedies for various human ailments and disorders, magical formulas to aid well-being, and recipes for repelling insects and other pests from the home and body. For example, remedies for diseases of the digestive system, head, skin, and eyes; treatments for diabetes; and recipes for birth control.
The herbal remedies, passed down by word of mouth, made their way from cities to rural areas and along trade routes. In later centuries, the Greeks and Romans expanded upon the Egyptians' use of herbs, adding bay leaf (Laurus nobilis) to a list of savory and sacred herbs used in cooking and on special occasions. The favorite herb of Mediterranean peoples was rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus). The Romans heavily relied on rosemary, using it for a myriad of purposes, including salves for wounds, and even love potions. This plant was introduced further west in Europe and the British Isles by the Roman legions who brought rosemary with them when they colonized new lands.
In the 13th century, Italian explorers and merchants (such as Marco Polo) grew wealthy from trade with China via the Silk Road. European explorers soon began looking for direct passage across the sea to the east financed by wealthy merchants. In the 15th century, while much of the rest of Europe suffered from the Black Plague, the Portuguese led naval exploration to the south and east, eventually paving the way for the discovery of the New World. As trade routes expanded, more plants and herbal remedies were introduced to Europeans.
With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, herbal books could be mass produced and widely distributed to those who were literate. In the 17th century Nicholas Culpeper, a London herbalist and botanist, attempted to bring medical knowledge to the lay public by translating the London Pharmacopeia from Latin to English. Culpeper added herbal formulas alongside the lists of ingredients, helping those who could read to access information that had previously only been available to physicians. Culpeper went on to write a number of medical books in English. Culpeper's Herbal (1653) was brought to the American colonies by early Puritan settlers; it remains in print to this day.
Lavender, rosemary, and thyme are included in many modern gardens. We use herbs in cooking, of course, but also in many other time-honored ways: for example, placing bay leaves in flour bins to repel weevils; making ginseng tea to help an upset stomach. The history of herbs is fascinating! These ancient plants continue to play an important role in the health and well-being of our species.
New Master Gardener Workshop Series starting up! Our Spring series of workshops will begin in late January with Seed Starting on Tuesday, Jan. 31. For more information and to register, visit the Workshop section of our website.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
Counting the time spent at work and at home, urban dwellers spend 80-90% of their time indoors. Studies have found that not only do indoor plants remove deadly carbon dioxide and replace it with life-giving oxygen (through their photosynthesis and transpiration processes) but also the soil itself may contribute to cleaner indoor air. Plants can also help us recover from mental fatigue and support cognitive health by improving our ability to focus and lessening anxiety levels, thus improving overall wellness. When relaxed, our blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels may be improved. Bringing nature indoors can contribute to a happier, healthier life. While various species of cacti and succulents top the lists of plants that absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen indoors, herbs can lend a helping hand.
Happily, there are many herbs that grow well indoors. Love Mediterranean food? Consider sweet basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and sage. For Mexican cuisine, choose marjoram, bay laurel, and epazote; Thai basil and mint for Asian recipes; and cilantro for both. The French love parsley and tarragon, and chive's delicate, onion-y flavor adds savor to a wide variety of dishes. Chamomile, lemon verbena, and mint make relaxing, refreshing teas, and creative mixologists transform cocktail hour by adding rosemary, sage, basil, and lavender to their libations.
Many types of herbs can be combined with traditional houseplants (imagine a weeping fig, ficus benjamina, potted with a carpet of sage or thyme) or planted together in a single pot. Herbs are ideal plants in homes with open floor plans and plenty of light, and they can thrive in sunny foyers, near windows, and under sky lights.
Containers are an important consideration. A planter can be anything that makes you smile, as long as it has a hole in the bottom. Size doesn't matter, either, although the larger the container, the less often you'll need to repot or replace. Set on a non-porous saucer (glass, plastic, or glazed ceramic) to catch runoff and protect surfaces. If repurposing a container, make sure it's clean. Steel wool or a stiff brush will clean the inside of the pot. Rinse, then wash in hot water before planting. The most reliable and inexpensive pots are the unglazed terracotta flowerpots found at garden centers.
Nursery and garden centers conveniently offer a variety of pre-bagged soils that are blended specifically for potted plants, including organic and pre-fertilized mixtures. To plant, position the root ball so its surface is an inch below the lip of the container. Fill with potting mix, and press gently but firmly to remove any air pockets. Water thoroughly. Keep soil slightly moist, but not soggy, and feed monthly with houseplant fertilizer.
Water your container-grown herbs gently from the top, so soil is not washed away from the roots. Add water until water comes out the drainage hole at the bottom of the container. This prevents salts from building up in the root zone. Check soil moisture by feeling into the soil with your finger. If soil dries out for too long, roots will die, so don't forget to water!
Herbs are happy in the same environmental conditions where we feel comfortable. Humidity should be kept at thirty to fifty percent; use a mister or an inexpensive spray bottle filled with distilled water to meet a plant's humidity needs.
The same techniques used in planting containers in the garden can be applied to your indoor garden herbs. Grouping herbs not only saves space but also provides a compatible growing environment for plants with similar needs. Think in terms of “a thriller, a spiller, and a filler” to add depth and beauty to a container. Combine herbs that complement one another: an example to consider may be garlic acting as a focal point (the thriller), creeping or woolly thyme as the spiller falling over the sides of the container, and parsley (the filler) providing bright green color and complement.
There are multiple benefits to growing herbs as houseplants. They can help clean our interior air, calm our nervous system, and provide tastiness in our culinary attempts. Perhaps best of all, bringing the outdoors indoors brings us closer to nature, and that's a very good thing.
New Master Gardener 2023 Workshop Series starting up! Our Spring series of workshops will begin in late January with Seed Starting on Tuesday, Jan. 31. For more information and to register, see our Workshop section of our website.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at (530) 538-7201. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.