September Herb Class Sponsored by Montgomery Botanical GardensHits a Home Run

September heat did nothing to diminish the enthusiasm of participants in the Montgomery Botanical Gardens September class, Growing and Cooking with Herbs, presented by Janell Diggs.The presenter’s enthusiasm for her subject drew rave reviews from the crowd as she offered great growing tips for herb gardeners and then involved the entire group in preparing dishes made with herbs.

Mrs. Diggs presented detailed information on growing rosemary, basil, thyme, cilantro and mint. Among the tips she offered:

• Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that requires dry feet, does not transplant well and pairs well with chocolate and potatoes.
• Basil, also is a Mediterranean herb that does not like the cold, should be served fresh and not cooked, and pairs well with cheese.
• Thyme is more pungent than rosemary or basil and goes well with eggs and cheese.
• Cilantro thrives well in weather that is not too hot, tastes soapy to people with certain genetic makeup and is the world’s most used herb since all parts of the plant can be used in cooking.
• Mint needs to be contained since it takes over the garden and is practically indestructible.

To make her presentation even more engaging, Mrs. Diggs had previously prepared rosemary chocolate chip cookies which she shared with attendees. She also set up cook stations for participants to make and sample guacamole and rosemary potatoes.

Montgomery Botanical Gardens plans two more classes to complete its 2023 schedule:  Fall Floral Arrangements from Nature on Saturday, October 7, by Anna Owen; and Bulb Planting/Perennials on Saturday, November 4, by Karen Weber. Both classes will be held at 10 AM in the Wisdom Wood Outdoor Classroom in the Gardens at Oak Park.

Admission to the classes is free and open to the public. Seating is available in the Outdoor Classroom. For comfort, participants may wish to bring folding chairs. Water will be provided.