Filoli- a preserved mansion and grounds from the early 20th Century.

By Cindy Meredith, Proprietor of The Herb Cottage

In late February I visited my family in California's San Francisco Bay Area. During my stay we visited an early 20th Century mansion called Filoli. The estate is about 30 miles south of San Franciso in a rural community called Woodside. The Mansion itself is open and gives a glimpse of a life of wealth in the first half of the 20th Century. While I'm not so much into looking at furniture, carpets and wallpaper, the grounds of Filoli captivated me. Most of the gardens are formal with long, axial views to a focal point. The eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains forms a rustic backdrop to the place that makes the formality of the grounds even more appealing.

For more information and beautiful photos of Filoli, go to Filoli- a preserved mansion and grounds from the early 20th Century.

CULINARY HERBS FOR SPRINGTIME---

Click on the link below to get the complete notes for the presentation.

Warm-Weather Herbs for the Texas Gulf Coast--
Notes Prepared by Linda Collins – Presentation given by Cindy Meredith
Planting Herbs (warm-weather herbs vs. cool-weather herbs). Often we buy herbs that give us growing instructions, and we follow the instructions and they die. Why? Because the instructions are for growing herbs up in the north which have mild summers and cold winters. The Texas Gulf Coast is a whole different story for growing herbs. We plant warm-weather herbs in the spring and remove them when they die at the end of their growing period in the fall.
Then we plant cool-weather herbs in the fall, and if we have a mild winter, they should keep growing until it heats up in late spring or early summer. This provides for a year-round herb garden. If we have a mild winter, many of these annuals can become perennials.

CULINARY HERBS FOR SPRINGTIME presented by Linda T. Collins

SUBJECT: CULINARY HERBS FOR SPRINGTIME presented by Linda T. Collins

WHAT: Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group

WHEN: Second Wednesday of every month, next meeting March 9, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: ACISD Maintenance Department (Formerly Rockport Elementary), 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, Texas

WHY: To educate those interested in herbs.

Often we buy herbs that give us growing instructions, and we follow the instructions and they die. Why? Linda will give a list of some of the better culinary herbs to plant for springtime. She is a member of our herb study group and a Master Gardener.

And we will have a business meeting following the program. We need to get the "7th Rockport Herb Festival" plans finalized. It's only a month away. So come prepared, and we can continue our discussions over lunch if necessary!

Come and learn everything you ever wanted to know about herbs. Did you know that there are over 2,000 herbs and that roses are herbs too? And did you know that many of our Texas Native Plants are also herbs? Herbs have been used for centuries for not only culinary purposes, but also for medicinal uses, in cosmetics, cleaning solutions, clothing (one of which is Gossypium cotton), building supplies and art and craft purposes.

Our herb study group was founded in March 2003 and meets the second Wednesday of every month at the ACISD Maintenance Department (Formerly Rockport Elementary), 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport, Texas at 10:00 a.m. to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs including the historical uses of the herbs and tips for successful propagation and cultivation. We are open to the public. Some members of the group are available as speakers to other audiences.

The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to increasing public knowledge and awareness about herbs.