The Herb Society of America

10/20/2026

Why do some of our most beloved garden plants pack a toxic punch? On October 29 at 1pm Eastern, Dr. Kit Carlson, Biology Faculty at Madison College, will explore how toxins in perennials like Angel’s Trumpet, Arnica, Milkweed, and Autumn Crocus work as sophisticated plant defense mechanisms. Blending botany, toxicology, and history, “Poisonous Perennials and Their Secret Histories” reveals the chemistry behind these natural defenses and the surprising roles these plants have played in human folklore and history. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for the hidden science in your own backyard.

Learn more and sign up: https://loom.ly/nT9QENs

10/18/2026

Rooted in Community: How a Teacher and High School Students Built a Certified Haven for Migrating Pollinators in Georgia

When John Cassell took charge of the Effingham College and Career Academy (ECCA) Garden Club around 2022, he inherited a huge opportunity to turn an old herb garden in Rincon, GA, into something more. A marine scientist with a background in sea turtle biology, Cassell, who teaches Zoology, Scientific Research, and Entomology to ECCA’s STEM students, wanted to transform that green space into an active education and research site....

When John Cassell took charge of the Effingham College and Career Academy (ECCA) Garden Club around 2022, he inherited a huge opportunity to turn an old herb garden in Rincon, GA, into something mo…

10/14/2026

Your garden might be keeping secrets. Join us on October 29 at 1pm Eastern for “Poisonous Perennials and Their Secret Histories,” a talk with Dr. Kit Carlson of Madison College. Familiar favorites like Angel’s Trumpet, Arnica, Milkweed, and Autumn Crocus have a darker side, and Dr. Carlson will pull back the curtain on the chemical factories hiding inside these beautiful blooms. Come find out what’s really growing in your flower beds, and why some of the prettiest plants are also among the most dangerous.

Learn more and sign up: https://loom.ly/nT9QENs

10/05/2026

Licorice

It is no surprise that the licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for October, is an ancient herb, like so many others. We mostly know licorice as a chewy black candy found in confections such as Good and Plenty, Twizzlers, and jelly beans. Only black licorice products contain flavoring derived from the licorice plant. In the United States, however, black and red candy labeled as licorice often contains fruit and anise oil flavoring instead of the real licorice extract....

It is no surprise that the licorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra, The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for October, is an ancient herb, like so many others. We mostly know licorice as a chewy black ca…

10/03/2026

This October we're celebrating all things Licorice! Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a perennial herb native to southern Europe and parts of Asia. The part used is the root and underground stem (rhizome), which has been harvested for thousands of years. It's what gives real licorice candy its unique flavor.

To learn more visit: https://loom.ly/0k4mN48

10/02/2026

We're thrilled to introduce you to The Herb Society of America's new Board President, Casey King! From an early age, Casey has always enjoyed plants and especially herbs. Her graduate thesis from the University of Kansas was an ethnobotanical study of herbal medicines as used in the Missouri Ozarks. Research and fieldwork for her thesis opened her eyes to the true importance of herbs in our lives throughout history.

After graduate school, she lived in Mexico City for several years, where she enjoyed frequenting the local curandero and brujaria shops, learning about the herbs of Mexico and how they were used in local medicine and in witchcraft and indigenous religious ceremonies.

In 1992, after attending a fall Herb Fair in Columbus, Ohio, she became a provisional member of the Central Ohio Unit of the Herb Society of America. There, she found her “family” and will be forever grateful for everything they taught her about growing, using, and the history of herbs. “These members allowed my passion for herbs to truly grow, I have learned so much from all of them and will be forever grateful to them.” While a member of this group, Casey served as membership chair for several years and as chair from 2019 – 2022.

Casey joined the Board of Directors for the Herb Society of America in 2019 as membership chair, vice president, and is now serving as president. After a forty-year career in healthcare, Casey retired to her home state of Florida, where she lives with her husband Youssef and their two cats – Ernie and Feresteh (Angel in Persian) and all the backyard squirrels and birds they feed. She is involved in the local garden club and is a master gardener for her county.

Welcome, Casey!

09/25/2026

Scented Pelargonium are most often propogated by stem cuttings because they're fast, reliable, and produce an exact genetic copy of the parent plant. Snip a four-to-six-inch piece just below a leaf node, strip the lower leaves, (optional that you can let it callous over by letting it sit out for a bit first), and set it in moist potting mix or even a glass of water until roots form, usually within a couple of weeks. Root division works on the same clone-true principle but starts from an established plant: carefully separate a mature specimen at the roots and each division grows on as its own true-to-type plant. Leaf cuttings are less common and a bit slower, but some gardeners root a leaf with a bit of petiole attached to coax a new plant from scratch.

Growing from seed is the outlier. Because scented pelargoniums cross-pollinate readily, seed-grown plants are genetic mixes rather than exact copies, so a seedling can smell, look, or grow differently than the parent it came from. That unpredictability is part of the fun for hybridizers chasing a new scent or leaf shape, but if you're after a specific, known variety, like a true rose or lemon geranium, cuttings or division are the reliable path, since they guarantee the new plant is identical to the one you started with.

Learn more, including ways to use all those propagated plants in your kitchen: https://loom.ly/0k4mN48

09/24/2026

This Herb of the Month recipe comes from our very own, Education Manager, Karen Kennedy's kitchen!

Scented Pelargonium Simple Syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
½ cup scented pelargonium, flavor of choice, especially rose, mint, lemon, and lime
In a saucepan, dissolve sugar in water over medium heat. Add leaves and steep for 30-60 minutes. Strain and refrigerate syrup for up to two weeks. Use to flavor lemonade or limeade, cocktails like margaritas, mules, gimlets, mocktails or any recipe that calls for a simple syrup.

For more recipes: https://loom.ly/0k4mN48

09/23/2026

Join us Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern for "Pennsylvania Hospital Gardens: The Physic Garden and Beyond," a webinar presentation by Stacey C. Peeples, Curator-Lead Archivist at the Pennsylvania Hospital. Peeples will explore the cathartic nature of the hospital's grounds, from the historic Physic Garden—traditionally home to medicinal plants used in pharmaceutical preparations—to the campus's lesser-known gardens and landscaped spaces, marking Pennsylvania Hospital's 275th anniversary and the nation's 250th with a celebration of the historic landscape surrounding one of Philadelphia's oldest institutions. With over 25 years of experience as Curator-Lead Archivist, Peeples oversees the hospital's manuscripts, rare books, fine art, artifacts, ephemera, and antique furniture, supports researchers, leads educational programs on the institution's history, and recently curated the hospital's new museum—bringing a wealth of expertise to this unique look at over 270 years of institutional history.

To learn more and sign up: https://loom.ly/pZUjh94

09/22/2026

The Friends of the Library & Archives exists to promote the use and enjoyment of the HSA Library, to raise funds that improve library and archive services, and, to sponsor special programs that bring herbal education to every member. A revitalized Friends group advances that work through fundraising, promotion, networking, and programming, including the vital task of preserving our rare book collection and digitizing historical documents so the collection reaches more members, scholars, and curious readers than ever before.

Gifts to the Friends go directly toward purchasing new materials, funding digitization projects in the library and archives, offsetting postage costs for members who borrow books, and creating new opportunities for herbal learning. Together, these efforts keep the library adaptable to new technology and secure in its role as The Society's resource center for herbal information. Joining the Friends is a way to be recognized as a supporter and to take an active part in the library's success and longevity. We'd love to count you among them.

Become a Friend of the Library and Archives and learn more about what we have in our collection: https://loom.ly/IleCQRw