THE PHILADELPHIA UNIT OF THE HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA

 The Philadelphia Unit is one of the 44 autonomous units which belong to The Herb Society of America. The unit was organized in 1937 in the Philadelphia suburbs as “The Central Unit” and became “The Philadelphia Unit” in 1940. Our mission is to increase our own knowledge and enjoyment of herbs and to share this knowledge and delight with the community.

Among our many other activities, the unit’s members have participated in the production of Herb Society publications, helped create the National Herb Garden in the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., sent numerous members as officers to national and regional functions, and designed and established teaching gardens around the Philadelphia area.

The Fragrant Garden at Tyler Arboretum in Lima, PA, and The 18th-Century Medicinal Herb Garden at Historic Yellow Springs in Chester Springs, PA, were designed by and still are maintained by the unit.

The Philadelphia Unit has also held an herb sale each spring since 1938 (1989 excepted). The sale is currently held at Historic Yellow Springs and offers more than 10,000 herb plants for sale. Proceeds from the herb sale benefit our gardens at Tyler and Yellow Springs as well as community gardens in the area.

Currently there are about 40 members in the unit. We meet monthly, except January, usually on the first Wednesday morning of each month. Meetings may include lectures, herb study groups, workshops, discussions, and trips to see gardens or other locations of interest.

As we take great pleasure in growing, using, and learning about herbs, we hope that we can successfully reach out to those who share our interest so they, too, can enjoy herbs more.

If you would like more information about THE PHILADELPHIA UNIT, please write to us at P.O. Box 273, Chester Springs, PA, 19425, or email us at mail@hsaphiladelphia.org .

Revised March 26, 2008

A Brief History of The Herb Society and our Unit

The Herb Society of America (affectionately known as "The HSA") was created in 1933 in Boston, Mass. by seven ladies for the purpose of furthering the knowledge and use of herbs. These dynamic, forward-looking ladies proposed to contribute the results of their experiences to the horticultural and scientific world. The motto of the Society "for Use and Delight" was taken from the writings of the famous herbalist John Parkinson. The first president of this young herb association was Mrs. Albert C. Burrage, Jr.

Founding Members 
Two years later, in 1935, Miss Edith Stokes Haines (later Mrs. Arthur Dewar) of Ft. Washington, PA, was invited to join the society, still headquartered in Boston. In 1936, Mrs. John H. Gibbon of Media, PA became a member. Interest in the newly formed group grew in the tri-state or Philadelphia area and in 1937 the "Central Unit" was formed in the Philadelphia suburbs with Mrs. Gibbon as President, Miss Haines as secretary, and Mrs. Crosby Brown, Gladwyne, PA and Mrs. Maurice Ostheimer, Downingtown, PA as founding members. That same year, Mrs. Walter Rebmann, Bryn Mawr, PA and Mrs. Edward Cheston, Chestnut Hill, PA were elected to membership, followed by Mrs. Redmond Cross of Bernardsville, NJ and Mrs. Arthur Hoyt Scott of Media, PA.

Early activities                                                                                                                      In the first year as an organized unit, 1937, this very active group of energetic ladies conceived and published the original newsletter for The Herb Society. For the next three years, the "Central Unit" pursued a variety of activities, including starting herb gardens and holding the first Herb Sale at the College of Physicians. The Central Unit grew to 14 members, all of whom lived in the central part of the eastern seaboard: Washington, Baltimore, Harrisburg, New Jersey and the Philadelphia suburbs.

In 1940, the "Central Unit" became "The Philadelphia Unit". Mrs. John H. Gibbon continued to serve as president, a position she held until 1946 when Mrs. Pierce Archer, who had begun acting as treasurer, became the organization's second president.

Gardens Sponsored
The first garden designed and planted by the fledgling unit in 1937 was a demonstration garden at The Ambler School of Horticulture in Ambler, PA. Shortly after, that same year, the ladies added a medicinal herb garden at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. With membership at 18 in 1949, the Unit undertook its third garden, this one at Cedar Grove, the former Paschall-Morris house which had been moved in 1929 to Fairmount Park by Miss Lydia Morris. In 1951, the design, planting and maintenance of the Garden for the Blind at the Tyler Arboretum in Lima, PA was completed as well as an herb garden at Morris Arboretum. (The Morris Garden was eventually let go because the Arboretum had its thrust more towards trees and shrubs than plants at that time.)

1963 saw The Philadelphia Unit created an herb garden for the Neighborhood Garden Association under the leadership of Mrs. James Bush-Brown. Less than a decade later (1971), a small medicinal herb garden at the von Steuben headquarters in Valley Forge Park was designed and built by members.

The Garden for the Blind at Tyler which had been taken over by some local garden clubs and had not been well maintained was reclaimed, revived and renewed by the Unit in 1980. Because of social legislation (not wishing to discriminate in any way or to limit those with various handicaps from enjoying the garden), the name Garden for the Blind was changed to The Fragrant Garden, and the paths were made wheelchair accessible.

In 1984, members of the Unit living in the Chestnut Hill area undertook a small kitchen herb garden at Hope Lodge in Ft. Washington, PA which they maintained in conjunction with Hope Lodge staff for ten years. The 18th Century Medicinal Herb Garden at Yellow Springs in Chester Springs, PA was researched, designed and planted by the Unit next and was dedicated in 1987, on the site of the first Colonial Army Hospital funded by the Continental Congress in the colonies in 1777.

During 1993 the Unit decided the time had come to create a new herb garden at the Morris Arboretum, now a Pennsylvania state arboretum. The Unit members felt that not to be involved in the creation of such a garden would be a mistake and shortsighted despite past problems, so the garden was undertaken the following year--this time on a much grander scale than previously.

At the time of this revision, Unit members are maintaining the Yellow Springs Garden and the Fragrant Garden at Tyler.

Exhibiting Herbs
Exhibits at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Spring Flower Show and at the Fall Harvest Show have been among the Unit members' favorite projects. Beginning in 1940, members have participated annually in all phases of the shows. The Unit has won awards for educational exhibits including the Governor's and the Mayor's trophies. Members have distinguished themselves winning ribbons and medals with exhibits in the competitive classes. Those ladies not exhibiting in the PHS Spring Flower Show work behind the scenes staging, typing entry cards, judging herb classes and assisting in the myriad of jobs which help make this show the finest indoor flower show in the world. The Harvest Show, which is no longer held, was a much smaller presentation, enabled the Unit members to share growing experiences and tips with exhibitors who frequently bought their entries from the Herb Sale as small plants months or years before.

Over the years, The Philadelphia Unit has held joint meetings with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society which have been very popular. Unit members have given many demonstrations, lectures, slide presentations and workshops for PHS and have opened their gardens for tours as well. Mrs. George A. Reed, Jr.'s "Longview Farm" was a particularly favorite garden to visit and through her generosity was made available to thousands of garden enthusiasts.

National Affiliation
On the national scene, "The Herbarist", the annual publication of The HSA, was published in 1962-3 by The Philadelphia Unit under the editorship of Mrs. Henry Cadwalader. The Unit has acted as host to the important and exciting events of The HSA Annual Meetings in Philadelphia a number of times. First, in May of 1941, a one-day event at the College of Physicians; next in 1951, a three-day meeting held at the Warwick Hotel with Mrs. William H. Steeble as chairman; six years later (1957) at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel with Mrs. Walter Rebmann as chairman. The fourth time the Unit hosted the Annual Meeting was in 1966 at the St. David's Inn in Radnor, Mrs. Thomas Atherton, chairman. In 1976, the country's bi¬centennial year, The Valley Forge Hilton was the venue of this national get-together with Mrs. William H. Steeble again general chairman, and most recently, in 1989, at the Four Seasons Hotel under the watchful eye of Mrs. Edward S. Madara, Jr.

The 1982 Spring Board Meeting was held in Philadelphia in conjunction with the Philadelphia Flower Show.

The National Herb Garden
June of 1980 saw a momentous event for The Herb Society of America--the Herb Garden at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC, was dedicated. Philadelphia Unit members were an important part of this undertaking. Not only did they actively raise funds, Mrs. George A. Reed, Jr., Mrs. Walter Howard and Mrs. Charles Truitt each drew up planting plans for a Specialty Garden. They, and other Unit members, researched material for the National Herb Garden Booklet, and many members generously donated plant material from their own private collections and gardens. Mrs. Henry Cadwalader was the first National Herb Garden Chairman followed by Mrs. Charles S. Truitt in 1982 and Mrs. Bryce Douglas in 1987. The Unit actually held the Chairmanship of the garden for the first 8 years of its existence during which time the garden marked many milestones and continued to flourish.

National Presidents                                                                                                                It has been the Unit's pleasure to have had three of its members serve as President of The HSA. From 1952-1954, Mrs. Robert K. Price, 1962-1964, Mrs. Thomas Atherton, and from 1980-1982, Mrs, George Reed'. Mrs. Charles Amidon, at the revision of this history, was The HSA's first Vice-President, and served as the 4th President from the Unit from 1996 to 1998. In addition to the national presidents, the Unit has also supplied officers over the past decades who have held a variety of positions within the Society.

Plant Studies
The collective expertise of members has produced slide lectures for The HSA including "Beginners Guide to Herbs," completed in the late 1970s and later revised; a plant study of the genus Lavandula under the leadership of Mrs. Walter Howard and continued by Mrs. Bryce Douglas; a study on both Antique Roses and Thymes under the direction of Mrs. Houston F. McIlvain; and most recently one on Salvias led by Mrs. Jeremy Cummin. Education and study is an important thrust of the Unit.

Fund-Raising                                                                                                                     The primary fund-raising activity of The Philadelphia Unit has been the annual Herb Sale and Luncheon held in May--rain or shine! This massive undertaking results from a concerted effort involving all of the members.

Known throughout the area and eagerly anticipated, the Herb Sale has become a Philadelphia tradition, attracting hundreds of enthusiastic herb buyers--all sizes, ages and shapes. During the decades from the 60's through 1994, the location of the Sale was the homes and gardens of Mrs. Walter Howard, Mrs. George A. Reed, Jr., and Mrs. Bryce Douglas. In 1995, the sale site was moved to Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill. Along wih this move, the Unit consolidated and refined the format of the sale.

THe current location of the Herb Sale is Historic Yellow Springs, PA. Besides the luncheon , the Ways and Means Boutique and to Beides the Unit's concentration on special and unusual herbs not readily available at every supermarket and local garden shop, we serve a the luncheon and set up the Ways and Means Boutique. In support of this event, a Unit-run green house was undertaken for the propagation of seeds and cuttings.

Over the years, the greatest percentage of plant material sold was grown and propagated by Mrs. George A. Reed, Jr., and Mrs. Walter Howard. Each year from their marvelous gardens came literally thousands of plants to swell the material available and delight the public.

Proceeds from the herb sales have gone to maintain the public gardens the Unit maintains. Funds raised have also enabled the Unit to make gifts to National for the library, the National Herb Garden, scholarships, and The HSA Endowment Fund.

Other fund-raising projects (which help cover Unit operating costs) have included Herb Day in the Country and various speakers. A biennial event for the Unit and friends is a holiday auction of items baked, grown, crafted, or otherwise created by the members and donated to the auction. 

Herb List
In conjunction with the Herb Sale the Unit has compiled a list of Herbs of the Delaware Valley. This ambitious undertaking has been on-going and includes those herbs which grow well (annual, perennial and tender perennials) in the Delaware Valley, their preference for sun/shade, height, blossom color and general herbal use. Masterminded by Mrs. Charles Watson, this descriptive catalogue, complete with botanical and common names, has been regularly up-dated and placed on a computer by Mrs. Charles Pearson. Additions and refinements are made as needed.

Honors and Awards
In 1986, The HSA created The Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Horticultural Excellence in the field of herbs. It was established in recognition of Nancy's great contributions, both in knowledge and physical labor, to growing herbs, and for her dedication to the highest standards in horticultural practice. The Award is presented in her memory annually to a member of The HSA at the awards ceremony of the Annual Meeting.

The Unit has been additionally honored by having members receive other of The Society's prestigious awards. The Helen DeConway Little Medal of Honor for Service to the Society has been won by Mrs. Robert Price in 1967, Mrs. George A. Reed, Jr., in 1985 and-most recently by Mrs. Charles S. Truitt in 1994. Certificates of Achievements have been presented to Mrs. Ruth Ostheimer (1975), Mrs. Walter Howard (1978), Mr. George A. Reed, Jr., (1979) and Mrs. Charles S. Truitt (1986). The Unit has had two members who have won two of the top awards in The HSA, Mrs. Reed and Mrs. Truitt.

The Membership
Many members deserve recognition for their hard work and their horticultural, culinary and administrative knowledge. It's their generosity and dedication which have over the years since its inception maintained the high standards of The Philadelphia Unit and have made it rank as one of the top, most productive, and most beneficent of The Herb Society's member units.

The Future                                                                                                                   Looking forward to the future, The HSA is growing and expanding. The Headquarters is located in Kirtland, Ohio. There are over 40 units (with members from both the United States and Canada) who are active plus 12 Member-at-Large Regions.

The Herb Society of America is educating, sharing, inspiring and working in support of herbs and knowledge about them. The Society is making a difference. Yet, one still cannot overlook man's continued squandering of the earth's natural resources. It is therefore everyone's individual responsibility and obligation to see that changes are made, positive ones--changes to improve the environment and to sustain our earth's natural gifts. Hopefully, The HSA's interest in plants, so diverse in nature, yet all with a use, will help every member make themselves personally and others aware of the importance of our shared environment. Individually each member of The Herb Society of America can make the difference.

Mrs. William Buchanan - 1980                                                                                                                                  Revised by her in 1987                                                                                                                                         Revised by Mrs. Charles Truitt - 1990                                                                                                                    Revised by Mrs. Edward S. Madara, Jr. - 1994