Calendula seeds were available for anyone who wanted to grow some of the useful and beautiful flowers.
MARATHON TWP. — A recent rain-soaked morning didn’t stop members of the Lapeer Herb Circle from attending the group’s annual plant swap recently at Othila, a veterans’ resource center and nature sanctuary.
The Lapeer Herb Circle was started in January 2015 by mother-daughter team Jackie and Gina Delisi and friend Sue Corder because, Jackie said, “There was a need within the community for herb knowledge, be it culinary or medicinal.”
At first, the group met at Rebekah’s Health and Nutrition in Lapeer, and in recent years they have met at the William Peter Mansion in Columbiaville. Before COVID, they met quarterly, and the discussions varied from demonstrations on using herbs, preserving them, and even things like making sauerkraut at home. Sometimes, presenters would speak on the uses of a specific herb.
“Just fun stuff,” said Jackie. “It’s kind of a well-rounded herb circle.”
The group hasn’t met in person since 2019, thanks to the pandemic — aside from the recent plant swap, which was held outdoors — and Jackie said she’s hesitant to gather in person just yet.
Cassey Mieslik gave a presentation about the uses of wild violets, including samples of her homemade violet syrup. Photos by Krystal Moralee
“I have people reach out quite often asking when we are going to have another meeting,” she said.
This was the first time the plant swap was held at Othila. It’s an opportunity for the members to share herbs, flowers and perennial plants with each other each spring, just in time for planting. The swap also included a raffle, refreshments, a presentation about the uses of wild violets by Cassey Mieslik and a mushroom walk in the forest led by Joe and Sue Parker. In addition, $200 was raised for Othila, which is a non-profit organization.
Regardless of whether they meet in public, the Lapeer Herb Circle has a Facebook group of nearly 300 members, where there is discussion about what everyone is growing and how it can be used, and resources are shared freely. Member Kim Willis also shares posts from her regular blog, Gardening Granny’s Gardening Pages, which are chock full of information.
This dryad’s saddle, also called a pheasantback, was just one of the mushrooms found on the walk.
“It’s a vehicle to get information out, and that’s kind of what we wanted,” said Jackie. “We’ve got a pretty good group of people.”
Joe Parker pauses to give information during the mushroom walk.
Joe Parker shows the gills on the underside of this oyster mushroom.
June 02, 2021 at 11:05AM
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Lapeer Herb Circle holds plant swap | The County Press - Thecountypress
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