LADYBUG SAYS... FRESH HERBS CAN ADD DELIGHT TO GARDENS AND FLAVOR TO RECIPES

Quilts and herbs will be featured at the spring opening of the Glenn House and Carriage House, this Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21. Both are located at 325 Spanish Street. River Heritage Quilter's Guild will have quilts on display, and Rose Hills Garden Club will conduct the plant sale, under the grape arbor in the back yard.

The restored Victorian Home will open both days at 1 in the afternoon and close at 4. The herb sale will begin at 9 Saturday morning.

Rooms of the Glenn House, built in 1883, have authentic period furniture and exquisite appointments, making it an outstanding example of elegance, seldom surpassed in old home restorations.

A new addition to the Glenn House is the exquisite china painting collection of the late Mrs. Hazel Harrison, who was a member of The Historical Association, sponsors of this nineteenth-century home. Mrs. Harrison's interest in this delicate art of china painting developed at the Old St. Vincent's Academy for Young Ladies, where they were taught the fine art of combining intricate patterns and glowing pastels to make these fine pieces.

Master quilters from the River Heritage Quilter's Guild will demonstrate the age-old art of quilt making, and many antique quilt and linens will be on display.

Women from Rose Hills Garden Club will be on hand to assist at the plant sale by answering questions concerning the culinary and aromatic herbs they are offering, including parsley, lavender, both purple and green basil, dill, oregano, sage, rosemary, chive, chamomile, thyme and others.

John Knaup and his son, Scott, of Knaup's Greenhouses on Highway 61 toward Jackson, assisted with the starting of the herbs for this garden club project. The greenhouse provided the space, flats and medium for getting the seeds started. They watered and fertilized and really got the seeds going by placing the flats on hot water heating pipes with plastic covers.

Garden club members came to transplant the herbs into small pots when the plants reached the proper size. Three to five members came to the greenhouse to assist in the different stages of the herb development.

Proceeds from the herb sale will be donated to the Historical Society of Cape Girardeau.

Herb gardens in America date from the first colonists who brought seeds and cuttings of their most indispensable medicinal and culinary plants to the unknown new world. For many years herbs were grown for household utility, and fragrance rather than primarily for beauty.

There are few of us who do not recall some childhood memories associated with herbs, the lavender sachet in the linen closet, the orris root that scented bureau drawers (and was also used to clean hair when washing was not possible), the potpourri on the living room table and the fresh mint in cooling drinks and for making sauce for the leg of roast lamb.

The usual pronunciation of the word herb in America is "erb" but when in England, sound the "h". If you have always thought of herbs as grocery store products, sold in packages, you are in for a delightful surprise when you grow your own. Some are perennials that live from year to year. Many will reseed and a few are biennial on a two-year life schedule.

It is not necessary to have an herb garden, although those who do are delighted with the result, especially when they keep the fast, tall growers well under control.

Plants of various herbs can be arranged in a pleasing way, such as orderly rows, or scattered according to their needed space. They can grow directly into the soil or in containers. Pots may be sunk to their rims among pebbles or in other mediums. Edgings can be made of basil, parsley or thyme.

Lettuce can be grown in rows that form patterns among herbs. One can have an herb garden any way they choose, keeping it simple or go all-out in having a decorative one as well as a workable one.

Herbs will thrive in the same sort of situations and by the same methods that vegetables and most annuals like. They want lots of sunshine, moderately fertile soil and good drainage.

Flavors of herbs are best if the foliage is picked at just the right time. Tender young leaves can be used at any time. For drying, pick individual leaves just as the plant begins to flower.

Drying should be rapid. A dark, well ventilated place is best. Grandmother used to dry herbs in the attic of the big farmhouse. Oven drying and microwave drying is the modern trend.

To store, strip the dried leaves from the stems and put them in airtight, light-tight containers.

For a delightful weekend of quilts, herbs and the beauty of Cape Girardeau and the area, visit these gala events at the Glenn House.