Photo credit: Kim Rush Lynch
Join us at these upcoming events.
The Herb Society hosts several signature events each year in addition to our member meetings. Please see our calendar below for more information about our programming and events.
Under the Arbor Series.
The Potomac Unit, a well as other members of the Mid-Atlantic Units of the Herb Society of America, presents a series of informal drop-in, free demonstrations on herb related topics at the US National Arboretum each season. Check back here for details.
Annual Herb Sale.
Each year the Potomac Unit hosts an herb sale with unique offerings in conjunction with the Friend’s of the National Arboretum’s annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale at the U.S. National Arboretum. The last weekend in April, this plant sale is a good source for finding unusual herbs and whimsical herbal crafts. Visit the the FONA website for more information: http://www.fona.org.
Chili Celebration.
Love chili peppers? So do we! We are excited to host yet another fantastic chili pepper celebration at the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum in October 2022.
Our calendar below may have more information about these activities.
Herb Study.
The Herb Study group meets to further their knowledge of herbs through research and study. They also enjoy snacks sharing their culinary experiences with dishes incorporating a featured herb.
Rose Beads.
Rose beads are botanical beads made of compressed roses strung together like a garland, often used as an aromatic necklace. The Rose Bead group meets bimonthly, usually on Fridays. Please contact us to participate or to purchase herbal jewelry designed and created by Potomac Unit members.
Herbal Workshops.
The Herbal Workgroup sponsors a series of “hands-on” workshops focusing on growing, crafting, and cooking with herbs. Most workshops are fee based.
Mid-Atlantic District Gathering
The Gathering will be held in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey! The Conference hotel is the storied Grand Hotel and the presentation venue is a charming, nearby historic space.
2026 Chile Celebration
Informal, drop-in, free demonstration. This multi-Unit Mid-Atlantic District program will be focused on the beautiful hot peppers growing in the Herb Garden. We will have examples of the various peppers, various cooking options, and samples, hand-outs. We hope you can join us
Becoming Bay-Wise
Doctor Small-Lorenz will lead us on this science-based, peer education program that promises to help us learn about sustainable landscape practices that protect local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay by reducing pollution, conserving water, and creating native wildlife habitats.
Presenter: Stacy Small-Lorenz, Ph.D. Residential Landscape Ecology Specialist
Free Poutluck lunch following the program.
Under The Arbor Program - Making Soap
Under the Arbor program - Informal, drop-in and free demonstration. This Potomac Unit, Mid-Atlantic District program will be demonstrating how to make rose soap in a crock pot. We hope you can join us!
Herb of the Year - Turmeric
Join members of the Potomac Unit for a day dedicated to our Herb of the Year - Turmeric.
All Things Lavender at Blooming HIll
Join members of the Potomac Unit for All Things Lavender
Tussie-Mussies at Blooming Hill
Join members of the Potomac Unit for Tussie Mussies at Blooming Hill.
2026 Herb Plant Sale
Look for the Potomac Unit herb tent during the FONA plant sale.
We’ll have over 85 varieties of herbs for sale.
Free parking & free shuttle from overflow parking lot
Flavors of the Caribbean - In-Person Event
Holly Shimizu (First Curator of the National Herb Garden, retired Director of the US Botanic Garden) will explore the vibrant flavors of herbs and spices used on the Caribbean Islands. There will be samples for tasting!
Under the Arbor - Chili Celebration
Join us at our drop-in series at the National Herb Garden at the US National Arboretum. This is our annual multi-unit Chili Celebration.
Under the Arbor - Lemon Flavored Herbs
Join us at our drop-in series at the National Herb Garden at the US National Arboretum. The South Jersey Unit will talk about Lemon Flavored Herbs.
MADG - Hunting Herbs in Hunt Country
Three private garden tours: Two Friday self-guided (Little Oatlands & Oak Spring Gardens) and one Sunday led by co-founder Julia Falke (Boulder Crest).
Welcome reception at Blooming Hill Lavender Farm. Blooming Hill is owned by fellow Potomac Unit members Cyndie and Peter Rinek.
Symposium at Buchanan Hall. Morning pastries and beverages; business meeting, speakers, luncheon; afternoon tea; raffle; vendors.
More info to come!
Herbal Days
Come join us at Blooming Hill to celebrate Herbal Days. We will be talking about the 2025 Herb of The Year - Chamomile. And we might even have some tea!
Under the Arbor - Tussie Mussie
Join us at our drop-in series at the National Herb Garden at the US National Arboretum. The Philadelphia Unit will demonstrate how to make Tussie Mussies.
Under the Arbor - Herbs Rock
Join us at our drop-in series at the National Herb Garden at the US National Arboretum. This is a multi-unit event featuring Herbs that rock.
Plant Sale
Look for the Potomac Unit herb tent during the FONA plant sale held at the U.S. National Arboretum Washington, DC 20002
An Abundance of Herbs for Sale Are you looking for a hard to find herb? We will have over 85 varieties of herbs for sale and many native plants as well.
Brewing Craft Beers with Farm-Grown Hops and Other Herbs
IN-PERSON Unit Meeting at the Vienna Community Center, Vienna, VA
Speaker: Billie Clifton
“Brewing Craft Beers with Farm-Grown Hops and Other Herbs”
Billie Clifton is the owner-operator of Sunflower Cottage Herb Farm and Backyard Brewery near Front Royal, VA. Billie, a Potomac Unit member, first began her business growing culinary and medicinal herbs for the garden center trade. In the fall of 2012, she built a hops field and in 2014 opened Backyard Brewery. Billie will talk about brewing craft beers from farm grown hops as well as from other herbs grown in her gardens and greenhouses that she uses in the beer making process.
There is ample free parking, refreshments will be served, and there will be a raffle.
We welcome all non-members, please advise us of your intent to attend by March 6 (RSVP to kpbrrtt@gmail.com).
Chamomile, Herb of the Year 2025! With Susan Belsinger, Culinary Artist and Writer and Tina Marie Wilcox, Herbalist and Head Gardener, Ozark Folk Center State Park
Let us celebrate Chamomile, Herb of the Year 2025! The sweet fragrance of their flowers has been made into tea for their gentle and soothing virtues for centuries. Besides a lovely digestive tea, the chamomiles have a multitude of beneficial medicinal properties. The name chamomile is used to refer to several genus and species, each with cheerful yellow and white flowers, that can be found around the globe. These blooms attract pollinators and have been found to be helpful to plants growing nearby. Both German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamamaelum nobile) are easy to cultivate and we will share our experiences of growing both the annual and perennial. We use chamomile in the apothecary as spa herbs and for aromatherapy and have created delicious recipes highlighting the culinary uses of these fragrant flowers.
HSA: Potomac Unit Meeting
Pat Kenny will share her one year adventure of producing the Mighty Oak Award. Please feel free to bring friends, family, and guests to this meeting. We will meet in the Administration Building. There will be refreshments after the talk. Plenty of parking is available.
Greek Gods
Members from Herb Society of America's Mid-Atlantic Units will highlight herbs associated with Greek Gods, the theme of the entrance to the National Herb Garden. The Pennsylvania Heartland Unit will be showcasing Asclepius, the Philadelphia Unit will show herbs of the zodiac and the Potomac Unit will showcase the herb of the year - Achillea/yarrow.
Yearly Plant Sale
An Abundance of Herbs for Sale!
Are you looking for a hard to find herb?
We will have over 85 varieties of herbs for sale.
Medicinal Herb Garden at Antietam National Battlefield
Dr. Greg Susla will talk about his work in expanding the 19th century medicinal herb garden on the grounds of the Pry House Field Hospital Museum on the Antietam National Battlefield. The garden has over 35 different herbal varieties that are representative of plants that would have been grown during the period in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The presentation will be on Zoom.
Connie Hilker – owner of Hartwood Roses
Connie Hilker – owner of Hartwood Roses in Fredericksburg, VA. Connie to speak on preserving heirloom roses. Connie is a lifelong gardener with over 600 varieties of roses in her personal collection. She is the chair of the Heritage and Preservation Committee of the American Rose Society, is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Rose Foundation, and Old Garden Rose chair for the American Rose Society Colonial District. Connie manages the documentation, preservation, and restoration of the historic rose collection at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, and is the rose consultant at the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants at Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The event is free and guests are encouraged. There is plenty of free parking and refreshments will be served.