HERBAL SEMINARS
Springtime brings many educational opportunities to Austin area plant enthusiasts.  On February 23rd, The Austin Herb Society's spring seminar will feature Phyllis Hogan.  Phyllis is executive director of the Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association.  During her presentation of "Plants and People from the Land of the Colorful Corn", she will discuss both historic and contemporary use of plants by the people of the Little Colorado River Basin in northern Arizona.  For registration or more information visit www.austinherbsociety.org

The 13th Annual HERBAL FORUM AT ROUND TOP is on Saturday, March 29th.  Edible Flowers are the focus of the seminar with lectures by author Cathy Wilkinson Barash and rosarian Henry Flowers, but talks will also given on teas, Calendula (by Austin's own Gayle Engels), herbal baking, and water conservation. Special workshops preceding the Forum are offered where one can blend teas, or make incense, flavored vinegar or a topical salve.  Registration for the Forum and workshops must be made by March 21st.  Workshops are often filled, so register early.  Visit the Festival Hill web site for more information.  Don't forget the marvelous PLANT SALE on the West Terrace of the Festival Concert Hall from 9:00 am-6:00 pm on Friday, March 28th and 7:30 am-5:00 pm on Saturday, March 29th.  The sale is open to the public and is THE PLACE to find summer herbs as well as landscaping perennials.  There are always some special plants at this event.  Ann Marie will be working at the plant sale for much of the time, be sure to find her and say "Hello".

TALKING ABOUT PLANT PURCHASES…
The optimism of an Austin gardener soars in February.  Perennials are pruned and roses planted the week of Valentine's Day.  Seedlings from fall sowings of poppies, nigella, larkspur, and dill are rapidly developing.  In the second month of the year local nurseries begin to stock enticing plants.  Packages of dreams arrive from mail order plant nurseries.  Ann Marie is eagerly awaiting Buddleia alternifolia and Campanula ‘Pink Octopus’ to be tried in a container along with locally purchased golden sage and a dark leaf coleus.

On order from Logees are Hibiscus ‘Fifth Dimension’ to add containerized color between citrus plants, and Passiflora citrina.  This yellow blooming passionflower vine has been grown at Horsetail Haven in the past.  It attracts flocks of fritillary butterflies to the garden looking for a larval food plant.  At times the plant was eaten to the stems but always regained its leaves.  Ann Marie had kept it as a container plant for several years but decided to experiment with putting it in the ground last year.  Unfortunately, it didn't survive the summer drought.  A reorder is a must.  Lesson Learned.  It will only be grown as a potted plant from now on.