PA Herb and Garden Festival

08/31/2026

🌻🌻 Why Two Sunflowers?
A single sunflower turns toward the sun, soaking in its warmth and light. But two sunflowers have a beautiful way of turning toward each other.
That’s why giving two sunflowers is such a special gift—it symbolizes friendship, love, companionship, and having someone beside you through every season of life.
So when I give you two sunflowers, I’m really saying:
“No matter where life takes us, you’ll always have someone to turn toward.” 🌻💛🌻

08/26/2026

The meaning of Simon & Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" blends a centuries-old English folk tale about unrequited love and impossible tasks with a modern anti-war message.

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

The Symbolic Herbs: The recurring refrain (parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme) dates back to medieval herbal symbolism representing virtues needed for healing a broken heart.

Parsley: Comfort and dissolving bitterness
Sage: Strength and wisdom
Rosemary: Love, fidelity, and remembrance
Thyme: Courage and affection

08/04/2026

Turmeric: The 2026 Herb of the Year

Bathed in soft morning light, the graceful blooms of turmeric remind us that some of nature's greatest treasures are both beautiful and beneficial. Named the 2026 Herb of the Year, turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been cherished for centuries—not only for its striking tropical flowers and lush foliage but also for its golden rhizomes, celebrated in cuisines and traditional wellness practices around the world.
Whether grown as an ornamental in the garden or valued as a culinary and medicinal herb, turmeric is a remarkable plant that brings beauty, history, and purpose together. It serves as a wonderful reminder that the plants we cultivate can nourish both body and spirit.
Here's to celebrating the 2026 Herb of the Year—a golden gift from nature that continues to inspire gardeners, cooks, and herbal enthusiasts alike.

07/28/2026

Garden Phlox is a timeless favorite in the summer garden. Its fragrant blooms thrive in full sun, rich, well-drained soil, and regular watering. Providing good air circulation helps keep plants healthy, and deadheading spent flowers often encourages even more blooms. As a hardy perennial, Garden Phlox returns year after year, filling the garden with weeks of color while attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
Available in beautiful shades of white, pink, rose, lavender, purple, magenta, and red, as well as striking bicolor varieties, Garden Phlox fits beautifully into cottage gardens, perennial borders, and pollinator gardens. With so many colors to choose from, it's easy to create a vibrant display that lasts from mid-summer into early fall.

07/26/2026

A Tiny Vase Filled with Garden Treasures 🌸

This little vase holds a collection of miniature garden blooms, each with its own special meaning. The blackberry lily brings joy and sunshine.
Forget-me-nots represent cherished memories. Lavender shares peace and devotion, and dianthus symbolizes love and admiration. A tiny red rosebud expresses love, while red begonia represents gratitude and harmony. Cheerful million bells bring happiness, Queen Anne’s lace adds grace, black-eyed Susan reflects friendship and encouragement, and the sweet pansy reminds us of treasured thoughts. Blue salvia brings wisdom and healing, while miniature hollyhocks celebrate strength and the charm of an old-fashioned garden.

Gardens are filled with wonderful treasures waiting to be discovered. From the smallest delicate petals to the brightest blossoms, each flower adds color, fragrance, and beauty. A garden is more than a collection of plants — it is a place where memories are created, seasons are celebrated, and nature reminds us to slow down and appreciate the simple joys found in every bloom.

Together these tiny flowers create a beautiful reminder that even the smallest blooms can hold the greatest stories, memories, and joys found in nature. 🌿

Handmade Vase by Under The Sun Pottery

07/17/2026

French Mallow (Baby Hollyhock) Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

The French mallow (Malva sylvestris), also known as the Baby Hollyhock, is a charming heirloom flower with a special place in American gardening history. Thomas Jefferson included it on his 1806 list of plants grown at Monticello, where it still blooms today.

Growing 3 to 4 feet tall, this easy-care plant produces beautiful lavender-pink flowers with deep purple veins from late spring through fall. It attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators and readily self-seeds, returning year after year.

The French mallow is a living reminder of Jefferson's passion for gardening, botanical discovery, and preserving beautiful plants for future generations.

07/14/2026

If your petunias have seen better days, don’t give up on them yet. Some adjustments in care can help save a leggy, scraggly, fading petunia plant.

07/13/2026

Culinary Herbs: Fresh Flavor from the Garden

Five of the most popular culinary herbs that are easy to grow and wonderful to cook with.

Basil is known for its sweet, fresh flavor and is perfect for pesto, salads, and tomato dishes.

Oregano has a bold, savory taste that is a favorite in Italian and Mediterranean recipes.

Sage offers a warm, earthy flavor that's excellent with poultry, stuffing, and roasted vegetables.

Thyme is a versatile herb that enhances soups, stews, vegetables, and meats.

Rosemary has a fragrant, pine-like aroma that adds delicious flavor to roasted potatoes, breads, and grilled meats.

Whether grown in a garden or a container on your patio, these herbs are easy to care for and provide fresh, flavorful ingredients all season long.

I hope you'll be inspired to grow a few and enjoy the wonderful taste of fresh herbs in your own kitchen.

07/11/2026