CannonCourier

The Herb Society of Nashville (HSN) presents Herb Day 2014, "A Closer Look at Herbs," on September 20, 2014, at Nashville's Cheekwood Botanic Hall. This is the HSN's largest annual educational event open to the public. Join us to experience an up-close look at herbs. Come and celebrate the knowledge, beauty, and cultural richness of the herbaceous plants, which impact nearly every aspect of our lives. The 2014 Herb Day program offers a closer look at herbs in the laboratory, in our gardens and in the artist's studio. This provocative program will raise awareness of botanical adulteration, a practice dating back to the beginnings of trade and commerce. Jenny Perez of the American Botanical Council will introduce us to The Botanical Adulterants Program, highlighting present-day efforts to identify and expose adulterants in botanical products in the marketplace. This program focusses on both accidental and intentional adulteration of herbal ingredients that find their way into popular commercial botanical products, such as herbal dietary supplements, herbal teas, and cosmetics. Erika Galentin, MNIMH, of United Plant Savers (UpS) will update us on at-risk herbal species and what we can do to sustain them. Certain native herbs are at risk of extinction and have suffered significant declines within their current range due to over-harvest, loss of habitat, poor logging practices, or by the nature of their innate rareness or sensitivity. The UpS At-Risk List includes native herbs broadly used in commerce, including some of our local landscaping favorites! Atlanta artist Linda Fraser completes the odyssey, enchanting us with the fascinating history of botanical illustration and its vital role in species identification. Linda Fraser illustrates native plants in their natural habitat, deftly chronicling the change of seasons. You will have ample opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Linda's illustrations, each with its own compelling story, as well as to purchase samples of her work. To preview Linda Fraser's artwork visit www.lindafraserartist.com. Nashville author and naturalist Rita Venable will sign copies of her newest book "Butterflies of Tennessee" and speak on the importance of cultivating milkweeds to sustain monarch butterfly populations. To preview this beautifully crafted and authoritative work visit ritavenable.com. Herb Day begins at 8:30 a.m. Pick up your program booklet and nametag, network with herb enthusiasts, shop for treasures offered by local vendors, and sample delectable herb infused treats at our hospitality table. During breaks in the educational program, enjoy the beautiful Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and take a guided tour of the Herb Garden maintained by HSN members. Registration includes the educational program, a delicious lunch, music by The Contrarian Ensemble, vendor shopping, and door prizes. The event will wrap up by 4:00 p.m. Pre-registration is required. The cost to participate in our 2014 Herb Day educational program is $47 per person, and this price includes a flavorful lunch. Save your seat at the discounted Early Bird rate of $42 per person by registering no later than August 31st. Registration information is found at http://www.herbsocietynashville.org/public-events.html. ___________________________