The White Hall Garden Club met recently in the Pine Bluff National Bank Community Room.
After refreshments were served by Cathy Walker and Gwen Henry, Joann Gregory, president, led the business meeting, then introduced Carol Grant for the program on edible weeds.
Grant said most of her information came from a book, “Feasting Free on Wild Edibles” by Bradford Angier. Proper identification of the edible weed is most important. Many are best gathered for eating in the spring. She highlighted some that are common locally.
• Wild rose hips, rich in vitamin C. These are available summer and winter. Rose hip syrup can be made.
• Dandelion’s tender young leaves are good in salads in spring and roots can be roasted for coffee.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Cattails, also known as wild corn, when flower stalks are greenish yellow, can be boiled and buttered like corn on the cob. Cattails are also called bullrushes. The fluffy light colored seeds fill pillows and make stuffing for comforters.
• Sunflower seeds when roasted and pounded into meal can be added to soups. Oil can be extracted from the seeds also.
Other plants covered where poke weed (poke salad), common chickweed, clover, dock, nettles, purslane and lamb’s quarter. Again caution should be used that you have the correct plant and know which part of each one is edible. Not all parts of all plants mentioned are edible. Grant provided recipes for pancakes, greens and syrup for some plants in the program.
During the business meeting, flower bed teams reported that daffodil bulbs, pansies and cabbages were planted at Crenshaw Spring and in planters at the White Hall City Hall and park sign.
The Virginia Brown Memorial Committee is still working on a project for spring to present to the club. The club donated money to Samaritan’s Purse for fresh water, fruit trees and baby chicks to help overseas families. One member added a donation for blankets also.
The December 19th meeting will be at Barbarba Duckworth’s home, which will be a potluck and gift exchange.
In new business, a committee volunteered to look into designing a new club shirt and report back.
Members attending were Jean Boast, Cathy Currington, Duckworth, Grant, Gregory, Henry, Verblene Lovelace, Rana McClain, Walker and Zelda Hoaglan.
The club meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month September through May at Pine Bluff National Bank at White Hall.
Details: Contact Grant at 870-247-0411.