A blossoming horseradish; courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
It has been a long time since I’ve stood in line for a roller coaster. But every spring, I spend an hour or more standing outside of First Congregational Church in Webster Groves, waiting to get into a plant sale. If I were less fond of sleeping, I might get there in time to be at the front of the line, but waiting is almost part of the ritual. I don’t make a list beforehand, since the plants I like—heirloom tomatoes, lavender, sages, mints—are always there in abundance. So no need to get to anxious about being the first person into the building.
The sale is a fundraiser for the Webster Groves Herb Society, which has been around since 1971. WGHS does all kinds of stuff: teaches classes, puts out cookbooks, and cares for the herb beds at the Historic Hawken House, Mudd’s Grove, and the historic herb gardens in Faust Park. Basically, what happens on sale day (if my experience is any guide) is that you get a cup of coffee and then stand in line, shivering or baking in the sun or being blown over by wind. (This year, I urge you to bring your umbrella.) You stare at people's Crocs or quilted purses; find yourself amused (or annoyed) by people's kids; you talk to the herb ladies who hand out recipes or lavender cookies to the line; and, no matter how many times you've been, as you get towards the door you get a little bit anxious as people come out of the building with boxes and boxes of plants, worried that this may be the year that you get in there and find the tables swept totally clean. And if that did ever happen, I would be very happy for WGHS, but sad for myself, because they really do grow plants that you can't find anywhere else. I totally recommend, even if you freestyle it like I do, taking a look at the plant list (all four pages of it!) and at least giving some cursory thought to what you want to buy and plant, and whether or not it will survive in your yard. Herbs are pretty tough (that is one of their charms), but believe me, you can still kill them by putting them in the wrong environment.
WGHS always names an herb of the year, and for 2011 it's horseradish, which grows really well here. We have cold winters to chill the root, which it needs, and the potash in our soil, left ages ago by passing glaciers, is something the plants really like. Oddly enough, I didn't see horseradish included on the plant sale list, but if you do decide to grow it, here's information from the University of Illinois Extension on how to successfully cultivate it.
This year, they'll have 10 varieties of scented geraniums; 19 kinds of lavender; 20 types of mint; 17 kinds of thyme; 8 different sages; 11 varieties of oregano, six types of heirloom peppers, and 16 different heirloom tomatoes. Plus lots of exotic herbs like Aztec Sweet Herb, bloodflower, Joe Pye-weed, curry, tansy, valerian, and vetiver. If you don't know what to plant, the herb people have anticipated that, too, and set up this page...then make a list, and set your alarm clock! I'll see you there, but way back in the back of the line, with my coffee, my sunglasses and my black umbrella.
The Webster Groves Herb Society Annual Sale takes place at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 West Lockwood at Elm, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The only forms of currency accepted are cash and check—no plastic!—and strollers are definitely verboten. For more information, call 314-494-1790 or 314-739-9925, or visit wgherbs.org.
