What a way to kick off Virtual Keyport GardenWalk 2020!
Caren White is a Master Gardener and member of the Herb Society of America. She manages an international culinary herb garden in Lambertville for the Herb Society.
The Herb Lady shared information on growing, harvesting, preserving and using herbs in a lively presentation conducted virtually.
She is also a longtime volunteer at Rutgers Gardens where she is the Garden Steward for the herb garden and grows the herbs sold at the popular Spring Flower Fair, an annual fundraiser for Rutgers Gardens. Caren teaches herb classes at Home Gardeners School (sponsored by Rutgers University), the EARTH Center (Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County), and Rutgers Gardens.
We were delighted to welcome Caren to Keyport for Day One of Keyport GardenWalk!
Garden writer and historian Lesley Parness presented "Josephine: The Empress Gardened."
It was a great way to start Day Two of Virtual Keyport GardenWalk 2020!
Ms. Parness discussed how French Empress Josephine's fine taste informed 18th and 19th century style, from couture fashion to interior design. Likewise, she was influenced by her Caribbean heritage, her narrow escape from the guillotine, and her legendary love for flowers. When divorced from her husband, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, this powerful style-maker and lifelong fashionista focused her energies on her estate, Malmaison. There, Josephine's passion for plants grew and bloomed. Her legendary love of roses stopped a war, cost a fortune, set explorers to sail, and started a floral industry that endures today.
Lesley Parness has worked in public gardens here in America and abroad for the past four decades. She served as a Board Member of the New Jersey Commission on Environmental Education and the Alliance for NJ Environmental Educators. Lesley is a Founding Member of Garden State Gardens, a non-profit consortium of NJ Public Gardens, of which she was both Vice President and President.
Currently, Lesley is a member of the Herb Society of America, the Council on Botanic and Horticultural Libraries and the Garden Communicators Association. She writes a column for Gardener News Magazine, lectures throughout the Metropolitan area and consults with botanic gardens in the areas of communications and library services.
Keyport Garden Club was thrilled to welcome Lesley Parness to Keyport for Day Two of Keyport GardenWalk!