76th Annual Educational Conference of the Herb Society of America

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<em>Culinary herbalist, cookbook author, writer and food photographer, Pat Crocker is passionate about food and herbs. Visit her at</em>
<a href=”http://www.riversongherbals.com/” target=”_blank”>www.riversongherbals.com</a>.</p>
<p>How should I communicate the joy, peace, friendship, grace and love I experienced at the recent <a href=”http://www.herbsociety.org/confer.php” target=”_blank”>Herb Society of America Educational Conference</a> in Grand Rapids, Michigan?</p>
<p>With few words and many pictures.<br />
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The annual event represents for me, an opportunity to spend time in beautiful gardens with some of the country’s most experienced gardeners, chefs, artists, writers and botonists. At the two-day conference we learn from each other, from intensive seminars, from workshops and from touring gardens.</p>
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<p>This year, we visited some public and private gardens in beautiful Michigan. As always we were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm.<br />
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<p>On both the pre- and post-conference garden tours, there were both quiet and secret places for humans<br />
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<p>…and birds.<br />
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<p>There were serious teaching gardens..<br />
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<p>…and there were places of pure whimsey.<br />
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<p>We saw cottage gardens…<br />
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<p>…Asian-inspired gardens…<br />
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<p>…and the 4-H Children’s Garden at MSU.<br />
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<p>We ate..<br />
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<p>…and we drank.<br />
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<p>And as always, the herbs were in focus.<br />
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