Garden in the Park Field Day, North Park, Allegheny County, PA--Saturday, August 20, 2016!

The Trial Gardens of Annuals

The Monument to the War Veterans and Herb Garden

Mailbox for Leaving Questions and Comments

A Beautiful and Lush Herb Garden!

Basil Envy!

Pot of Herbes de Provence!

Part of the Pollinator Gardens!

More Basil Envy and the Garden Marketplace!

Tomato Tasting, Plant Sale, Garlic and Basil Tasting and Produce Sold!

Tents of Local Community Action Groups and Organizations!

Well, we have come to another year in the North Park Demonstration Gardens with the Allegheny County Master Gardeners.  A group that I hold near and dear to my heart because I was a part of this organization for ten years.  This day is a wonderful tribute to the work that the master gardeners do in the community and in this particular garden.  There was also a Garden in the Park day in South Park.  Really these ladies and gentlemen work their tails off to get ready for four hours of tastings, including Penn State Creamery ice cream and tours of the trial gardens and answering questions about plants and critters.  It is a fun day for the kids and adults. 

Not only a demonstration garden for local greenhouses, but this year trial plants from the Southeast Agricultural Research Extension (SEAREC), which is located in Landisville, PA, have been planted in the North Park Demonstration Garden. All the plants are labeled with their botanical names, and the breeder.  No matter how much I think I know about plants there is always something new to learn.

In the herb garden which is located in a stone bed around the monument for the veterans, they had different tastings and herbal drinks which were needed on a very warm and humid day.  They also shared a recipe to make an version of herbes de Provence which are a combination of heat loving herbs commonly found in the south of France which include all or some of the following:

Thyme
Summer savory
Marjoram
Oregano
Rosemary
Culinary Lavender (any of the Lavendula angustifolia types)

This blend reminds me of France and would be easy to make now with the abundance of fresh herbs to dry in our gardens.  Just brush a bit of olive oil on a piece of chicken or fish and sprinkle with the Provence mix and cook on the grill, in the oven or on the stove top.

All in all it was a wonderful day at Garden in the Park Field Day in North Park!  So don't forget that tomorrow is the end for signing up for the giveaway.  Please click on the link to sign up for the herbal box here.  We are still hot and humid here in the 'Burgh!  Overnight we are supposed to get a front through that will cool us off and take the humidity away.  Can't wait for that!  Talk to you tomorrow with the winner's name!   

Another View of the Lush Herb Garden!