"Peter Rabbit & Mr. McGregor Have a Tea"

Members of the Penn Cumberland Garden Club coordinate and host an annual herb tea. This was the 58th Annual Bertha P. Reppert Herb Tea, an event inspired by Bertha Reppert in an effort to bring herbs to the forefront. It takes a committee of dedicated women, plus the many members of the club that volunteer to prepare the tea party menu. On the day of the event, it's all hands on deck. The theme this year was 'Peter Rabbit and Mr. McGregor Have a Tea'. It is true that 'herbs make the difference', and combined with fresh veggies and unique twists on favorite recipes, a delicious afternoon tea was enjoyed by all.

Kudos to the Chairman of the Tea, Terri Maclay. A long standing member of the club, and a very talented floral designer, Terri's touches could be found in the beautiful displays executed to elicit thoughts of farmer McGregor's garden.

• The Herb Tea Party Menu 

Orzo Salad 
Carrots & Raisin Pineapple & Mint Salad
Peas and Mint Crostini
Beet Rubens
Asparagus Roll ups
Celery-Protein Peanut Butter Bites
Radish Butter with Pita chips
Brown Bread Scones with currants
Zucchini Spice Cake
Rosemary Pound Cake Trifles
Easy Oreo Mint Truffles
Chamomile Shortbread Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies with Elderberry Jam

The Orzo Salad was individually cupped and served in a gardener's wooden carryall.

Brown Bread Scones with Currants were served with Marmalade. And Thumbprint Cookies featured Elderberry Jam centers.

Once everyone was through the buffet line, the Afternoon Tea plate looked something like this. Such a beautiful array of colors and quite a variety of veggies were represented. Each member receives a recipe booklet that includes all the recipes along with hints and tips about herbs. This particular booklet included 'Mr. McGregor's Garden Tips', and occasional quotes from the story book; "First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes."

The guest speaker for this event was Erica Shaffer, the Wildly Crafted Woman. Erica presented a program about herbs found in the garden entitled "the Rabbit Whispers Herb Secrets to Mr. McGregor".  As Erica talked about each herb, it was passed around the room for members to see and sniff each fragrant plant.

Ginger Joy

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the herb of the year, 2023 as designated by the International Herb Association. This recipe, adapted from Bertha Reppert's booklet Herb Teas for Pleasure, features ginger in both the ground form and crystallized. The combination of the ginger and curry coupled with the sweet ginger creates a very flavorful spread for crackers. Enjoy!

Ginger Joy

6 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. crushed pineapple, well drained

1/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. ground ginger

2 tsp. curry powder

1 tsp. crystallized ginger (optional)

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Serve as a dip using crackers or celery sticks.

This recipe is adapted from Bertha Reppert's booklet Herb Teas for Pleasure. Available at The Rosemary House, in person or via mail-order. Follow this link for details.

It's Violet Jelly Making Time!

These sweet little violets are popping up throughout our garden, a sure sign that spring has arrived. This little perennial blossom, one of the herbs the colonists found here, is native from Canada to Carolina and is adored for its sweet blossom. Now is the time to gather a jar full of these petite blooms in anticipation of making violet jelly. Gather a quart jar of blooms, with the understanding that the more flowers you gather and steep, the richer the purple color of the jelly.

This loosely packed jar of blossoms was quickly gathered one morning this week. It's best to harvest the blossoms on the morning you plan to use them. Herewith are the directions for making Violet Jelly from The Bride's Herbal, written by our mother, Bertha Reppert. "Fill a quart jar with violet blossoms; cover with boiling water. (Approx. 2-1/2 c.) Steep for 24 hours. (Note: I only let it steep for 2 hours.) Strain. To 2 cups of this liquid, add the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 box of Sure Jel. Bring to a boil and add 4 cups of sugar. Bring again to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute. Ladle into jars. Seal with paraffin or freeze." The end result is a beautiful jewel-like jelly with a delicate sweet grape-like flavor. If you do not seal or can the jelly, it will keep refrigerated about 2 weeks.

 The Herb of the Year for 2022 is the Viola which includes violets, pansies, and heartsease. As we celebrate the herb of the year, we will be serving this jelly after our free Herb Garden Tour hosted during National Herb Week this coming Thursday, May 5th at 6:00.  Susanna will guide a tour of the herb gardens, guests will create a violet pot pourri, and then we will sample some herbal treats prepared by Nancy. This event is held rain or shine, no need to pre-register.

We also plan on serving this sweet jelly at our (now sold-out) Mother's Day Tea on Saturday. 

In the language of flowers,

Blue Violets symbolize Faithfulness.

Dame Violets for Watchfulness.

Sweet Violets are for Modesty.

Yellow Violets stand for Rural Happiness.

Growing Rosemary

This is an excerpt from Bertha Reppert's book on Growing and Using Rosemary, published by Storey Communications:

On mild days in the winter, I put my collection (of Rosemary plants) outside for a breath of fresh air. If the weather reports are favorable, they can stay outside for several days, much to their liking. Moving the plants is a bit of a nuisance but well worth the effort. I can hear the grateful rosemaries whisper, "Thank you."

 Here in Central PA, we are lucky when a Rosemary plant survives the winter outdoors. We always leave a few planted in the ground but the majority are in large pots and we bring them in on New Year's Day and take them back outside on St Patrick's Day. Rosemary can easily go down to 22 degrees or even a bit below and they prefer the out doors to our hot dry houses. 

Herbs are...

Herbs are not flamboyant plants
like marigolds or zinnias...…..
They are quiet plants,
filled with inner beauty,
whose charms must be discovered.



Bertha Reppert in her book
Herbs with Confidence

Herbal Books by Bertha

Bertha P. Reppert, our mother and the founder of The Rosemary House was a prolific writer. She wrote numerous articles for many magazines, a featured article in the New York Times about Saffron, and a weekly article on herbs for the small local paper.


Her first book, A Heritage of Herbs, was her bicentennial project and focuses on Native Herbs.  She was way ahead of her time on the concept of growing Native plants.

Next came Herbs with Confidence. This award wining book is a primer on growing herbs. It opens with the basic requirements for herb gardening and the use of herbs, while the back of the book features individual monographs on each culinary herb with how to grow it, how to use it and a recipe and craft for each herb. 

Growing your Herb Business was published by Storey Publications and is an encouraging "How-To" book for opening your shop, farm stand or booth. Since it was written pre-internet, it does not include info on web marketing. However, it is still considered a "must read" for those who aspire to own a little brick and mortar shop or stand.
 

The Brides Herbal features many creative ideas for weddings and showers with a romantic, sentimental herbal theme. Favors, Decorations, Bouquets and Recipes complete this fun book.

Mrs Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal is a favorite of all who read it. Written as a daily journal of herb musings, uses, recipes, facts, lore and trivia this book can be picked up and read over and over.  Many folks tell us they add some of there special herb moments to each of the pages. It is a lovely inspiring herbal that can be picked up and enjoyed starting with any page of the book!

Thanks Mom, for this great legacy of herbal knowledge! 

Celebrating the Birthday Girl!

The following is an excerpt of a letter Bertha Reppert, owner of the Rosemary House in Mechanicsburg, PA wrote for an article that appeared in the 'Moon Dreamer' column of  The Magick Garden newsletter so many years ago. In celebration of the birthday girl, herewith begin words of love and family/business history as expressed by mom: Susanna is a Gemini, born on June 4th "and I can remember when I had her" writes Bertha, "nine years after the first three girls! One wonders but I know now that God knew what He/She was doing when we got Susie, for without her there would be no Rosemary House. I would have had to give it up and retire with my husband. The busy business requires young legs and energies! We bought the Rosemary House when Susie was a little girl, in the first grade.... It was a most unlikely place for a business (although we have since been joined by other adventurous optimists!). Equal distance from all the schools in town, Susie came to the Rosemary House after school, where she had a little school desk for her crayons, papers and homework. She would listen to me answer endless questions, and apparently absorbed herbal knowledge with her milk and cookies! Eventually she worked after school and Saturdays, always willing to join in our herbal fun. It was never work!! 

When Susie graduated from Penn State University (a Political Science major) she gently, but firmly pushed me aside and took over! Although I still love our dear little enterprise and can be pressed into service at a moments notice... and enjoy working in the fragrant, magical garden behind the shop, still conduct workshops, do lectures, and write too... However, Susie has really stepped in, and is officially proclaimed "Manager". To the best of our knowledge, she has yet to look at a want ad, or seek employment elsewhere. The Rosemary House is now her haven/heaven ~ as it was mine for the first 20 years of happiness... Susie is young, eager, energetic, and full of wonderful ideas for continued success and a rosemerry future. Susie has expanded our product line into a wholesale division, and also does gift shows. I would never have attempted such enterprises! So great! Good luck to our beautiful fourth daughter.  Susanna is now our #one Rosemary, and is that rarity - a happy person. Not rich! But, she is so busy she has no time to spend money! She is busy surrounded by the ancient, magical, mystical herbs she will spend her lifetime studying and purveying."

Happy Birthday, Susanna! 

May you forever be young, eager, energetic, full of ideas, and happy!

Herbs and Flowers for Anniversaries

In celebration of their 50th Anniversary, our parents compiled this list of flowers and their symbolic meanings by gleaning through their collection of Victorian Language of Flowers dictionaries and through their many years of marriage!

Bertha & Byron Reppert, May 19, 1945

Enchantmint Brownies - Herbs in the Cookie Jar (Part 3)

Mother Earth Living shared an article on their website that our mother wrote decades ago. We were happy to recently discover said article and have received permission to share it on our blog. You can follow this link to read the article. Many different herbal cookie recipes were featured including these Enchantmint Brownies. To this day, they are still very popular when served in the tea room. Easy to make, and festive enough, who doesn't like the chocolate and mint combination?

Herbs in the Cookie Jar (Part 2)

In the 1995 article that mom penned, which now appears online in Mother Earth Living here, the story continues that, as a young girl, Nancy always lamented the fact that the cookie jar was filled with compost and not cookies. Well, mom's words describe it best: When she was growing up, my third daughter, Nancy, was the one who bounced home from school shouting, “Let’s make cookies, Mom!” I think I frustrated her often by using the cookie jar for kitchen composting; maybe that’s why, even today as a busy businesswoman herself, she’d still rather bake cookies than just about any other activity I can think of. She began developing cookie recipes at a fairly young age. In her tearoom, she is known for her rich sweets.

Follow these links to find the recipes for: 

Rosemary Shortbread and Lemon Thyme Cookies.

Although Nancy is frequently baking cookies for the tearoom (going on 27 years now!), she can imagine her mother might chuckle over the fact that more often than not, there is a compost bowl filled with food scraps instead of a cookie jar on the kitchen counter. 

A special thank you to Mother Earth Living, Natural Home, Healthy Life,

for granting permission to share the article on our blog.

Herbs in the Cookie Jar (Part 1)

Years ago, we're talking in the mid '90s, dear old mom wrote an article titled Herbs in the Cookie Jar for a herbal themed magazine. Over the years, the magazine changed hands, and the article has been resurrected on the Internet by the Mother Earth Living magazine. It was a thrill to find mom's words in this magazine alongside recipes that Nancy has served in the tea room. After contacting the magazine, we have graciously received authorization from Jessica Kellner, the Editor-in-Chief to share the article. Follow the links to find each recipe (clockwise from the left) Lavender Cookies (recipe below), Black Pepper Chocolate Balls, Coriander Date Cookies, and Saffron Cookies. 

Lavender Cookies 

Makes about 3 dozen 

At an open house, we served gallons of Lavender Lemonade made by steeping 

1/2 cup dried lavender flowers in 1 quart boiling water for a few minutes, straining, and 

using the the strained liquid to make up part of the water for 1 gallon reconstituted frozen 

lemonade. The unexpected fragrance and flavor led us to try these Lavender Cookies at 

next party. The cookies have become equally as popular.

• 1 cup butter

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2 cups flour

• Lavender Sugar (below)

Cream the butter and sugar. Gradually add the salt and flour. Mix thoroughly. 

Chill the dough for 1 hour, or until it is firm enough to handle.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Form the dough into 

1-inch balls and roll them in Lavender Sugar. Press each ball with your thumb. Place 

them on ungreased baking sheets and bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on racks.

Lavender Sugar 

• 1 cup dried lavender blossoms

• 1 cup sugar (coarse, if available)

Mix thoroughly. Keep mixing this as you use it;

it tends to separate.

To Quote Bertha....

Planting Herbs Article from the Archives.

 This flashback features an April 25,1975 article on planting herbs that appeared in our local Carlisle publication, The Evening Sentinel. Bertha Reppert, the founder of The Rosemary House, discusses different herbs to consider for spring and summer planting. 

Mom's Dancing Shoes

For our recent shoe program, I rummaged in the closet to find some of our mother's shoes.  While they fit me, I find it difficult to walk in these lovely heels.  Mom always referred to the gold pair as her "dancing shoes".

This lovely velveteen burgundy pair with the fabric interior was from Mary Sach's Department store. Mary Sach's was opened by a savvy woman in 1918.  A Russian Immigrant, Mary Sachs' believed firmly in quality merchandise, honest business practices, and full customer service.  When her women's clothing store first opened in 1918 each client was seated in a private booth and presented with garments to try on.  Later, after a fire forced her to redesign, she opened a department store in  1932 featuring 21 departments (and 12 consulting rooms).  She traveled to Europe and New York City to insure the top of fashion.  By the 1950's she was able to add a doorman and valet parking to the business.   It was 'the' place to shop in the Harrisburg, PA area.   Our mom rode the bus to Mary Sachs and could only ever afford to shop there at their famous "Twice a Twelve Month Sale".   I kept these shoes because they were my "dress up" shoes when I was little.   Pleased now to have not only my mother's shoes but a little piece of Mary Sach's history as well.
Honoring and celebrating women in the workforce today... Happy Labor Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

The following excerpt is a page from our mother's book,  Mrs. Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal where she highlights her favorite things, and upon reading them, I am reminded how very similar we are to our mother. Mom's favorite things: Visiting a well clipped knot garden...Making wormwood wreaths...Watching winter birds at the feeds in the snow...Bird songs at nesting time...The sound of rain against windows...Pansy faces, smiling at me...Purple...Little girls in jumpers and tights...Small Boy Scouts on parade, carrying flags...A gloomy day with nothing scheduled...Noisy holidays when everyone comes home...Family, close friends, laughter and love...Hyacinths in February, in pots, blooming...A letter from my sister...Bach's B minor mass, in its entirety...Wearing my "sheep to shawl," plant dyed...Embroidery- and the time to embroider...A cold bedroom, warm comforters and snuggling...Markets, especially farmer's markets, anywhere...To feast my eyes on earth's bounty...Borage growing lustily in a crack in the pavement...Strolling cool damp woods on a hot summer's day...Golden witchhazel threads glowing in a winter woods...Walking barefoot in the grass...Sunny fields of golden mustard...or dandelions...or goldenrod...Church bells peeling the Angelus while I'm working my stilled garden...
Wishing everyone a very special Happy Mother's Day! Hope you day is full of love and laughter, family and friends, birds singing and church bells peeling.  Love! Love! Love! Love!

Mechanicsburg ~ Postcard History Series

We're happy to introduce the latest publication authored by a Reppert family member... this one has been compiled by dear old Dad, Byron L. Reppert. A past mayor of Mechanicsburg and local historian, over the years dad has compiled a collection of postcards pertaining to Mechanicsburg and local environs, and has published this interesting postcard book following the guidelines of Arcadia Publishing. Each postcard includes historical data and shares the development of the borough through these snapshots, confirming the town motto, Mechanicsburg - a good place to live, then and now. This recent book signing was held at Civil War & More in downtown Mechanicsburg earlier this month. Several other book signings have been scheduled and include Sat. Feb 5, 1 - 3 pm at the Mechanicsburg Museum , Wed. Mar 2, 7 pm at the Mechanicsburg Library, Sun. Mar 13, 1 - 3 at the Village Artisans in Boiling Springs, and Sat. Mar 16, 1 - 3 at the Cumberland County Historical Society in Carlisle. There will be an Author's Reception on Sunday, April 10, 1 - 4 pm at Sweet Remembrances.

Several press releases have featured this new publication. Joseph Cress of The Carlisle Sentinel interviewed the author recently, and Roger Quigley of The Patriot News did so also.

The book is available at The Rosemary House and several locations throughout town. It is also available by mail from the publisher. All of the author's royalties from the sale of this book will be placed into the Bertha and Byron L. Reppert Scholarship Fund, established in 2001 by their four daughters, in memory of Bertha Reppert and to honor Byron L. Reppert on the occasion of his 80th birthday. The scholarship is awarded annually to two Mechanicsburg Senior High School students who demonstrate an interest in political science, history, horticulture, or journalism.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Love to Read?

Love to Read? We have the books for you! Sister Nancy Reppert has compiled three FAB cookbooks! Two are little scrapbooks of dinners, lunch and tea recipes she served in the tearoom during the first 15 years and then her lovely spiral bound cookbook features the best of the best from the most recent 5 years! All three are must haves! Every recipe is tested, tried and true!

Our beloved Mother Bertha Reppert was a prolific writer for 40 years. If you have a herb enthusiast on your list, any of these books would be a winner. I love Herbs with Confidence for the beginning herb gardener and Growing your Herb Business is terrific for any small business owner.

The TwelveMonth Herbal is a year long day by day journal of herbal musings, notes, recipes and quotes. Fun! Fun! Fun!

It's Contest Time! ~ Week 8

Bertha Reppert (1919-1999) was the founder of The Rosemary House and our mum. She was a Renaissance woman ahead of her time when she opened a herb and spice shop in a conservative East coast town in 1968. Convinced that once everyone learned about herbs they would love these plants as much as she did, she became an avid educator about the secrets of herbs. Lecturing, writing and always promoting herbs, Bertha Reppert became a mentor to many. This weeks prize is a copy of her last herbal and one of our very favorites.

Bertha Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal features 365 herbal essays one for each day of the year. Written like she is speaking to a friend this book is fun, informative and easy to read. Many folks have told us they reread the book every year and make their own daily notes in the margins. Be sure to leave a comment to this post and at the other participating herbal blogs (see the links below) for your chance to win this clever book (an $18.00 value) filled with herbal lore, recipes and crafts (priceless). Sisters Susanna, the herbalist, and Nancy, the culinary artist, continue to share their Mother's love of all things herbal at The Rosemary House, the herb and spice gift shop, and at Sweet Remembrances tea room.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over, post a comment on these blogs for additional chances to win this weeks giveaway AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick
SunRose Aromatics
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti’s Potions

PrairieLand Herbs

Aquarian Bath

The Rosemary House (where a list of winners will be posted on the 24th)

Check back we have a couple more weeks of give-aways!

Spices of the Season - Spice chests

Spices were considered so costly that many special spice chests were made to store and treasure them in. These two little cuties above are circa 1950 and are marked made in Japan.
Definitely an older style chest. Made of tin, you can still read the names on the drawers.

This is one of the oldest we have. Just love the way the wooden knobs are done on this piece and it has an area for baking powder and baking soda.
From Bertha Reppert's original collection, these are two we are willing to part with. Contact us for particulars. Unfortunately, you can't read the names of the spices very well. I love the carrying cases that these come with and I especially love that the one on the left can lock. Just can't trust those servants.....