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                                               Intro Mary Garden

Fragrance,  Flavor and Fun Featured In
Hagermann Herb Garden

Hobby Grows Into Profitable Business

By Betty Barlow

Eastern Idaho Farmer                  Thursday, January 23, 1958


HAGERMANN - There is a new and growing business in Hagermann, Idaho
which stands a good chance of becoming a tourist attraction as
well.

 The "Garden of Memories" came into 
 being three years ago as one of the 
 hobbies of Bonnie and Ernest
 Roberson. Today it is a flourishing
 business, and a remunerative one
 besides.

 This garden is an herb garden
 in which more than 100 varieties of
 herbs are grown.  Started on a small
 scale, it contains today hundreds of
 plants, flowers and roses, all of
 which were familiar to our
 grandmothers and great-grandmothers
 and to a lesser but growing extent,
 to the modern homemaker.


Demand Increases

Plants, dried herbs, sachets and pot-pourri are being sold and
shipped from this garden to all parts of the United States. Demand
is steadily increasing.  These products are also sold to the
visitor direct, as well as freshly cut herbs that he may take home
and dry himself if he so prefers.

Visitors to this garden are increasing as its fame grows.  Here
visitors may see, smell, taste or buy many herbs they have known
before only as a powder, in a can or bottle.  It is a worthwhile
trip to the "Garden of Memories", and an interesting and
enlightening experience as visitors hear Bonnie tell the stories
and histories of the interesting plants she grows.

The history of herbs is a hobby in itself.  The herb is
inextricably woven into the story of mankind; in his history,
folklore, even in Scripture, and of course into the story of human
foods.
 
New Products

The Robersons find buyers as well as new products increasing each
year.  Some of the buyers buy freshly cut herbs, but most of them
buy dried herbs, or plants so they may grow their own and have
herb gardens themselves.  Many people buy plants for varied
texture effects in gardens, or for border and rock garden
plantings.  There is a market with the local florist who buys such
plants as Yarrow, Silver King and Leek seed heads for dried floral
arrangements.

Bonnie's specialty from this garden is potpourri, more commonly
known as rose jars.  These are fabulous concoctions made from more
than 21 flowers, herbs and spices.  The recipes she uses are
hundreds of years old, and where she has obtained them is one of
her secrets.

Based on Rose Petals

These aromatic mixtures require, as their name suggests, rose
petals.  For these the old fashioned roses, not commonly grown in
the modern rose garden are used.  In the "Garden of Memories" can
be found roses with such romantic names as "Gloire de Guilan",
'La Reine Victoria", and here, too, may be seen the oldest known
cultivated rose in the world - "Castilian" - prized by generations
for its magnificent fragrance.

The making of the potpourri started as an experiment - and the
immediate response of the country's Gift Houses came as a surprise
to the Robersons.

Stirs Conversation

In years gone by, most homes had a rose jar, very often a family
heirloom which had long ago lost its fragrance.  Today, the
chlorophyll products, with their wicks and sprays, have replaced
the rose jar.  Now that Bonnie has revived the almost lost art of
making potpourri, the public is finding there is little
comparison possible between these two items.  The spicy,
all-pervading aroma of a pot-pourri makes the modern preparations
seem nauseous.  Besides the advantages in odor, the potpourri
makes an interesting conversation piece - and who wants to make
conversation about "wicks" and "sprays"?

Months of this past year were devoted to the making of potpourri
in the "Garden of Memories".  These and the sachets are well on
the way to becoming the biggest selling items from this garden.

Culinary Aid

The Robersons are interested in having the American public, and,
especially the American cook, become more aware of the fun and
adventure to be found in the use of herbs.  Their favorite
customers are those who are buying their first herbs, or starting
their own herb gardens.  Bonnie, being one of the finest cooks, is
able to give excellent advice to the beginner in the use of herbs
in cooking to make meals more interesting and inexpensive. Cheaper
cuts of meat used in soups, stews and for roasts can be made into
company fare when cleverly seasoned with herbs.

Most herbs grow very well in Idaho.  A few such as Sesame wil1 not
grow here, but a large variety can be grown even when space is
limited to flower beds.  Many of these plants take very little
care and do not need any special soil or fertilizers beyond those
given any good garden planting.

Bonnie has a word of advice for new herb gardeners: "Grow some for
flavor, some for fragrance - but all for fun!"

The Robersons have made it pay!


Reprinted with permission

Photo added by Mary's Gardens