55+ gardening Main entrance of the Garden of Fragrance on the grounds of Rochester Museum and Science Center, 657 East Ave, Rochester.
A Passion for Herbs Garden of Fragrance seen as a haven right in the middle of Rochester. By Mike Costanza
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emperatures in the 90’s couldn’t keep Joanne Barry away from the Rochester Museum and Science Center ’s Garden of Fragrance. “I love doing this, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” the 85-yearold said, before getting back to her weeding. The Hilton resident is just one of the members of the Rochester Herb Society who tend the Garden of Fragrance. About every two weeks from April to October, four or five herb lovers gather together to care for its plants, put in new ones, and in general prepare the gem to shine for the public. Sandra Happ, who leads the team that cares for the Garden of Fragrance, was there on May 26. “I’m going to do some weeding, and I’m going to plant some annuals today,” she said, as she prepared to plant dill and rosemary. Created in 1958 by the late Harriet Hollister Spencer, a local rose expert and civic leader, the Rochester Museum
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55 PLUS - July July // August August 2019 2020
and Science Center ’s 1,200-sq.-ft. Garden of Fragrance has eight separate bed for herbs. The Monks Herbs garden features such plants as Joseph’s coat and Bible leaf. Next to it, the Bitter and Repellent Herbs garden offers Roman wormwood, horehound and other plants that repel insects. Across the way, the Culinary Herbs garden contains such delights as thyme, mint and basil. The herb beds surround the site’s Rose Garden. All of the Garden of Fragrance’s herbs serve a purpose — and some more than one. Horehound repels pesky insects, lavender is aromatic and edible, and fever few has medicinal qualities. “It helps to relieve a fever,” said Rochester Herb Society treasurer and past president Jean Bolster, who helps tend the Garden of Fragrance. The Rochester Herb Society has long been a haven for those who love raising their own herbs. “The club is very involved in growing and using herbs in
numerous ways, such as cooking and aromatherapy,” said co-president Jean Heaney. To those ends, the society holds monthly meetings at which its members can learn how to grow herbs and use what they grow, and can share recipes and other information. “Each month, there is a presentation of the ‘herb of the month,’” Heaney said. Most of the Herb Society’s members are at least 55 years of age — Heaney is 79 — and some have long belonged to the organization. Barry joined about 27 years ago, and has been the society’s president and vice president in the past. Bolster became a member back in 1996. “I had recently moved back to the area, and my neighbor was a member,” Bolster said. “I frankly thought it was a good social opportunity.” While bringing her together with new people, the Herb Society also gave the 75-year-old Livonia resident the chance to share something she loved with them.
