In the early 1980s, the Delaware Valley Unit of The Herb Society of America started as an herb study group whose members came from both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides of Delaware River. The group grew as the interest in herbs became more popular. In a short time, the group felt it was strong enough to petition The Herb Society of America for membership as Delaware Valley Unit and was accepted in 1982. Meetings centered at the Prallsville Mill in Stockton, New Jersey. Because of the industrial nature of the mill, it was decided to establish a garden of plants used in industry in the 1800s. However over the years the mills became a center for town activities, so we felt the need to move both our garden and activities.
Our current home is down the Delaware north of Lambertville at the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum which has on its grounds the oldest house in Hunterdon County, c. 1711. We were welcomed here in 2000 and relocated our garden to the Farmstead. Now our focus is an International Culinary Herb Garden divided into the following sections:
Mediterranean
• Basil, Genovese (Ocimum basilicum "Genovese")
• Basil, Rubin (Ocimum basilicum "Rubin")
• Basil, Serata (Ocimum basilicum "Serata")
• Bay Laurel (Lauris nobilis)
• Fennel, Bronze (Foeniculum vulgare "Rubrum")
• Lavender, Hidcote (Lavandula angustifolia "Hidcote")
• Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
• Nepitella (Calamintha nepeta)
• Oregano, Greek (Origanum vuglare hirtum)
• Parsley, Italian (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum)
• Rosemary, Gorizia (Rosmarinus officinalis "Gorizia")
• Rosemary, Foxtail (Rosmarinus officinalis "Foxtail")
• Savory, Summer (Satureja hortensis)
• Tarragon, French (Artemesia dracunculus)
• Thyme, French (Thymus vulgaris "Narrow-leaf French")
• Zaatar (Thymbra spicata)
Northern European
• Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
• Caraway (Carum carvi)
• Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
• Dill (Anethum graveolens)
• Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
• Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
• Mustard, Brown (Brassica juncea)
• Parsley, Curly (Petroselinum crispum)
• Sage, Berggarten (Salvia officinalis "Berggarten")
• Sage, Garden (Salvia officinalis)
• Sage, Tricolor (Salvia officinalis "Tricolor")
• Sage, Variegated (Salvia officinalis "Icterina")
• Savory, Winter (Satureja montana)
• Sorrel, Garden (Rumex acetosa)
• Thyme, English (Thymus vulgaris"Broad-leaf English")
Mexico; South and Central America
• Allspice (Pimenta dioica)
• Aztec Sweet Herb; Lippia Dulcis (Phyla scaberrima)
• Chile, Joe E. Parker Anaheim (Capsicum annuum "Numex J.E.Parker")
• Chile, Jalapa Jalapeno (Capsicum annuum "Jalapa")
• Chile, Serrano del Sol (Capsicum annuum "Serrano del Sol")
• Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
• Culantro (Eryngium foetidum)
• Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla)
• Oregano, Cuban (Plectranthus amboinicus)
• Oregano, Mexican (Lippia graveolens)
• Oregano, Mexican (Poliomintha longiflora)
• Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
• Sugar Cane, Black (Saccharum officinarum)
• Tarragon, Mexican (Tagetes lucida)
Africa
• Basil, Clove ; Tree Basil (Ocimum gratissimum)
• Basil, Eritrean (Ocimum gratissimum)
• Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
• Chile, Chiltepin (Capsicum annuum var. aviculare)
• Chile, Fish (Capsicum annuum "Fish")
• Chile, Superchile (Capsicum annuum "Superchile")
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Scented Geranium, Grey Lady Plymouth (Pelargonium x asperum)
• Scented Geranium, Rober"s Lemon Rose(Pelargonium graveolens)
• Sesame (Sesamum indicum)
India
• Basil, Holy; Spice (Ocimum americanum)
• Basil, Indian (Ocimum basilicum "Subja")
• Basil, Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
• Cardamon (Elettaria cardamonum)
• Chile, Indian Jwala (Capsicum annuum "Jwala")
• Curry Leaf (Murraya koenigii)
• Ginger, Variegated (Alpinia zerumbet "Variegata")
• Turmeric, Orange Rooted (Curcuma longa)
Far East
• Basil, Queenette (Ocimum "Queenette")
• Basil, Sweet Thai (Ocimum basilicum "Sweet Thai")
• Cardamon (Elettaria cardamonum)
• Chile, Chinese Ornamental (Capsicum annuum "Chinese Ornamental")
• Chile, Nippon Taka (Capsicum annuum "Nippon Taka")
• Chile, Thai Hot (Capsicum annuum "Thai Hot")
• Chile, Thai Orange (Capsicum annuum "Thai Orange")
• Chives, Garlic (Allium tuberosum)
• Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
• Coriander, Vietnamese; Rao Ram (Polygonum odoratum)
• Fish Herb;Vap Ca (Houttuynia cordata)
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
• Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix)
• Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citrates)
• Mitsuba; Japanese Parsley (Cryptotaenia japonica)
• Mustard, Japanese Red (Brassica juncea)
• Perilla; Shiso; Beefsteak Plant (Perilla frutescens))
• Saltwort (Salsola komarovii)
Our garden is open to the public, and is handicapped accessible.