Tea party toasts tradition, gardening and community
Holborn Herb Growers Guild host annual event
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BOARDMAN -- Flower-adorned hats, homemade treats, fragrant teas and floral inspiration came together Sunday as the Holborn Herb Growers Guild hosted its annual Tea Party at the Lariccia Family Community Center in Boardman Park.
The afternoon event invited guests to slow down and enjoy a tradition rooted in friendship, gardening and community service. Visitors sampled a variety of herbal teas, enjoyed savory and sweet delicacies, toured the herb gardens behind St. James Meeting Place and participated in basket raffles. Each guest also received a souvenir teacup and saucer as a keepsake.
Guest speaker Jenny Wehr, owner and florist of The Willows by Wehr, presented a floral design demonstration highlighting ways to incorporate locally sourced flowers and natural beauty into the home.
For Holborn Herb Growers Guild President Lori Grenich, the annual tea party is about more than refreshments.
"We have been able to elevate the tea experience to model a time of elegance and take time out from the busyness of our lives and slow down, relax and enjoy," Grenich said.
The tea party began years ago at the Western Reserve Village on the Canfield Fairgrounds, where visitors could enjoy the historic setting while learning about herbs and teas and their role in everyday life. As attendance grew and weather challenges arose, the event moved indoors before eventually finding its current home at Boardman Park's Lariccia Center.
The event featured traditional black, green, peach and raspberry teas served in antique and vintage china cups collected by guild members. Homemade cookies incorporating herbs, fruits and unique flavor profiles were served on tiered trays alongside tea sandwiches, salads and desserts prepared by members.
Guests were encouraged to embrace the spirit of a traditional English tea by wearing hats and clothing inspired by earlier eras, though Grenich emphasized the most important part of the day was spending time with family and friends.
The basket raffle featured items donated or handcrafted by guild members and local sponsors. Proceeds help support educational scholarships and community programs sponsored by the guild.
Founded in 1982 by a small group of women devoted to the study and cultivation of herbs, the Holborn Herb Growers Guild has grown from eight to 10 founding members to approximately 45 members today. Former Guild President Roberta Spaulding said the organization modeled itself after a guild in London's Holborn district and continues to promote gardening education and stewardship throughout the Mahoning Valley.
Membership involves maintaining gardens at both the Western Reserve Historic Village on the Canfield Fairgrounds and around the summer kitchen of the historic Dutcheon House in Boardman Park. Guild members also sponsor a horticulture scholarship for Ohio college students.
"Our tea lets us enjoy the experience of an English special time of the afternoon, tea time," Spaulding said. "It is a wonderful chance to get together, socialize and meet new people while making new friends."
Beyond hosting events, guild members volunteer hundreds of hours planting, nurturing and maintaining public gardens. The Boardman Park herb gardens feature plants such as rosemary, thyme and cutting celery, along with native species, perennials and annuals. Many of the flowers grown there are dried and later used to create decorative wreaths for St. James Church during the holiday season.
Guild members also care for the extensive gardens at Western Reserve Village, which include butterfly, medicinal, native, culinary and fragrance gardens spread across 15 beds and barrels. During the Canfield Fair, members staff an educational booth where visitors can learn about herbs, gardening techniques and historical uses of plants.
The guild's annual spring herb sale introduces community members to herbs and other quality plants while helping support the organization's educational mission.
Both Grenich and Spaulding believe gardening offers benefits that go beyond growing plants.
"Why do we plant and care for all of these gardens?" Grenich said. "Because the gardens and flowers can bring a connection. Whether it is to one another, the earth, nature or God, there is no way if you plant something, tend to it and see it thrive, that you do not experience something beyond your daily grind that, in turn, lifts your heart."