Namaste. My name is Uma Bhatti, and I’m honored to be here today.
I was born and raised in India, a land deeply rooted in the traditions of Ayurvedic medicine – an ancient system that has celebrated the healing of plants for thousands of years. That heritage continues to inspire my passion for horticulture.
Since 2010, I have proudly served as a Master Gardener, dedicating over 15 years to volunteering at the Master Gardener Help Desk, where I enjoy guiding others through their gardening challenges. I also serve as a docent at Mounts Botanical Garden, sharing the beauty and stories about the plants with visitors from all walks of life.
I earned my certification in horticulture from Palm Beach State College, and my love for gardening began in childhood, nurtured by my mother’s green thumb and deep plant knowledge. Today, my home garden is a vibrant reflection of that legacy – filled with rare flowering trees and medicinal plants that bridge my Indian roots with my Florida soil.
Welcome back, everyone, as we get back into the swing of things this month. It was a long hot summer, and I don‘t know if the heat just seems worse or if I‘m just getting older. Most of us are preparing and/or planting our Herbs and other plants for the fall season. Temperatures have been slightly lower this past week, probably because of the rain. Whatever the reason, I for one am grateful for a little break in the heat. We look forward to seeing all of you on September 30.
Everyone enjoyed Kara Kreuger‘s presentation in June. Many thanks to KC Foster for coordinating Kara‘s visit.
Our secretary and Master Gardener Marci Green was able to attend the Wild Herb Weekend in beautiful western North Carolina this past July. If we are lucky she will find the time to tell us about it in a future newsletter.
This month Ingrid Menz is working with our member, Master Gardener and talented Indian chef Uma Bhatti on a program about herbs used in Indian cuisine and in healing. There will be a sample for tasting (yum!)
For our October meeting, several of our Board members are working on bringing back our Gifts That Grow workshop. It‘s still in development but we should have a nice selection of projects to present for your enjoyment and consideration. We are also planning to have a booklet of project recipes for meeting attendees to take home.
Marci Green is currently busy planning for our booth at the Mount‘s Botanical Garden Fall Plant-a-Palooza (November 1 - 2, 2025). This is one of those necessary fund-raising activities that allow us to provide you all with workshops, hand-outs and speakers through the year. It also gets our Society‘s name out into the eye of the plant-loving public and helps us attract more members. And we have fun doing it! Marci will be passing out a sign-up sheet for volunteers for the sale. Please plan to be there with us.
In November we will have Victor Lazzari, noted landscape designer and garden writer, sharing a presentation on “Gertrude Jekyll and the South Florida Cottage Garden.”This one should be inspiring!
See you at the meeting!
your friendly neighborhood webmaster,
Mary
News from the Garden of Well-being
Working in the Herb Garden is always best when the weather cooperates. Lately the weather was not people friendly. There may be sunshine or a cloudy sky when I get there and then suddenly I missed the dark approaching clouds and here rolls the thunder. Yeah, you guessed shortly thereafter it’s the raindrops and then a monsoon. Once in a while, I leave dripping wet. Its kind of fun.
Thank God, the rains finally appeared and gives new life to all the plants. The various gingers such as the bitter Ginger aka as Shampoo Ginger and the Turmeric woke up from their slumber and are on full display. They are in the raised garden along with the Sambung, a healthy addition to salads.
The cacao tree in the back of the garden got a haircut, quite a haircut. All I can say, the tree was more majestic with long trailing branches. Nature is very forgiving and the tree will grow again and look beautiful.
The large Moujean Tea bush that is in the same raised bed as the Yerba Mate tree, almost died. If you remember, I covered this in my last newsletter in April 2025. I did not want to pull the plant out and throw it away, so the pruning shears did a fantastic job cutting all the suffering branches. My timing was great, since the rains started shortly after that. I was rewarded for my effort, since the bush has recovered and looks better than ever. The trick with the Moujean tea bush, is water and sunshine.
The culinary bed needs a redo and I was promised to make a list of the plants needed and I will get them along with volunteers that will help with the planting. That’s the best offer I have heard in a long time.
I am missing the cardinals. Can’t figure out where the have gone. Hopefully, they will be back soon.
