ASHLAND — A tea fundraiser for the Art of Gardening Club is set for 1 p.m. May 10 at the Freer Home,1260 Center St., at Freer Field. The Mother Daughter “Royal Ladies’ Tea” headed by Sue Kelley will feature a program on etiquette with Ashland County Clerk of Courts Deb Myers.
Her mother is from England, so some English customs are on tap. The event is open to the public.
There are 10 tables (tables of seven) with a maximum of 70 tickets at $20 each.
Lee Heckman will oversee scones. Ruth Ann Linder will plate food with finger sandwiches or quiche, sweets and fruit kabobs. Kathy Bargar and Peggy Stover, in addition to folding napkins, will put silverware, teacups and napkins on the tables.
Kelley thanked everyone who donated teacups at the April 2 meeting held at Peace Lutheran Church. Rosemary Caster purchased creamers, cups and saucers, and serving plates at resale shops.
More cups and saucers were donated so there are now enough, Caster reported.
One or two garden members are needed to serve as host/hostess at each table. Claudia Dunn will check in teagoers for the dress-up exquisite tea social.
“Year of the Fig!” Pat Edwards announced in introducing Brad Hamilton, owner of Zenith Farms, Lexington, who spoke on “Growing Fig Trees in Ohio.” Not only figs but numerous varieties of berries and fruit trees are grown.
Once an alpaca farmer, he self-taught himself thanks to You Tube.
“A fig tree produces more like a raspberry than an apple. Pick and eat them,” Hamilton encouraged. Members expressed that they are more acquainted with Fig Newton cookies.
“The fig is referred to as a fruit but is actually a flower,” he said. “Making It in Ohio” – Hamilton has thousands of varieties of fruit trees on trial.
Italian immigrants brought their love for fig trees to the northeastern U.S. Currently 15 to 16 people grow figs locally, according to Hamilton. The Chicago Hardy is the most popular. The Ohio Hardy is on trial.
Hamilton told of tearing out his Black Locusts replacing them with a pear grove.
His tip for mulberry trees since they have staining properties is to plant in the yard away from buildings. His “edible landscaping” applies also to apple trees where his trials have involved four apple varieties on one tree.
Fig trees (240 of them) are planted on three sides of his apple orchard. Not only is he into figs he is into trialing red flesh apples which can be crushed for cider, sauce or pies.
Prior to the field trip May 7 to Secrest Arboretum, Wooster, members will go to the Freer Home to check out the Mother Daughter tea site. Lunch will follow the field trip.