Tea memories

The GCHS has presented an annual autumn Tea for our invited friends and for other local Michigan herb groups for several years, now. I have programs going back to 1993. It is a free, invitation-only event.

Our venue for the Tea is the beautiful pink dining room at The Warehouse in Crossroads Village. The decorations are always interesting to look at. Our professional florist/party planner, Linda Patterson has taught us so much about elegant decorating, and we have some naturally talented members who always come up with lovely decorations. The buffet and welcome table are staffed and decorated by our members. Many years, table favors for our guests are provided by the committee. All of our members, by pairs, serve as hostesses, individually decorating and hostessing each table. One charming aspect of our Tea is that our hostesses provide their own personal table settings - especially our personal tea cups - and themes, so that each table is different. It is an enjoyable evening just to stroll around and see the table decorations!

We have a guest speaker and we provide a wonderful, l-o-n-g buffet of sweet and savory foods that keeps our guests coming back. We defray some of our costs (Village tea helper's tip, linens) by maintaining a ways and means sale of crafts contributed by our members. The Village has (so far, in this economy) been quite accommodating in allowing us (as a partnering volunteer group) to use their facilities.

On October 14, 1993, we had a dulcimer player provide music. Our guest speaker was Lila Baker, who talked about Herbal Folklore.

On October 13, 1994, our speaker was Della Helton, who talked about Herbal Tea.

On October 12, 1995, our speaker was Lynn Morningstar who spoke on Culinary Herbs and Landscaping and Garden Ornaments.



In 1996, our speaker was Mary Ann Last, owner of Liberty Tea Room in Crystal, MI. This tea was billed as a Victorian Herbal Tea. Several of our members loaned their husbands to act as escorts to accompany our guests to the parking, and Linda Patterson conducted a (Victorian) Fashion Show. The Tea committee was Linda, Milli Paxton, Diane Jacobson and Sue Burks.








On October 9, 1997, our Tea program speaker was Nikki Lennox, owner of Crab Apple Creek of Macomb County, who talked about Moonlite Gardens and Bathtime Teas. Our chairpersons were Diana Jacobson and Frances Haerens.
Our guests included herb groups from Frankenmuth Unit of HSA, Bay City's Valley Herb Society, Owosso's Potpourri Guild, Midland, Davison and the Herb Study Group from Seven Ponds Nature Center, near Metamora.