It’s All About Herbs at the Lexington County Museum This Weekend

Learn more about herbs, container gardening and grab a homemade treat at this Saturday’s 10th annual herb festival at the Lexington County Museum. It’s All About Herbs is held outside the museum, with a host of vendors offering a chance to grow your own plants.
The annual herb festival is hosted by the Herb Bunch of Lexington, a dedicated group of plant enthusiasts who enjoy using herbs and plants in gardening and wellness. Beverly Kleckley founded the organization with two other ladies, and she has taken the reins of leading the group and festival.
“I birthed the Herb Bunch in Lexington with two other people and we range in age from 25 to 75,” Kleckley recounted. “There’s a wide range of women who love to grow, plant and cook with herbs.”
She explained that some members are medicinal growers using it for wellness purposes, while some use herbs and plants for cooking. The avenues to use herbs and plants are wide open depending on the person.
The festival for 2020 was canceled, but they were able to continue moving forward last year and are on again this Saturday. Attendees can expect to see a plant sale, food and bake sale, about 10 vendors and an opportunity to ask questions and join the Herb Bunch organization.
“We will have potters, wood makers, The Classy Cruet and other vendors,” Kleckley said. “We’ll have a bake shop and deli area with homemade breads, cookies, pies and cakes. We’ll have homemade chicken salad and pimento salad and over 100 different species of herbs featured.”
She also highlighted that Molly the Master Gardener will be on hand to answer any and all gardening questions. The Soil and Water Conservation District will also be out to handle any questions about the dirty topic necessary for growing and planting.
A new feature this year is a booth on kitchen herb gardens for those interested in having windowsill gardens or a container garden in their house or patio.
Kleckley said the group’s volunteers help pot the herbs people buy at the festival. The plants go into a container holding up to three herbs.
All this green thumb fun is done for purpose. All proceeds and sponsorships go towards the Herb Bunch Scholarship Fund, which helps one or two high school seniors further their education however they choose.
“We raise money every year to send a Lexington County student who will further their studies in agriculture or horticulture or agriculture science. We send one or two students $1,000,” said Kleckley. “We have a group in our club who sends the applications to the schools and the counselors to give to those who want and need a scholarship.”