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Madalene Hill, internationally recognized herbalist and author, was awarded the Catherine H. Sweeney Award for extraordinary and dedicated efforts in the field of horticulture by the American Horticultural Society (AHS) on June 2, 2006.1
Mrs. Hill was one of 12 award winners honored at the 2006 Great American Gardeners Awards Ceremony and Banquet at AHS headquarters on George Washington’s River Farm in Alexandria, VA.
“These awards celebrate the best and brightest in our nation, from scientists who develop tough plants for our gardens to public garden professionals who promote earth-friendly gardening practices to journalists who popularize gardening throughout America,” said AHS President Katy Moss Warner.1
Mrs. Hill, curator of the Susan Clayton McAshan Herb Gardens at the International Festival-Institute in Round Top, TX, has worked with herbs for almost 50 years. She opened Hilltop Herb Farm, a garden, store, and restaurant business with her late husband in 1957, where she worked for over 35 years.
Throughout the years Mrs. Hill has also shared her knowledge of herbs with the public through her many lectures and through her two books (co-authored with her daughter Gwen Barclay): the Houston Garden Book (1983) and the perennially favorite Southern Herb Growing (1987), which is still in print.
Seven herbs have been named after, discovered, or introduced by Mrs. Hill: Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida), Madalene Hill doublemint (Mentha x gracilis ‘Madalene Hill’), Hilltop oregano (Origanum x majoricum ‘Hilltop’), tulted or ball basil (Ocimum basilicum Thrysiflora), Arp hardy rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’), Madalene Hill rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis ‘Madalene Hill’, syn. ‘Hill Hardy’), and silver sage hybrid (Salvia officinalis x fruticosa ‘Ne’we Ya’ar’).2
Mrs. Hill is in her 14th year at the International Festival-Institute, where the McAshan Herb Gardens now include 14 gardens with a wide variety of themes, including: the Mediterranean Garden, the Medicinal Cacti Garden, the Fruit Tree Garden, and the Pharmacy Garden, among others.3
Mrs. Hill has served as president of the Herb Society of America (HSA) from 1986 to 1988 and was honored by HSA with the Helen de Conway Medal of Honor in 1978, the Nancy Howard Award for Horticultural Excellence in 1997, and the Gertrude B. Foster Award for Excellence in Herbal Literature (shared with Mrs. Barclay) in 2005.4
“Madalene Hill is one of America’s great national and natural treasures,” said American Botanical Council Founder and Executive Director, Mark Blumenthal. “She has worked tirelessly to promote the beauty, flavor, fragrance, and traditional lore of herbs, spices and medicinal plants for a half a century. She is a great teacher, infecting all the people with whom she comes into contact with a deeper appreciation of the many values and benefits of these plants. Madalene is clearly the grande dame of American herbalism.”
-Dana Donalson
References
1. 2006 Great American Gardeners Award winners [press release]. Alexandria, VA: American Horticultural Society; April 3, 2006.
2. Askey L. Texas’s First Lady. The American Gardener. March, April 2006; 85(2):34-37.
3. Gardens page. International Festival-Institute at Round Top Web site. Available at: http://www.festivalhill.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=13&MMN_position=29:4. Accessed October 10, 2006.
4. Pelargoniums: An Herb Society of America page. The Herb Society of America Web site. Available at: http://www.herbsociety.org/pelargonium/pcontribute.php. Accessed October 16, 2006.
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