AUSTIN, Texas (April 10, 2017) — On Saturday, May 6, the nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) will celebrate the 12th annual HerbDay with a variety of herbal educational activities, including presentations from local and national herbal experts.

The HerbDay event occurs at ABC’s headquarters at the historic Case Mill Homestead, 6200 Manor Road in East Austin, from 10 am until 4 pm. It is free and open to the public. Mindy Green, aromatherapist, herbalist, author, educator, and owner of Green Scentsations, will give a presentation from 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM on “Rose: Herbal Remedy, Aromatic Essence, and Culinary Delight.”

ABC’s founder and executive director, Mark Blumenthal will give a presentation on “Humorous Health: Conventional and Alternative Medicine, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Diet, and Lifestyle as Seen through Cartoons” From 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM.

Two herb walks through ABC’s 20+ medicinal- and culinary-themed gardens will be led by local Austin herbalists. The first will be from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM with Ellen Zimmermann, owner of The Austin School of Herbal Studies and EZ Herbs. Nicole Telkes, author and director of the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine in Austin will lead the second herb walk from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM. In addition to the herb walks, participants will have plenty of time to explore ABC’s medicinal and culinary herb gardens on their own.

“ABC looks forward to reaching out to the local community on HerbDay,” said ABC Special Projects Director Gayle Engels. “In keeping with ABC’s nonprofit educational mission, staff gets to introduce visitors to the beneficial plants we love and to the broad knowledge base of local and global herbalists.”

Plants, books, refreshments, and membership information will be available in addition to free sample issues of ABC’s acclaimed, full-color, quarterly, peer-reviewed scientific journal, HerbalGram, and other educational literature.

There will be live music throughout the day and special events for children including a May pole, an herbal art activity, and planting a seedling to take home.

HerbDay at ABC is sponsored by Peoples Pharmacy, Organic India, Traditional Medicinals, Pukka Herbs, and Veriditas by Pranarōm.

About HerbDay

HerbDay is a coordinated series of independently produced public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism. HerbDay was initiated by five nonprofit organizations with interests in herbs and herbalism (the HerbDay Coalition) to raise public awareness about the significance of herbs in the lives of millions of people worldwide, as well as the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty care, and culinary enjoyment. The HerbDay Coalition includes the American Botanical Council (ABC), American Herbalists Guild (AHG), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and United Plant Savers. The HerbDay coalition can be contacted here.