The Herb Lady of Coventry

Adelma Grenier Simmons, the First Lady of Herbs.

I'll never forget the first time I saw Adelma Grenier Simmons as she appeared seemingly to be floating down a garden path. In her long flowing cape and cap she looked like a ghost from the past and against the back drop of her colonial home ca. 1740 and the ancient trees and herb gardens I was instantly under her spell. Caprilands Herb Farm, her creation, was a magical place full of wonderful smells, beautiful vista's of farmland, lovingly tended herb gardens, and handcrafted food and decorations. My memories are perhaps rose colored but I found the place and Adelma an inspiration.

It was in the late 70's when my Mom and I discovered Caprilands in Coventry, CT. It was a lovely summers day and there was an inviting green lawn under large old trees the dark, colonial house  enveloped in green. People were laying on the lush grass relaxing after bike riding. It was a welcoming place. We were charmed by the 33 themed herb gardens. The Shakespearean with it's thyme, rosemary, chamomile, and Dianthus to name just a few. There was a Medieval garden, a Cook's Garden, a White Garden, a Silver garden, one dedicated to the Saints and one just to Bride's. So many gardens and so beautifully cared for; there was an area where they sold plants, a drying barn with bouquets of herbs hanging from the beams. Wreath's, garlands and swags were handmade and sold here as well and of course there were her many books and pamphlets. For a "budding" florist (pun intended) this place was heaven. We spent many summer's day there exploring over the next few years.



Drying barn at Caprilands.

 

Adelma Abbie Grenier was born December 16, 1903 in Sheldon, VT.  She was a buyer for the department store Steiger's.  It was one of those elegant stores that you went to downtown to shop and look at Christmas decorations. Apparently, she came across the abandoned farm in Coventry and purchased it with her parents in 1930.  She tried a number of things before herb farming.  She started with a small herd of some 50 or so goats.  That proved to be too hard and she sold them eventually. In fact, Caprilands is Latin for goat land.  She then tried farming but after losing all her crops one season she noticed that the only plants that thrived were herbs. Soon she was focusing on the production of herbs and the farm grew over 300 variety's. By the 1950's she was serving lunch inspired by herbs and using herbs from her gardens. Adelma wrote her first book in 1963, "Herb Gardening in Five Seasons."  All in all she published over 50 books and pamphlets on herbs, herbal craft, wreathes and decorating, folklore and cookbooks. She delighted in sharing her knowledge and stories with her visitors and gave daily one hour lectures after the luncheon. She became known as the "First Lady of Herbs." One of my favorite passages from "Herbs Through the Seasons at Caprilands" is the following;
"In the last days of November, when it would be pleasanter perhaps to stay by the fire, I start down the hillside with a basket to fill with herbs for making wreathes, part of the gardens contribution to Christmas decoration."

I can see the New England farmland and woods in November, it has a special light to the sky. It is my birth month. As kids we used to go into the woods to pick Princess Pine (in the days that you still could) to make wreaths and garlands. Sometimes we'd go out into the fields to pick dock, milk weed pods and dried grasses to decorate the house. Later in my life inspired by Adelma I studied the symbolism and folklore behind herbs and flowers to incorporate them into my floral designs.

Published in 1963.

I loved Adelma's book "A Witches Brew" and "The Strawberry Book" and used the recipes she shared to make our holidays extra special. I remember we tried to go to Adelma's luncheons but there was always a waiting list. Her food and service were legendary. Eventually my family was transferred back to California where I lived for the next 30 years so I never got to go back to Caprilands. Adelma passed away at the age of 93 December 3,1997.

Sadly I have since read that Caprilands has closed and is in a sad state. Litigation, family disputes and lawyers have lost sight of Adelma's vision and purpose. Perhaps it was her will, love and intent that kept the organization focused and moving forward. Her presence, her wit and knowledge were of course part of the draw...people were naturally drawn to her. She was Caprilands. I cherish the books that I have, autographed in her elegant handwriting, wishing me Magic in the Garden. Adelma's ashes were scattered on the grounds where they mingle with the great White Ash tree roots. She is forever a part of the land that she so loved and loved to share. Many thanks!

Adelma Grenier Simmons.

''Silver rosemary is good for mind and memory, in case you have need of that,'' she once told a visiting group. ''It's also good in tea. If you don't like that, you can wash your hair with it. If that doesn't work, you can wash your dog's hair with it.''  The wit of Adelma!