Re: Herb farm visit
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Herb farm visit
- From: C* P*
- Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 00:03:12 EDT
In a message dated 7/9/00 10:41:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
diehlr@INDIANA.EDU writes:
<< Has anyone visited Caprilands recently? I'm wondering if it is still an
ongoing concern, and who is in charge, and what kind of changes if any
have been made. By the way, Simmons was a pretty good advertisement for
living with herbs, as she had a very active old age and must have been
close to 100 when she died. >>
Bobbi,
I think Caprilands is closed due to estate problems. I live an easy drive
from this place and have been there several times. The best part was the
herbal luncheon. The food was generously provided and it was seconds on all.
There always was a salad decorated with flowers and wine flavored with herbs.
Ms. Simmons had, unbeknowst to most, a husband who was about half her age or
less. There was also a son and the usual problems ensued. If anyone else
remembers her you will recall that she always wore a floor length robe, heavy
curious jewelry and a crown of herbs on her head. She certainly was
charismatic.
The greenhouse at Caprilands supplied many plants not available elsewhere, a
visit was always fun. Ms. Simmons held court daily if she was in town and
talked with the guests. A certain number were allowed each day for lunch, a
reservation was needed. Other visitors could come but could not eat the
herbal luncheon.
Ms. Simmons also wrote many herbal cookbooks. She gave the name of the book
for each recipe used at the luncheon. All were from different books so if
you wanted all the recipes, you would need to buy all the books. She was a
sharp business woman.
As I recall she continued this program until the end when her death inspired
some journalistic views into the doings of Caprilands.
Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY
z4
