Winter Greetings, There’s nothing like a 22-inch snowstorm to remind us that we have no control over Mother Nature. We endure, we survive, but we certainly don’t con-trol, nature’s forces. Since we are horticulturalists, we completely understand our unique dilemma – working to control the uncontrollable, to have plants thrive and gardens grow. The winter, of course, is a rest time from our outside garden chores. It’s like the earth and all of us take a collective deep breath and exhale out. A time to browse the seed catalogs and garden magazines to imag-ine the new directions our gardens, and our lives, will take in the Spring.

Winter under cultivation Is as arable as Spring E. D. 1720

The real mystery is how our plant world can so impact the lives of those we serve as horticultural therapists. Let’s concentrate on what we can control – creative programming, leadership roles as HT professionals, and above all, showing kindness and caring to all our populations. The mystery of HT is that it works! It’s just hard to prove, because it’s hard to measure self-confidence, cre-ativity, and joy. Coming up on March 19th is our next MAHTN meeting at GreenWorks Farm in North Wales, PA. Bette Walters is building a new, exciting, vocational HT program using hydroponic growing methods. Joy and success have already been nurtured and achieved there. Don’t miss this opportunity to see what her vision, passion, and heart have created in a modest greenhouse setting. In addition, I’d like to welcome to the MAHTN board the following new mem-bers: Patti Loughridge – VP PA Bette Walters – Treasurer Mona Gold & Michelle Furrer Marquez – Programs, co-chairs Appointed by the President for one year “At large” positions: Megan Fainsinger – NJ Elle Lobatto – NY Mandy Joos – PA Thank you all for stepping up to take on leadership roles and to bring your creativity, passion, and heart to MAHTN I look forward to seeing you all this year. Peg Schofield, HTR

President

Peg Schofield, HTR

Vice President of NY

Anne Meore, LMSW, HTR

Vice President PA

Patti Loughridge

Secretary

Barbara Denson

Treasurer

Bette Walters

Directors

Elections and Awards

Janelle Zigon, HTR

Online Communications

Gerrie Schmidt

Programs Co-Chairs

Mona Gold, HTM

Michelle Furrer Marquez

Membership

Marsha Stamm Gayl, HTR

Public Relations

Brenda Sullivan

Members at Large

Megan Fainsinger (NJ)

Elle Lobatto (NY)

Mandy Joos, HTR (PA)

Board Advisor

Phyllis D’Amico, HTR

Winter 2016 Newsletter

2

MAHTN MEMBERS’ MEETING Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016

Time: 11:30am - 3:30pm

Location: GREEN WORKS FARM AT

WALTERS CORNER GREENHOUSE 1005 Lower State Road (corner of Horsham)

North Wales, PA 19454

PROGRAM THEME:

“Produce with a Purpose: Horticultural Therapy and Sustainable Agriculture”

AGENDA:

10:00AM to 11:30AM: Board of Directors Meeting

11:30AM to 1:15PM: Members ar r ive for brown bag lunch and networking

(MAHTN will provide beverages and snacks)

1:15PM to 2:00PM: Presentation by Bette Walters, MAHTN BOD

“Planting the Seeds of Transition”

2:00PM to 3:30PM: Share group and individual activities or program plans, r elated to vegeta-ble and herb growing, hydroponics, school to adult transitioning.

Bring your favorite program ideas to handout or present to the group.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.mahtn.org

RSVP & QUESTIONS: Bette Walters, 215-704-2335

3

MAHTN MEMBERS’ CALENDAR

2015-2016

SPRING:

Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Time: 11:30am - 3:30pm

Location: GREEN WORKS FARM @

WALTERS CORNER GREENHOUSE

NORTH WALES, PA

SUMMER:

Date: SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 2016

Time: 11:30am - 3:30pm

Location: GARDEN OF HOPE/GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL,

SUFFERN, NY

FALL:

Date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER (TBD), 2016

Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm

Location: NEW JERSEY (TBD)

MAHTN.ORG

for information about upcoming events OR

JOIN MAHTN today to stay informed

Renewals for 2016 are now due!

4

It’s a New Year &

Time to Renew

Your MAHTN Membership for 2016

Renewing or joining MAHTN online is an easy two-step process

#1 --Go to our website http://www.mahtn.org/membership-form.html

#2—Pay online (a new feature)

You are welcome to print out a membership form along with payment if you prefer.

http://www.mahtn.org/uploads/2/6/1/9/26198918/membership_form_w.logo1-

2016.pdf

Upon receipt of your membership application, you will receive a confirmation email

from MAHTNmembership@gmail.com . The email will contain the password for the

members’ only part of the website and other pertinent information. We request that

you PLEASE REPLY to this the confirmation email to ensure that MAHTN has

your preferred email address for future communication.

Look out for MAHTN email communications to be deliv-

ered electronically via MailChimp to your inbox. Mail-

Chimp is our preferred email marketing tool, so add

MAHTN to your ‘safe’ sender list. Do not click

‘unsubscribe’ to Mailchimp or you will miss out on future

communications from MAHTN via email.

We would like to hear from you!!

Any membership concerns or requests can be directed

to Marsha Gayl, Membership Chair

starmar78@hotmail.com

5

MAHTN HIGHLIGHTS

MT CUBA MEETING The Chesapeake and Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Networks met at Mt Cuba on Novem-ber 8th. The day proved to be a beautiful, sun-ny, fall day spent at the former home and family estate of Mr. and Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland. Thank you to our host Margaret Shil-lingford and to all of the workers bees from both networks that helped to create an informa-tive day spent networking with those outside of the MAHTN.

Margaret shares a brief history of the family and how the site came to be what it is today. In 1935, the Copelands built a stately Colonial Re-

vival manor house near the village of Mt. Cuba, outside of Wilmington, Delaware. The Copelands hired well-known Philadelphia landscape architect, Thomas W. Sears, to plan the formal gardens and terraces around the house, and later, noted landscape designer, Marian C. Coffin, to design the Round Garden. Then in the 1960’s Mrs. Copeland’s interest in wildflower preservation and her love of native plants led to the development of the woodland wildflower gardens designed by Seth Kelsey. The further development of expanding their horticul-tural endeavors to study native plants of the Appalachian Piedmont, began in the 80’s and the beginnings of a botanic garden on a private estate came to fruition. In the late 80s, Mt. Cuba Center began hosting visitors by offering docent-led tours during the spring. In 2001, Mrs. Copeland passed away and this event ushered in a new chapter for Mt. Cuba Center. It was no longer a botanic garden on a private estate but a public garden for all to be inspired about native plants. The new Trial Garden was unveiled in July 2012. Today Mt. Cuba is committed to providing topnotch research and recently released it’s newly published research on coreopsis. Mt. Cuba Center is open to the public during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Guided tours of the estate gardens were provided by Margaret Shillingford and Sarah Hutchin, HTM. The program for the day included presentations from both CHTN and MAHTN members. Special thanks to Abby Jaroslow, HTR, Pam Young, HTR, Louise Eckert, HTR and Peg Schofield, HTR who took part in providing educational programming at the Mt Cuba meeting.

If you missed our fall meeting consid-er joining us for the upcoming March 19th meeting at Green Works Farm at Walters Corner Greenhouse. MAHTN is here to inspire you, pro-mote awareness and acceptance of HT through education, communication and networking.

PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR NEXT MEETING!

6

Note from the Editor…

WHERE DOES HT FIT IN?

Amid the constantly changing landscape for

healthcare, insurance reimbursement and how

folks perceive aging; how can you assure HT

remains part of the continuum-of-care in the

facility where you work and with the popula-

tion you serve? In this issue we have an arti-

cle called Consistency of Care which highlights

the need to reach the behavioral health popu-

lation, a group we know benefits from HT.

This issue also features a new segment focusing on the HT practitioner, which is a

forum to encourage and help problem-solve situations that arise in your practice.

The job market can never provide guarantees but we all need to make sure that HT

remains part of the conversation.

How can you provide consistency but keep your program fluid to meet the di-

verse population you serve? One key is to know your customer (consumer) receiving

your HT services, whether that is your patient in a hospital setting, a personal cli-

ent, a resident in a CCRC, or your student in a school. Connect with them on a per-

sonal level and be sure they gain something out of the HT experience you provide.

Adjust your programming to meet the needs of your clients. One size doesn’t always

fit all in the Rehab facility where I work. As I am asked to expand programming, I

change the activities for inpatient vs. outpatient.

Provide continuity through collaboration by working with an inter-disciplinary

approach. What are the goals, how can HT contribute and achieve the best out-

comes, and most importantly be diligent about remaining in the conversation with

other therapists or the treatment team at your facility. Decide where you can best

maximize your services and contribute in the continuum-of-care. Look up research

to back it up and present it at the next meeting you attend. Ask to be on the agen-

da. Complacency does not work in a changing landscape.

Market and document what you do!! Some of the best marketing also comes

from anecdotal moments; document your client’s story. If you have the luxury of a

marketing department, make them aware of the positive, unique, impact you pro-

vide directly as an HT and also indirectly through your program’s community in-

volvement. Share and market your HT program at a local community event, be part

of a poster presentation at an allied profession conference, put yourself out there!!

Most importantly join MAHTN and become a part of your local organization of

horticultural therapists. Join us at our next meeting in March. What better way to

fit in and stay connected to HT!

Pam Young, MAHTN Newsletter Editor

To contribute to future MAHTN Newsletters contact me at youngpam@mlhs.org

7

Creating Consistency-of-Care Benjamin P. Bishop, LMSW

Advances in social and scientific understanding have, overtime, led to changes in how

mental illness is perceived and treated today. Once regulated to large institutional set-

tings the vast majority of people suffering with severe mental illness now receive ser-

vices in more urban community-based settings. Within the current continuum of ser-

vice delivery, however, there is a greater likelihood for this group to experience a di-

verse set of medical treatments, therapeutic interventions, residential locations and

treatment settings. In addition to such programmatic changes there can also be dra-

matic changes to their social supports, social networks and social standing. The effort

to continually acclimate to an ever-changing system of continuity can generate a frag-

mented treatment experience, and can result in symptom escalation, increased inter-

nal and/or external stigma, and ultimately further social exclusion. The current system

of behavioral healthcare in the United States can therefore inherently keep people

from improved recovery outcomes and a sense of belonging with and within the com-

munities that they are rightfully a part.

Nature-based therapies are being recognized as worthwhile auxiliaries to conventional

behavioral health treatments by providing holistic, person-centered care through both

passive and active participation. Nature-based interventions deliver multi-dimensional

sets of concurrent social and therapeutic benefits, are a significant resource for public

health, and appropriate for all people across the life span and diagnostic presentations.

Yet, within the United States behavioral healthcare system the application of such ef-

fective and meaningful interventions remains unstructured and somewhat marginal-

ized and there is a need to unite the levels of care in order to improve social and thera-

peutic outcomes. It is for these reasons that I have been leading an effort to increase

the use of Nature in behavioral healthcare in order to achieve greater social and thera-

peutic outcomes for people served.

Using historical and contemporary knowledge, I developed Nature-Related Program-

mingTM (NRP) as an innovative service model to create a consistency-of-care through-

out the continuum of behavioral healthcare. Working with people served, other profes-

sionals and the community alike, the primary goal of the program is to generate oppor-

tunities and facilitate partnerships to improve individual and community capacities

that lead to authentic social integration outcomes. To

be certain, it has taken over eight years of program

pilots throughout the various levels of behavioral

healthcare to prove these claims. However, by con-

sistently demonstrating successful outcomes

throughout the continuum of care, working with in-

terdisciplinary teams of people to engage people

served in and with other community stakeholders,

and with the development of a business-oriented ser-

vice model the program is becoming a more widely

accepted intervention in Western Pennsylvania.

8

Creating Consistency-of-Care

To educate other social service professionals on the subject I wrote an article detailing the fun-

damental components for the program’s development —“Nature for Mental Health and Social Inclu-

sion,” Disability Studies Quarterly, January 2013. Additionally, the NRP model was recently presented

at the 2015 American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) conference and will be presented at

National Council for Behavioral Health conference in 2016. However, it has been through my facilita-

tion of related accredited professional training courses and guest lecturing graduate and post-graduate

students that the program has been able to reach a wider audience and support. Recently Pittsburgh

Mercy Health System (www.pmhs.org), a social healthcare organization in Western Pennsylvania, has

elected to further program development starting this year.

Through collaborative efforts and support from people served, agency employees, and communi-

ty members, such as The Penn State Center Allegheny County Master Gardeners, Nature-Related Pro-

grammingTM is advancing its scope and reach. An interdisciplinary, interdepartmental team from Pitts-

burgh Mercy Health System is working with people served to expand the availability of NRP to other

sites with and in the wider community. Although horticultural therapy professionals are not currently em-

ployed, the organization is a member of AHTA and I (just recently) became a member of the Mid-

Atlantic Horticulture Therapy Network. Nevertheless, I welcome the opportunity to have an open dia-

logue with anyone to work together and improve the world we live in through the use of Nature.

To learn more about Nature-Related ProgrammingTM please contact me at BBishop@pmhs.org

and connect with me on LinkedIn.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Design a Chocolate Garden for 2016

As you are contemplating what to plant for spring consider the edition of a chocolate garden to your HT

programming for 2015. Grow a chocolate themed garden near a window, pathway, entrance, a porch or

outdoor seating where your HT clients congregate. Most “chocolate

plants” grow well in either full sun or partial shade.

Chocolate Garden Plants

The best part of designing chocolate gardens is choosing the plants.

Here is a selection plants that smell like chocolate or have a rich,

chocolate color or taste equivalent:

Chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) combines the color

and fragrance of chocolate in one plant. The flowers bloom all sum-

mer on tall stems and make excellent cut flowers. It is considered an

annual in our time zone.

Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata) has a strong chocolate

fragrance early in the morning and on sunny days. This yellow, dai-

sy-like flower attracts bees, butterflies and birds to the garden. A

Native American wildflower, chocolate flower is hardy in USDA

zones 4 - 11.

Continued on page 10~

9

Practitioner Forum-Winter 2016 By Lesley Fleming, HTR

It is inevitable that issues arise when horticultural therapy programs are being delivered. Hav-

ing informal or formal groups to discuss concerns offers several advantages; a sounding board

is provided where experienced practitioners can interact with emerging peers in non-

threatening settings, multiple perspectives are provided seeking best-practice solutions, and a

process for problem-solving can be initiated. Practitioner forums can elevate professional com-

petencies in many ways: through professionals sharing on a regular basis, group discussions as

part of regular meetings, on-line conversations, or articles in trade publications.

Q: I have some clients who just aren’t engaging in my therapeutic horticulture pro-

grams. What should I be doing?

A: On-going review of each activity and overall program analysis is critical to the success and

attainment of therapeutic goals for all participants. Some of the questions that should be asked

by therapist, with input from others include:

Is the group size appropriate for the functioning level of participants—is this something

that needs to be dynamic and fluid at each session

Could therapist’s skills be more effective—calling people by name, making direct eye con-

tact, grouping clients together with similar needs or balancing group dynamics in other ways

Are HT volunteers distracting or contributing to session—can they engage clients more by

using a different mix of verbal or tactile interactions

Are changes in client’s cognition, hearing or vision loss apparent to the therapist?

Are the selected activities not effective or interesting--too repetitive, too difficult, lacking

clear verbal and visual directions

Do issues at the facility affect participation: like staff turnover, night disruptions causing

client’s to lack sleep, or is sun glare preventing clients from full participation?

What does the individual need to participate more fully— is this different from the group’s

goal, a different activity, or a change in process or delivery style?

Q: I can never seem to make the facility administrator happy no matter what HT ac-

tivity I deliver.

A: Communication is essential for understanding what facility staff expects. In some situations

there are unwritten rules that are not always shared with a horticultural therapist who spent

only a few hours a month delivering services.

Continued on page 10

10

Practitioner Forum-Winter 2016 Clarification of acceptable parameters are necessary, i.e. no edibles brought into

facility, no essential oils other than facility approved brands, no colorful pieces allowed,

acknowledgement of staff reluctance to use outside garden area. To that point parame-

ters and guidelines for resident’s families are also necessary, i.e. plastic, not glass bot-

tles. Such resident guidelines can be a natural starting point for HT program planning.

Upon conclusion of activities, staff made comments like “the Halloween bat pup-

pet was a kindergarten activity”. Detailed activity descriptions with therapeutic goals,

provided well in advance of the session allowed the administrator the control and veto

power she sought. Though this placed greater administrative burden on the practition-

er, the positive side of this process was an opportunity to discuss and educate about the

merits of each therapeutic horticulture activity, including the importance of the thera-

peutic process. The bat puppets and their related theme of environmental stewardship

along with the primary goals of maintaining fine motor and spatial reasoning skills

was in the end accepted, with agreement to deliver the activity next year.

Lesley Fleming is a registered horticultural therapist living in Florida. She deliv-

ers therapeutic horticulture programs to multiple populations, conducts HT workshops

in both Canada and the U.S., and her articles are featured regularly in HT trade publi-

cations including eatbreathgarden.com. Her latest research in 2015, Veteran to Farmer

Programs: An Emerging Nature-Based Programming Trend was published in the Jour-

nal of Therapeutic Horticulture 25(1) 27-48.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Design a Chocolate Garden for 2016 ~ continued

Heuchera ‘Chocolate Veil’ (Heuchera americana) has dark chocolate-colored foliage with

purple highlights. White flowers rise above the large, scalloped leaves in late spring and early

summer. ‘Chocolate Veil’ is hardy in USDA zones 4 - 9.

Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) is a shrub that grows up to 8 feet tall. The

dark maroon to brown flowers are followed by berries that have a chocolate-caramel flavor. It

can become invasive. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 7 - 11.

‘Chocolate Soldier’ columbine (Aquilegia viridiflora) has richly colored, purple-brown

flowers that bloom from late spring through early summer. They have a delightful scent, but

they don’t smell like chocolate. ‘Chocolate Soldier’ is hardy in USDA zones 3 - 9.

Chocolate mint (Mentha piperata) has a minty-chocolate fra-

grance and taste. For maximum flavor, harvest the plant in late

spring and summer when it is in full bloom. Chocolate mint is har-

dy in USDA zones 3 - 9.

Some of these plants are hard to find in local garden centers and

nurseries. Check nursery catalogs both online and offline if you

can’t find the plant you want locally. A chocolate garden theme is

a delight to the senses and would be a great addition to your HT

garden. Making it a pleasure to tend, and well worth a little extra

effort to obtain the plants.

For a source for chocolate garden seeds check out:

http://www.chocolateflowerfarm.com/chocolate_garden_seed_kits

11

REFLECT, RENEW AND RESTORE

Winter…It brings with it the opportunity to provide some restorative HT programming for your

clients. The following two HT project ideas are great to make this time of the year, or would make a great gift to give their sweetheart for Valentine’s Day.

HT Programming Idea-Lavender Hand Balm This rich, soothing balm will re-hydrate even the driest patches of skin. A friend for the hands, but there's no reason other spots can't become acquainted with this balm as well!

Aromatherapy & Spa Crafting

Ingredients

1-1/2 ounces jojoba oil 3 ounces shea butter 1-1/2 ounces bees wax beads 1/2 teaspoon lavender oil 1/4 teaspoon lemon oil

Glass wide-mouth jar with lid (such as a small canning jar), we used a wide-mouth half-pint (8 ounce) jar.

Directions

In a pyrex measuring cup, combine jojoba, shea butter and beeswax. Set in a pan of simmering water (water should reach 1/4 of the way up the sides of the pyrex cup). Stir until wax is completely melted. Remove from heat and stir in lavender and lemon oils. Pour into jar and cool overnight.

Note: This recipe makes a firm balm. For a softer salve, add up to 2 more tablespoons of jojoba oil.

Makes about 6 ounces.

Source and supplier for materials. www.lorannoils.com

HT Programming Idea-Scented Sugar Scrub Sugar scrubs are a fun, practical, and a great sensory project to use for HT programming. Make labels to go along with your project that lists ingredients, instructions for use, and list safety precautions not-ing not to use on feet. Also, the product is in a jelly jar so mention “Do not eat” on your label de-pending on the population you serve. To use: once a week, gather a small amount and rub over roughened skin, such as elbows and knees. Rinse only with water to allow the oil to moisturize your skin. Not for use on face, feet, or other areas of delicate skin. Store at room temperature and use within 6 months. Be sure the oils you are using are pure and for use on skin.

Ingredients

Small Jelly Jar Fabric cut in circle pattern “dress the jar”

Ribbon Coconut Oil

Organic Cane Sugar Assortment of Oils

Fill jar with ¾ of the way with sugar. Empty sugar into mixing bowl and add ¼ to ½ cup of coconut oil. Mix well. Add scented oil and mix again. Place sugar mixture in jar and attach dome lid. Place fabric circle on top and screw on band. Select ribbon and tie around the jar. Attach recipe and label to the jar.

12

Plant Your Garden And Benefit MAHTN!

Buy your garden seeds from Renee’s Garden Seeds and 25% of the order value will be donated to The Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network, Inc.

Here’s how it works:

Simply go to www.reneesgarden.com and choose from the wide selection of seeds for heirloom and gourmet vegetables, cottage garden flowers and culinary herbs, special seed collections and great kitchen garden cookbooks. At check out, just enter the code FR873E in the coupon code box on the checkout page, and that’s it! Renee’s Garden will send a year-end check to the Mid-Atlantic Horticultural Therapy Network for 25% of all orders that use this fundraising code. Code expires December 31 each year. This is a year-round, on-going fundraiser, so order regularly for spring, fall and holiday gifts. Spread the word to your friends and family!

A Note From Renee Shepherd

I am excited to be partnering with your organization to grow cash donations through our fundraising program. Here's a little background about my seed company: At Renee's Garden, I offer only the varieties that are very special for home gardeners, based on great flavor, easy culture and exceptional garden performance. This seed line is my personal selection of time-tested heirlooms, the best international hybrids and fine open-pollinated varieties. I harvest and use the vegetables and herbs in my kitchen to choose the most de-licious, and cut the flowers for bouquets to select the finest colors, forms and fragrances. Our varie-ties are tested and guaranteed for every major US climate zone. Our individually written packets offer beautiful watercolor

portraits, with personally written descriptions, complete growing

instructions, a quick-view planting chart, growing tips, harvesting information and cooking ideas. Inside you'll find superior quality seed–the top germinating, reliable seed usually reserved for

specialty growers. Renee's Garden is my practical way to spread the joy of gardening as a meaningful, productive and satisfying

activity that connects us to each other and the earth.

Please join me!

13

TIPS OF THE TRADE FOR HT…

PRESERVING BOXWOOD BEYOND DECEMBER

By Marsha Gayl, HTR

So what to do with the leftover live boxwood cuttings from your December programming?

Preserve it! Unfortunately, I over-bought live boxwood from the floral supplier last month

and I didn’t want the excess go to waste. So I decided to try to preserve it to use in future

projects and here is how I did it.

What supplies you will need:

Boxwood cuttings

Citric acid (powder form) –find in the supermarket canning section

Glycerin (vegetable based) –find smaller quantities at natural food stores or order by the

gallon at www.apothecary.com

Floral dye Absorbit by Design Master, color holiday green – order from floral supplier

or buy on Amazon

Plastic or glass containers (no metal)- I used big plastic totes

The recipe for the mixture is as follows:

Ratio of glycerin to water is 1:2, so for every 1 part glycerin add 2 parts water

Then add 1 tablespoon of Absorbit and ½ teaspoon of citric acid to your 1:2 solution

I cut the boxwood stems and placed in gallon plastic totes in my garage and added the

completed solution so that it covered the bottom of the stems at least 3 inches.

Place the cuttings in the solution for approximately 3 weeks.

Remove the cuttings from the solution and lay out to dry.

I trimmed the stems to cut off the green ends, so your HT clients won’t have green hands

while working with the material. The result is pliable preserved boxwood which is great

for wreath making.

For another variation, omit the Absorbit dye and the boxwood will turn a golden color as it

dries.

This recipe would probably work for other woody stems like eucalyptus, willow, myrtle

etc.

I have a bottle of Absorbit to give away to the first person that emails me at

starmar78@hotmail.com .----------------------- Marsha Gayl, HTR