The Parkland Garden Club held its second meeting of 2026 at 7 p.m. March 9 at the club’s new location at St. John’s UCC Church, 1027 Church St. Fogelsville.

The topic of the night’s presentation was “Cocktails from Your Garden” and focused on using your own herbs to create various cocktails.

The presenter was Lori Metz, a horticulturist, landscape designer, owner of Carriage House Landscape Design and a Penn State Master Gardener.

She has been working in the horticultural and landscape industry for more than 20 years.

Lori brought a pot herb of mint and explained that the term “pot herb” refers to edible herbs.

There is value in having an infusion pitcher to prepare various drinks with fresh grown or purchased horticultural items.

She demonstrated how ginger can be peeled and covered with various types of alcohol in a lidded jar to infuse and make a “ginger infusion.”

The ginger infusion was used to make a watermelon basil gin cocktail with strained fresh watermelon juice and adding five basil leaves.

Having a muddler to prepare beverages helps with making cocktails.

She demonstrated how you shake and mix with a shaker only until the bottom is fully cold.

Infusions using rosemary, lavender and various other herbs can be used just like ginger.

Lori demonstrated how you can garnish a drink with small cucumber slices, small watermelon slices, etc.

Nasturtium and pansies can also be used as garnish.

You can freeze small flowers in ice cubes as well to use in drinks.

She also made a cucumber mint cocktail with the mojito mint potted plant she brought to the meeting.

Lori demonstrated how to make simple syrup with 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup water and mix till all the sugar dissolves.

This can be kept for future cocktails.

She advocated for a Hawthorne Bar Strainer for using horticultural products.

The third drink she made was a Carrot/Ginger Cocktail.

She uses fresh carrot juice, rum ginger and lime juice.

She demonstrated how to roll lemons and limes on a firm surface with a little pressure to maximize the amount of juice you can extract.

Members were able to taste the cocktails and agreed they were delicious.

The club is celebrating the 250th birthday of our country with the Star Spangled Garden Tour to be held on July 11.

The next Parkland Garden Club meeting will take place at 7 p.m. April 13 at the new location.

Guests are always welcome.

Further information can be found on the club’s website, www.ParklandGardenClub.com.