| Calendar | LHF Events |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Hopatcong Foundation |
| Address | 125 Landing Road, Landing, NJ |
| Google Map | |
| https://www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org/news/civil-war-medicinal-plants | |
| Date | Thursday, June 25, 2026 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Duration | 1 hours |
When we think about the Civil War, we often picture battlefields, military strategy, and political leaders — but what if plants played a much larger role than most people realize?
The Lake Hopatcong Foundation and the Hopatcong Community Garden invite you to join independent scholar, garden historian, and writer Lesley Parness for a fascinating exploration of the hidden botanical history of the Civil War. This engaging program uncovers how plants influenced nearly every aspect of life during the conflict, from battlefield medicine to everyday life on the home front in both the North and South.
Through stories, historic images, and surprising connections to the plants we still grow today, Lesley will introduce more than 30 plants that shaped the era and highlight their medicinal uses. You'll discover historical “receipts” (recipes) for herbal remedies, including horehound lozenges and witch hazel tonic, explore the rise of patent medicines, and meet the people who transformed medicine and culture during this pivotal period — including one of America’s most celebrated poets, the first African American physician, and the pioneer who revolutionized medical textbooks.
History enthusiasts and gardeners alike are often surprised to learn how many of these “Civil War plants” may already be growing in their own backyards.
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