Garden party set for Country Doctor Museum’s 40th anniversary

The Country Doctor Museum will host a springtime garden party from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 31. The museum turns 40 this year.

Museum staff has planted, mulched and prepared the medicinal herb garden for tours. Mustard plant, which was used for popular plasters of the past, and dogwood bark, used to treat intermittent fevers such as malaria, are just two of many plants to see.

“The Country Doctor Museum and its campus in Bailey have never looked better,” said Jennie Schindler Graham, historic site manager. “Visitors can enjoy new landscaping beds that were recently installed featuring old-fashioned plants, shrubs and trees common to southern country towns during the 19th century. Roses, hydrangeas, lilacs and dogwood trees are just a few of the flowering beauties.”

A brief history of the museum and 40th anniversary cake cutting will be held at 1 p.m. Kay Soto of Truly Unique in Wilson will host an herbal tea party at 1:30 p.m. highlighting the history of tea making, unique blends and sample herbal teas. Dr. Martha Libster, an author and associate professor of nursing at East Carolina University, and ECU nursing students Amanda Lowry of Wilson and Kate Ormont of Goldsboro will present the history and practice of herbal medicine making at 2 p.m. More information on Libster can be found at http://www.goldenapplehealingarts.com/Information_About_Martha.html.

Kids’ activities will include sun visor decorating, seed planting and more. Free refreshments will be served and tours of the medicinal herb garden and Freeman-Brantley Building will be offered.

The museum is operated by ECU’s William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library. For more information, call the museum at 252-235-4165 or visit the Web site at www.countrydoctormuseum.org.

Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the Department for Disability Support Services at (252) 328-6799 (V) or (252) 328-0899 (TTY).