With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
Adelma Grenier Simmons
Journalism/Non-Fiction
1903 – 1997
Known as ‘The First Lady of Herbs,’ Adelma Grenier Simmins owned and operated Caprilands Herb Farm in Coventry, Connecticut for over 55 years and wrote many books and articles on the uses of herbs.
- Biography/Description of Work
Born in Vermont, Adelma Grenier Simmons came to Connecticut with her parents during the Depression, becoming a decorator, buyer and designer for the Albert Steiger Company import-export shops in Massachusetts. Later she was recognized as one of the leading herbal figures in America in the 20th century, revered for her vast knowledge of the culinary and medicinal properties of herbs. She was also a prolific author: beginning with the publication of ‘Herb Gardening in Five Seasons’ in 1963, Simmons wrote 35 books and many pamphlets, including ‘Saints in My Garden,’ ‘The Witches Brew,’ ‘The Gold Wreath Book’ and ‘A Merry Christmas Herbal.’
- Sources view
- http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/13703 http://www.connecticutbarns.org/index.cgi/13694
- Associated Resource(s)