For the 32nd year, Marion Harless will be teaching an herbs workshop during the Augusta Heritage Center's summer program at Davis &?Elkins College.

Harless' class will take place during the first themed week of Augusta's summer program, which begins Sunday and ends Friday.

According to Harless, participants on Monday will spend at least an hour identifying trees, shrubs, perennials and lawn plants outside the classroom and discuss their uses. They will also have an herbal snack and tea, make a mini-wreath of mugwort, cut up and place herbs on a drying rack to make a moth repellent, make an anti-poison ivy/anti-itch lotion, and make a burgundy-elephant garlic vinegar.

"Though very laid back, the class proceeds through a multitude of take-home products and activities through Friday evening's dinner,"?Harless said.

On Tuesday, weather permitting, the class will travel to the Dolly Sods Wilderness area with stops along the way to explore riverside and mountainside plants, where they will find a different array of species and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Harless said this year's class during the first of Augusta's five weeks may be too early for blueberry and huckleberry picking at Dolly Sods. If so, Harless said store-bought berries will be the base of a cordial. Snippets of 90 to 150 non-bitter herbs gathered during a morning visit to Harless' garden in Kerens give flavor to another liqueur.

Harless has gardened since early childhood, began leading wild edibles walks at age 15 and has taught, worked and volunteered in many nature, organic gardening, cooking and heritage venues.

By academic training, a comparative psychologist and wildlife biologist, she has taught at several universities and has had numerous scientific publications and presentations.

For more information, review the herb class letter at augustaheritage.com or call Harless at 304-636-5505 between dark and 10:30 p.m.