The time has come for herbs and herbal medicines.

The St. Ansgar Community Chamber is sponsoring Saturday’s second annual Herb Thyme festival.

Already the self-proclaimed “Garden Spot of Iowa,” St. Ansgar will become for a day the “Herb Spot of Iowa.”

Basil (sweet), borage, chives, chervil, dill, marjoram (sweet), mint and savory (summer), sesame will be there. Not to mention Simon and Garfunkel’s favorites “parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.”

This is not for the casual observer. This is for “serious” herbists, who recognize the pinkish blossoms of borage which turn blue like the perennial pulmonaria, or the whitish-colored leaves and pretty pink flowers of sesame.

Kathy Falk, Sidedoor Antiques business-owner, is organizing the second annual Herb Thyme festival.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., herbists, vendors and others will line main street in the downtown St. Ansgar business section and alleyways.

They will display their herbs and plants and garden-related products.

There will be herb foods to sample and workshops on hostas and chickweed.

Even children are invited to their own gardening seminars.

At noon there will be a baked potato bar and ice cream social.

When St. Ansgar does a herb festival, it does it right.

“The St. Ansgar Lions Club is coordinating everything,” said Falk. “Last year’s festival attracted a lot of people and we expect this year’s to attract even more.

“Because of the interest in the connection between herbs and health and nutrition, this will appeal to a lot of people,” she said.

Every day of the week is the perfect day to visit St. Ansgar so many attractions does it have.

Everyone knows about the Blue Belle Inn bed and breakfast, but up and down the main shopping area there are unique shops waiting to be explored.

“We want the festival to attraction people to all the businesses in St. Ansgar,” Falk said.

The vendors are coming from far away: Hawkeye and West Union in Iowa as well as local gardens including St. Ansgar’s two greenhouses.

More vendors are welcome.

But most of all, Falk said, “We want people to come and enjoy our community and visit the herb festival. They won’t be disappointed.”

For more information, including about claiming a vendor’s spot, call Falk at (641) 512-5705.