Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour and Gift Shoppe in the village of Pinehurst is holding a series of "Tea Talks" on the first Tuesday of the month from December to May.

Helen O. Von Salzen will give the talks on topics that were developed by famed tea and etiquette expert Dorothea Johnson, whose magazine columns and books are nationally known.

Von Salzen is new to the Sandhills region, having relocated from her earlier "retirement" home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Before moving to Florida, Von Salzen and her husband, Eric, lived in Washington, D.C., for most of their adult lives, but Helen was raised in and around New York City and attended Marymount Manhattan College in an era when a course in "hostess problems" was de rigueur for young ladies, and tea at the Plaza was a special celebration.

A retired educator with a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia, Von Salzen is also a master gardener, historic preservationist, club woman, published writer and experienced lecturer. She said her most important role is that of grandmother to three little girls who live in Raleigh and who love to "take tea" with her. They are the reason she moved to Pinehurst.

Von Salzen's maternal ancestry is Irish, and her mother staged many tea parties for her children and passed along associated lore from her own grandmother, who gave her descendants a love of tea and all of the rituals associated with it.

Additionally, she has had the privilege of enjoying tea service and tea functions up and down both coasts of the United States and Canada and throughout the Republic of Ireland and the British Isles.

She said she looks forward to sharing her enthusiasm for what she calls "tea time topics: customs, courtesy and consideration."

Marian Caso, the proprietor and manager of Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour and Gift Shoppe, and executive chef Robert Yarter will provide a repast at the conclusion of each "tea talk." Each talk begins at 2:30 p.m. The schedule is as follows:

Dec. 1 -- Holiday tea etiquette. Participants are asked to wear a Christmas sweater.

Jan. 19 (this is the third Tuesday of the month) -- Business tea and etiquette.

Feb. 2 -- Valentine's Day tea and etiquette. Wear something red.

March 2 -- Tea and etiquette with Alice in Wonderland. Participants are encouraged to wear a "mad hat." A prize will be given for the most imaginative hat.

April 6 -- Afternoon tea and etiquette.

May 4 -- Mother's and daughter's tea and etiquette.

The fee for each event is $25, but a series reservation will be just $125 for all six talks. The price includes the talk, tea and a sampler of scones and sweets, tip and taxes, a manual and a souvenir favor for each participant.

For reservations, call (910) 255-0100. It is open to men, women and children.

Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour and Gift Shoppe is at 25 Chinquapin Road in the village of Pinehurst.

More information is available on its Web site at www.lady bedfords.com