Lovely Lavender

 

 

The Blue Mountain Lavender Farm sits in the Walla Walla Valley. Beautiful rows of lavender grow on hilly fields. Lavender blooms are just emerging from the plants. It is the time of year when early varieties are budding out.

I spent a recent morning wandering the lavender farm grounds. Besides rows of many different lavender cultivars, you can purchase lavender starter plants. Also, there are classes on making a lavender wand.

The cutting station provides you with a colorful bucket, clippers, plastic ties, and your choice of ribbon color for the final touch to your self-cut bouquet.

There are also free samples of lavender lemonade and a gift shop that hits you with the familiar fragrance as soon as you enter.

Lavender is a herb native to the Mediterranean. There are two types of Lavender; English and French. English lavender is considered hardier than the French lavender since they can thrive in colder regions. These two types have different flower and stem characteristics as well.

All lavenders need at least six hours of sun and well-draining soil. They are easy to grow since established plants can grow in hot, dry conditions. Also, they do not require an abundance of amendments to the soil.  Lavenders do best when pruned back at the end of the growing season or early spring. Lavender growers recommend pruning back to about 2” of the green portion of the plant. Lavender plants have a woody, gray portion above the base. If pruning takes place in this area, the plant may not return to bloom.

Dried lavender flowers fill fragrance sachets of all shapes and sizes. The herb has been used medicinally for centuries. Today, lavender is recommended to help remedy headaches, insomnia, and tension.

The young girl in the picture was cutting lavender with her mother and brother. They told me their trip to this lavender farm was an annual event for their family. The mother said that this event had replaced visiting Santa Claus. How nice for these children to be creating unique childhood memories.  

Have you visited a Lavender Farm?