June Bridal Bouquet and Floral Crown

2020 Year of Lavender

A great time for the year of Lavender by the National Garden Bureau. We have lots of lavender this year.

Ideal Growing Conditions

Lavender grows best in full sun in dry, well-drained soil; it does not like saturated roots. Adding inorganic mulches, such as gravel or sand, could help the soil conditions for a successful lavender bed. All lavender types need little or no additional fertilizer, and it is a good practice to provide air circulation. If you live in a region of high humidity, watch out for root rot due to fungus infection. This is sometimes aggravated by using organic mulches, which can trap moisture around the base of the plant.

Quick tip: Use gravel or crushed rocks at the base of the plant for a better growing environment.

DIY

The flowers and leaves of lavender plants are used in many herbal medicines and self-care regimes. Homemade projects and recipes include herbal teas, culinary spices, essential oils, aromatherapy, balms, and more. It is widely added to bath salts, soaps, soaks, perfumes, etc., for a fresh fragrance and calming effect. As a strong-scented herb, dried lavender florets can also be used to repel pests in the garden, or even in the home closet as a fragrant sachet pillow that can ward off moths. French chefs use lavender in a blend called herbs de Provence, which adds a fragrant spice to both savory and sweet dishes.

All of these uses add up to quite a versatile and enjoyable flower that’s become a must-have in gardens and homes around the world. And it’s easy to see how 2020 can be your Year of the Lavender!

Dried Grosso

We currently growing several varieties. What we have in pot varies through the season, year to year. In addition to Grosso and Phenomenal, Munstead that we have at the farm. We grow: Mini Blue, Provence, Vicenza. Early Blue Scented, Early White Scented, Vera and the newest we are most excited about Lavance Deep Purple.

We're hoping it will keep that deep purple color when dried. 

Lavender

Lavender Plants and flowers: 
Lavender 'Hidcote', Purple Ellagance, Phenomenal  and Purple Essence, Mini Blue, Early Blue Scent.

Lavandula angustifolia 'Essence Purple' PPAF

Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Common Name: Lavender-English

In our trials here at Walters Gardens, we have been trialing a lot of varieties of Lavender because it meets the needs of today’s home gardeners: it is long blooming, deer and rabbit resistant, drought tolerant, and very easy to grow. 

There are two varieties that have really stood out to us as the best of the best—‘Silver Mist’ for its intense silver foliage and ‘Essence Purple’ for its consistently outstanding landscape performance.  Both cultivars are scarce in the US trade but are destined to become very popular. 

‘Essence Purple’ forms a perfect rounded ball-shaped, uniform, dense clump of green, aromatic foliage.  In our trials, the plants retained their shape all season without opening up or discoloring. 

It starts to bloom about 10 days earlier than standard Lavenders such as ‘Hidcote’, producing a profusion of bright blueberry colored flower spikes for many weeks.  The stems are just the right length for cutting for fresh or dried bouquets.

If you’ve been growing the same varieties of Lavender forever, it’s time to give this new kid on the block a try.  You won’t be disappointed!  

Lavender has been grown for centuries for its intensely fragrant flowers and beautiful appearance. It is a staple item of every sunny garden, and its dried flowers are widely used in potpourris and arrangements.

Intro Year: 2012

Origin: Not Native to North America

CHARACTERISTICS:

Height:
  18 Inches

Spread:
  18-24 Inches

Flower Color:
  Purple-blue shades

Foliage Color:
  Green shades

Hardiness Zone:
5,6,7,8,9
Find Your Zone

Sun or Shade?:
  Full sun (> 6 hrs. direct sun)

Wet or dry?:
  Low water needs

Want to see wings?:
  Attracts butterflies

Need critter resistant plants?:
  Deer resistant
  Rabbit resistant

How fast should it grow?:
  Medium

When should it bloom?:
  Early summer
  Midsummer
  Late summer
  Early fall

Looking for seasonal interest?:
  Evergreen (in some or all zones)

How's your soil?:
  Poor Soil

Sweet or Sour Soil?:
  Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)
  Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)

What's your garden style?:
  Container/Patio
  Prairie
  Cottage
  Formal
  Rock Garden
  Eclectic

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Mini Blue’

English Lavender

USDA Zone: 5-9

Lavender is actually a low-growing shrub, native to the Mediterranean region. The fragrant flowers and foliage make it a favourite for herb gardens and in the perennial border. This compact selection has grey-green foliage and features spikes of vivid blue. Prune lightly in early spring, if required, no harder than 4 inches. Lavender MUST have good drainage in order to avoid root rot problems. Will also grow fine in tubs or containers, but in colder regions the plants may then need shelter for the winter.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Mini Blue’

Aromatherapy with your Bouquet

Nothing seems to trigger memories like fragrance. 

You'll have sweet memories if you use these locally grow flowers. Fresh from our farm they have much more fragrance than those shipped. We even grow Carnations.

Try these locally grown flowers and foliage for a scented, memorable Bridal Bouquet.

Basil, Bee balm, Bergamot, Catmint, Chamomile, Clethra, Dianthus, Iris, Eucalyptus, Flowering Tobacco, Hydrangea, Hosta bloom, Hyssop, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Lemon Basil, Lilac, Lilies, Mint, Pineapple Mint, Narcissus, Peony, Phlox, Rosemary, Garden Roses, Rugosa Roses, Scent Geranium, Snapdragons, Sweet Peas, Sweet Alyssum, Stock, Tarragon, Orange Thyme, Oregano, Tuberose, Marigold, Carnation, Muscari, Nasturtium, Yarrow, Mock Orange, Butterfly Bush, Daphne, Fringe tree, Calendula, Feverfew

Snapdragons

Feverfew

Dianthus

Clethra with scented geranium 

Butterfly Bush with Phlox and Feverfew

Fringetree

Stock

Clethra with Phlox, Dahlia, Hydrangea, and Sedum