Re: Jesse's lavender

The herb conference sounds absolutely wonderful!  I have an affection for
the Appalachians and the "old ways."  As well as for herbs!  The comments
about Mediterranean herbs are very interesting as a lot of Mediterranean
plants are widely grown in California.
    Speaking of lavender, on a trip to Seattle in July, I went to the
Lavender Fair in Sequim, on the Olympic Peninsula, a tour of 8 lavender
farms (we only made it to 4).  Absolutely incredible sight to see the deep
purple / blue fields and the heavenly scent!  If anyone wants to see a few
pix of the fields let me know and I will send you off-list.  There the do
seem to grow mostly the Grosso variety for the scent, but it is also an
incredibly deep blue-purple unlike any I had ever seen.  I am going to try
to get some for my (embryonic) garden here.
--Barb Tandy, California
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bonnie Holmes" <holmesbm@usit.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2004 5:22 AM
Subject: RE: [CHAT] Jesse's lavender


> This past weekend I attended the annual Smoky Mountain Herbal Society herb
> fair.  The fair included several demonstrations, educational programs, a
> wonderful lunch, and vendors.  Each year, the herb fair focuses on the
herb
> of the year.  This year was garlic so information focused on garlic and
> ramps.  A wonderful herbal lunch was also available...four salads, three
> choices of herbal dressing, and pineapple upside down cake with garlic
> instead of the cherries...delicious.
>
> Growing Mediterranean Herbs was another great program.  The presenter grew
> herbs for a living.  She used well-drained beds with something called
> "crusher run", fines or "dirty soil" that she gets free from limestone
> quarries.  The material is very alkaline with trace minerals that the
> Mediterranean herbs love.  The fines are also used for their mulch as the
> material also reflects the light and heat.  Gardeners can also use a
> combination of chicken grit and lime for similar effect.
>
> For fertilizer she suggested comfrey tea:  fill a 5 gallon container with
> comfrey leaves (I guess I will need to set up a bed to grow these) and add
> water; let set for 3 weeks; when the smell is gone; water herbs with the
> tea.
>
> When planting, dig hole and put in water and sit the potted plant to be
> planted separately in water for 1 hour.  Plant and don't water for three
> days.  The plant may stress somewhat but it will be stronger once the
roots
> are established.
>
> I also joined the Society.  Some of the first plants I added to the yard
> were herbs and I have always loved to cook with them and use them for
> arrangement so I thought I would enjoy this group.
>
> The presenter suggested growing both types of lavender if you are into
> using them for different purposes.  For example, grow Gross or Provence
> lavender for scent and Hidcote and Munstead for color and combine them to
> give color and scent in arrangements or wreathes.
>
> Bonnie ETN Zone 7
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: pdickson <pdickson@sbcglobal.net>
> > To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> > Date: 8/24/2004 10:45:29 AM
> > Subject: [CHAT] Jesse's lavender
> >
> > Jesse,
> > We had a wonderful speaker once that told us to put several scoops of
> gravel
> > in the bottom of the hole when you plant lavender.  I think it is making
a
> > big difference in my lavender plants.  I think this allows the roots to
> NOT
> > sit in water for long.
> > Hope that helps.  I planted 3 new "Provance" lavenders this year that I
> got
> > at the Sand Springs Herb Festival. They have done wonderful in one year!
> >  She  also recommended "Hidcote" and " Munstead" as being good for our
> > climate.  I planted those right away and they are doing fantastic.
> > Tricia
> >
> >
> > I had to replace my Grosso Lavenders because we had so much rain this
> > > summer they died. And they are in a RAISED bed that drains well...so
you
> > > can imagine how much rain it takes to wipe out my lavenders.
> >
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