I’ve spent the last month steeped in lavender. I’ve photographed several different varieties, harvested and hung it to dry, and have experimented with ways to cook with it. I have spent hours carefully removing fresh and dried flowers from stalks.
My favourite variety is ‘Hidcote’, a hardy, blue, dwarf lavender with an intensely sweet, bright, and robust aroma and flavour. It smells and tastes so delicious — none of the varieties I have worked with can compare. So when I had a chance to go out to the country and visit a garden that includes a massive mounding bed of ‘Hidcote’ lavender I jumped at the chance.
Thanks to Jessica Hibbard for the crazy, out-of-date Polaroid film.
I love lavender. I added some small ones to my garden this year and am taking cuttings now. I’m hopng for an entire row of it next spring!
I want to make lavender wine, jelly and dried it.
After years of watching my lavander plant grow bigger and bigger with no blossoms, I now have something to harvest. Tomorrow I am making lavander lemonade.
A month steeped in lavender sounds like bliss. I’d even settle for a morning. In the fields of Provence, if possible.
I love ‘Hidcote’, too. I managed to snag the last 4-inch pot at the garden centre in late spring. Even a small dose of lavender is a source of delight.
Looking forward to any tips or recipes you & commenters share with us.
.
last year I made Lavender Bumbleberry Upside-down cake with lavender I grew. very yummy! :)
Gayla,
Its amazing that you found some Polaroid film, it is like ancient gold now days. This made me think of a project by Jeff Jacobson that one of the photography techs. at school (NSCAD) introduced me to. Here is a link, I don’t really know how to make it work though, so you might just have to copy/paste:
http://www.jeffjacobsonphotography.com/about-the-last-roll
Elaine: I can’t share any here yet as they are all assignments but some will be published soon. Others… a long ways away yet.
Alesia: That’s thanks to Jess, whom I thanked above. She sent me a few rolls after I cried about having used my last roll. I splashed out and stocked up on as many rolls as I could afford for our Caribbean trip, so when that was done, that was it.
Hi Gayla,
I read you blog regulary but I’ve never left a comments.
I know you came to Mtl recently, if you come back you might considerer visiting Bleu Lavande.
I haven’t been yet, but apparently if is very nice
http://www.bleulavande.ca/index.php?module=CMS&id=55&newlang=eng
Thanks for your nice work on the blog.
Anne
Well, as they say, “good things are worth waiting for.” Especially true about lavender & any of your words & images about it.