We Are BACK!!

After a brief break from participating in farmer's markets or other shows, we will be setting up for TWO EVENTS this weekend!!

To begin our time of visiting with you, our beloved farm friends, we are going to the Duke Farmers' Market this Friday, August 24th from 11 AM to 2 PM. The lavender farm attends this market in the spring and the fall. These are the ideal times to plant lavender!! Make sure to also visit this farmers' market for lovely lavender gifts too. You will leave with hand-crafted items, all gift wrapped too.  

In addition to the Duke Market on Friday, we will be setting up at the 36th Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in downtown Cary, NC on Saturday, August 24th from 9 AM to 5 PM. The festival, named one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for August 2012, annually draws over 50,000 people to downtown Cary to enjoy the best artists and craftsmen in the country. Sunshine Lavender Farm will be at booth C-321...please stop by and say hello!! 

For more information, including the complete entertainment schedule, vendor map and concession offerings, search “Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival” at www.townofcary.org. And like the Town of Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CaryLazyDaze.

Food Truck Benefit for the NC Therapeutic Riding Center

As you may recall, on May 1, 2012 Annie Baggett joined the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center as Executive Director. It has been with love and an extensive amount of hard work that Annie has maintained and grown her positions at both the Sunshine Lavender Farm AND the NC Therapeutic Riding Center.

Both farms have enjoyed supporting one another in their individual and joint events such as the Bridge Event held at Sunshine Lavender Farm this past June 2012. We now have another opportunity to do so...please see the attached flier. If you have never visited a Food Truck Rodeo, I can personally attest to uniqueness of the event!

Why not make it a fun evening out for you and the whole family? I promise it's a night you will not forget! 

Coffee, Friends & Chocolate Lavender Truffles

Summer is almost over...school starts back in a little over a week. I feel like the past few months have flown by in a blur of manic activity. I DO NOT feel relaxed right now! So, as a "first day of school" celebration, I am planning to have a few girlfriends over after lunch to enjoy some pleasant conversation, a few cups of coffee and a treat that we can't pick up at any random drive through. I have decided to make homemade Chocolate Lavender Truffles!

I've spent a few minutes online everyday this week researching the best recipe and so far, nothing compares to the one we already have listed on our website- www.sunshinelavenderfarm.com

Oh, I am so looking forward to a few moments ALONE with my friends!! I promise to post a few pictures of the get together AND the finished truffles...

Chocolate Lavender Truffles

1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon dried lavender florets
12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup unsweetened cocoa

Grate chocolate. Bring cream and lavender to a simmer for one minute, then strain. Add cream to chocolate and stir to melt. Mix well. Chill at least 3 hours. Roll into 1 inch balls, then roll in cocoa. Makes 25 truffles. Lovely as an after dinner treat with coffee!

(Picture via http://allrecipes.com/)

Pinterest LOVES Lavender...Again

Have you created your Pinterest account yet? I do hope so...its so very addictive! Since our lavender field has bloomed and gone this year (MAN do we miss that sea of purple waving in the breeze), we have been feasting our eyes on lavender destinations around the world via Pinterest...make sure to click the picture captions to be taken directly to our pin in Pinterest.

Bridestowe Lavender Estate Field

We just learned that the Bridestowe Lavender Estate (pictured above) has about 109 acres dedicated to cultivation of premium, perfume grade lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Therefore, they are one of the largest, if not the largest, plantation of its type in the world. WOW!

How about something a little more A-MAZING (pun definitely intended)? Well, this gorgeous picture from Germany fits the bill...

Lavender Labyrinth in Kastellaun, Germany

Imagine wandering in that heavenly scented labyrinth for a while...the air hanging heavy with the fragrance of lavender as your clothes brush up against the bushes while you make your way toward the center of the maze.

Finally, if that's not enough to change your mood, imagine having a home in Provence, France...

Lavender field in Sault, Provence in France

Being able to visit  the most perfect fields of lavender growing in mounded rows under a brilliant blue summer sky. Is there anything more superb??

I'm so relaxed right now that I think I actually might need a quick nap...please show yourself out.

Plant Review- Lavandula angustifolia "Lavance"

We recently received an email from a customer regarding one of the plants that she purchased at the Sunshine Lavender Farm Harvest Celebration this past June. We decided to share this informative email (along with a few other tips regarding this lovely plant) with our readers...

Dear Sunshine Lavender Farm,
First and foremost, I wanted to thank you for hosting such a wonderful summertime festival on your farm! My girlfriends and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are already looking forward to returning together next year! 

The reason for my email is to give you a quick update on a plant I purchased at that festival from one of your very informative volunteers. The plant tag says it is Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavance'. I decided to purchase this particular variety of lavender due to the fact that I have limited ground growing space around my home. But, I do have a small but nice (and very sunny) deck that I keep filled with as many potted plants as I can fit. I have tried several other lavender varieties (usually purchased from one of the chain garden centers). Within a few weeks of being planted in a pot and placed on my deck, they ALWAYS die! I've tried everything...I had almost given up! Until I spoke with the women assisting with plant purchases on Saturday. After I explained my situation to her, she lead me to the 'Lavance' variety and explained that due to its size and growing habit, it would be very happy to grow and thrive on my deck. She was right (as you can see by the attached photos)!!



I will keep you updated on "our" progress. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you soon at the Hillsborough Farmers Market!
Take Care- Happy Customer 

In addition to this email, we thought it would also be helpful to include a few additional growing tips regarding the 'Lavance" variety of lavender-

• Dwarf hardy perennial with abundant lavender blooms.
• Leaves are lance-shaped and blue- green with a white overlay that creates a silvery metallic color.
• Leaf color is more intense in low water situations.
• Performs better in containers than other English Lavenders.
• Blooms borne profusely all summer.  

Mature Plant Size: 12" Tall, 18" Spread 

Light Exposure: Full Sun 

Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 

Bloom Time: May - September 

Soil Type: Well-drained Loam 

Soil pH: 5.5 - 8.0

Thank you so much for your email...We LOVE to hear from our happy customers!