Lavender Tid-Bit #2

Did you know that one of lavender's folk names is "Elf Leaf"?

Makes you want to go out and check your lavender plants for elves and fairies, doesn't it?

Pharsalia Lavender Day, PM Update

After an informative seminar on growing lavender, we headed outside with Annie for the hands on part of our class. She showed us how to harvest and how to prune...which is CRITICAL for the health of each and every lavender plant.

Although it was a beautiful morning, it was starting to get a bit warm outside and a perfect time for a lunch break. Inside the gorgeous historic home, everyone was served a perfect summertime lunch consisting of chilled cucumber soup with edible flowers, a salad with lavender dressing, mini ham and fig jam sandwiches and pimento cheese fillo cups. Our beverages consisted of lavender sweet tea and lavender lemonade...YUMMY and so refreshing!

We finished our lunch with a delicious dessert that consisted of a homemade lavender shortbread cookie and chocolate ice cream.

After lunch, we headed back outside to start the craft portion of our Lovely Lavender day. This year, each participant was able to cut their own lavender for the craft of their choice- mini wreath, lavender wand or lavender basket.

Everyone loved being able to choose their own lavender and there were several mixed lavender variety wreaths. While crafting, the group listened to Annie discuss how to use lavender easily in everyday cooking. It was an extra treat!

It was another special day at Pharsalia in Tyro, VA! We would like to thank all the participants for their enthusiasm and wonderful questions, Foxie for her excellent hospitality and the Pharsalia staff for their hard work. Won't you join us next year?

Pharsalia Lavender Day, AM Update

We are here in Tyro, VA at the beautiful historical home of Pharsalia. We started early to set-up our product display and get our crafting items ready.

It is such a gorgeous day and the super informative lavender seminar (given by the lovely Annie Baggett) has just begun.

We will update again after our yummy lunch and of course our wreath making class!

Lavender Tid-Bit #1

Over the years, we have collected TONS of fun tips for using fresh and dried lavender. So, we want to share them with you... 

Why not place a few fresh stems of lavender in the bird bath? It will keep the water fresh and clean longer!

Lovely Lavender Day at Pharsalia in Virginia!

Wednesday, June 19

10 am - 3 pm

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WORKSHOPS! GRAB YOUR SPOT TODAY. Growing, landscaping, harvesting, cooking, crafting and eating! 

NEW THIS YEAR! Learn all about how to use lavender in everyday recipes. From salad dressings to dessert, you will learn easy culinary tricks that will impress! Annie Greer Baggett from Sunshine Lavender Farm coordinated a group tour to Provence in July of 2011 where she picked up practical and interesting uses of lavender in food. 

During the morning, Annie, will teach all about growing and caring for the many varieties of lavender and what is best grown in Virginia and the region. Receive hands-on lavender demonstrations with the many varieties of lavender and their versatile uses and get your lavender garden questions answered. A history tour of Pharsalia will be included. Tour with our host, Foxie Morgan, the many restored structures and lush gardens on this former plantation built in 1814.

Morning introduction to Lavender and catered lunch: $65

After the introduction to lavender and a fresh-from-the-garden lunch, guests will divide into two groups, the NEW Cooking with Lavender and Creating Fresh Lavender Crafts.

After lunch, you may wish to learn the tricks of using lavender in food or craft with fresh lavender and create Victorian wands, mini baskets, or swags. Or, make an adorable petite everlasting lavender wreath. Additional fee is $35 for either cooking, craft or wreath class. All materials are provided, just bring yourself! Lavender plants and products from the farm will be available for sale. Bring a friend and your camera!

While the Virginia lavender is in full bloom, relax and enjoy the day with us at Pharsalia while experiencing lavender. Bring a friend, gardening pal or come solo! Just 45 minutes from Lynchburg and an hour south of Charlottesville, join us at Pharsalia, a private home and historic treasure, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia near Wintergreen resort. 

To learn more and to sign up, go to www.pharsaliaevents.com. Click on "Upcoming Events and Workshops".

Thank You for Visiting!

You celebrated the lavender with us by gathering as a community. You made fresh lavender wands and baskets alongside the field while artists painted landscapes, folks chatted while savoring the new Very Berry Lavender Sorbet (not a spoonful left!), you spread a picnic lunch on the ground in the sun or a bit of shade sipping Lavender Lemonade, you shucked lavender in the barn and enjoyed a tour of the farm.

You may have discovered just the perfect lavender plant for your garden or pot, or just enjoyed breathing in the fresh scent of lavender as you strolled the field and gardens. Your children, toddling or teens, they free-ranged on the farm enjoying the horses (Trot too, the wooden pony, and about my work at the North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center serving differently abled children and adults through horse-centered programs), dogs, kittens, and chickens. Kids games were in full swing just beyond the clothesline of quilts!

The honeybees are grateful that you are enjoying their liquid gold and we thank you for your support as you found all sorts of lavender hand made items in the Lavender Garden Shed. Your support of the farm allows us to pay our harvest crew living wage and to invest in the immediate needs of the farm in preparation for our next event. (Please take a mid-week escape with me next Wednesday to Pharsalia!)

Thank you for visiting during our 10th Annual Lavender Harvest Celebration.

You help make the farm all that it is! ~ Annie

Festival Day 2...

The weather is beautiful again TODAY! Annie has started the first lavender farm tour.

And, the first crafts are being lovingly handmade.

It's a GOOD day!

Festival Day One

What a beautiful day today! The sun is shining, the bee's are buzzing, the breeze is blowing the sweet smell of lavender across the whole farm...

The artists are finding their perfect inspirations and painting, photographing and drawing the day away.

We will be open today until 5:00 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM. Hope to see you here!