Winter 2014 Ice Storm

It was two weeks ago today that we woke up to more clean-up work than we have had in years! A winter 2014 ice storm that left us without power for days, a totaled farm truck and LOADS of downed trees!

This winter has been different than most we have experienced on the farm. It was colder, snowier and icier than usual. And although the lavender seems to have pulled through just fine, there are other plants (such as our 7 year old rosemary in front of the house) that appears to have gone to that big compost bin in the sky. 

As I've mentioned before, our farm is a small family run operation. There are not loads of employees who show up everyday ready to drive the farm equipment around and do whatever necessary to raise, harvest and use our lavender to make our products. It's just me and one part time assistant. It's just one farm truck.

So, when we walked outside to assess the storm damage, I must admit that I was devastated. Our only farm truck was completely totaled.

There are whole trees and tree limbs down everywhere...

 I mean EVERYWHERE!

It's obviously just "life" and there are more people in the world that have things MUCH harder than having to clean up a bunch of dead trees or find a new work truck. But, it will occupy my time for a few more weeks...time that I would much rather spend on lavender projects. 

So, if you need me, I'll be outside with the chain saw. Anyone need any firewood?

Lavender Holiday to Provence, France in 2015

When you think of Provence and you think lavender! Our 2015 trip is planned for July 7-16 so that we can enjoy the prime lavender bloom time in France.

Lovely villages and vistas under an azure blue sky in the most picturesque countryside you can imagine. This is a unique trip offering up a blend of local sights and flavors. In addition to fields and fields of lavender, how about a wine walk and picnic, goat cheese making, olive oil production, markets, gardens, and more? 

This trip offers the opportunity to travel about for excursions with the group and allows for free time to explore on your own too. Annie Greer Baggett of the farm will participate in her second adventure to Provence and is most excited about the behind-the-scenes visit! Limited to 10-12 travelers only, with many commitments already, so reserve your spot TODAY. (Paperwork required by 4/15/2014.) Thanks!
 

EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION: annie@sunshinelavenderfarm.com
 

Lavender Care & Pruning Guide

If you have visited the farm or one of the Lavender Planting Clinics, you may have learned that lavender needs an annual haircut. Did you remember to prune your lavender back in the fall around Halloween? If not, around Valentine's Day is a good Plan B time to prune in our Zone of 7a. According to garden lore, the best days to give your lavender a buzz cut are February 17, 18, 26 and 27. But it's still not too late...this weekend in NC, we are going to have two nice outdoor days. If you missed your annual prune in February, due to the massive amount of bad weather days, why not use the perfect weather this weekend and take care if some serious lavender business? If you live somewhere other than our region, plan a late winter trim about the same time you prune other woody shrubs, like butterfly bushes. When lavender is trimmed annually, it retains its nice bushy shape and blooms incredibly. A lavender plant left alone will eventually sprawl all over the place, weighed down by unhealthy woody limbs resulting in few blooms and a short life in the garden. So, PLEASE PRUNE YOUR LAVENDER! See below for a step-by-step pruning guide…

A quick and easy step-by-step lavender pruning guide- Trim away the spent, brown stems from last year. You will notice several inches of green foliage after the spent stems have been removed. Next give your lavender a good haircut but, be careful to not clip too far into the woody stems. Make sure to trim all the way around, leaving at least 1 inch of green foliage. Use this time to cut out dead wood or sprawling limbs. Step back and marvel at your AWESOME lavender prune job! Have a wonderful lovely lavender weekend!

Lavender Tid-Bit #7

Most lavender lovers know that lavender was an important ingredient in the beginnings of the perfume industry in France. But, believe it or not, French lavender (Lavendula dententa) is not the fragrant perfume variety of lavender. 

That award goes to Spanish lavender (Lavendual stoechus)! 

Well, isn't that interesting...

Lavender Love in Liquid Form

We love lavender...we want others to love lavender...we make it our number one goal to promote the amazing array of uses and benefits of lavender!

Although this is part of our life and overall mission statement at sunshine lavender farm, it is still surprising and exciting when we accidentally run across other proprietors in our area that love and use lavender too! Recently, we went to one of the wonderful restaurants in downtown Durham, NC to enjoy drinks with friends. The restaurant we chose was Revolution (http://www.revolutionrestaurant.com/) located at 107 West Main Street. 

The entire restaurant is clothed in white with gorgeous lighting. There is an excellent cutting edge menu and freshly innovative bar drinks. While sitting at the beautiful bar and enjoying the music, I noticed a new drink that I needed to try immediately! 

The drink is called the "so far so good" and contains green tea infused gin, lemon, honey and lavender...it was refreshing, light and lavender-ry. In other words, it was DELICIOUS!! If your in the area, you MUST try the drink and the restaurant...

Have you found any interesting lavender goodies that we must try? Please send us an email with your suggestion and we will give it a try.

The Lavender in Snow

What was been the hot topic this week in our area...really for most of the South Eastern United States? The weather...and what a crazy weather week it has been!!

The week started out warm, chilled down quick and then BAM!! Several inches of the most beautiful white powdery snow!

It was GORGEOUS in the field and all over the farm. Sort of refreshing in a way...

And luckly, in its dormancy state, the lavender didn't seem to mind too much.

We LOVE our Farm Friends

Although the lavender is sleeping right now, on the farm we are currently very busy wrapping up 2013. Finalizing year end business is one of those necessary evils before we can thoroughly dig in and plan all of our exciting 2014 activities.

One way we have made this activity bearable this year is by reflecting on our wonderful customers...you make all of the hard work worth while! One such individual that we have thought of many times lately is Sue Brown. She is not only a loyal customer but also a giving and kind friend! Not only did she make the effort to come to almost all our farm activities last year but she donated her time and energy to assist our farm when ever possible...and even often came bearing lovely lavender gifts!

Our 2013 Holiday Celebration was no exception. Fortunately, Sue was able visit us that day (with her equally wonderful daughter in tow) and had managed to find the time to "create" crochet lavender as a special gift.

  

I must say, we LOVED the handmade lavender and would like to send Sue a special "online" thank you for EVERYTHING she does for us and our small family owned farm!

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you may have noticed that Sue Brown's daughter, Katie (both pictured above), took all of our wonderful 2013 Holiday Celebration pictures. Such a wonderful family! We are forever grateful for you...