I've had several questions about the varieties of lavender we're growing and also what plants are in the dye garden and what colors they create.
Regarding the dye garden...that's a post (or two) for later in the summer when the flowers are more blooming and I'm less blooming (busy :-/). I'm close to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (and hoping it's not just a train heading my way ;-) and looking forward to thinking about more than how much weed-eater string I have left. Ah, it's a glamorous life here ;-). Remind me!!!
The lavender. I decided to experiment with several varieties and see what did best in our particular area: Grosso, Alba, Munstead, Jean Davis, Twickle, Edelweis, a couple
different Spanish varieties that I can't remember the names, a couple Kews, Hidcote, Silver Edge and something else I can never
remember the name for, but resembles the Spanish varieties a bit.
My favorites so far are...well, they're all my favorites. I didn't realize Jean Davis would look almost white and it's stunning. The Grosso is HUGE, almost waist high and getting ready to bloom. A friend brought me some Twickles from the end of the season that looked godawful. She suggested I put them in the compost pile, but I stuck them in the ground and they look great this year.
The big plant with all the bees in the video is a Munstead. That's also the host to the awesome spider nest from last year. I thought I hadn't had good luck with those, but apparently I did. Maybe when I bought the original plants, there was only one Munstead left - which would explain why it's by itself with no Munstead friends nearby making me think they'd not done well...
The breeze tends to blow across the garden towards the front field. When the sun is hitting the blooms and foliage just so and the breeze is just so, I can smell the lavender all the way across to the driveway as I walk to the barn. In the late afternoon and early evening, the light hits it just so and the bees are buzzing just so and the butterflies bounce around it just so...
It's worth every weed I have to pull.
Some quick snaps and short video taken with my iPhone last night.
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11 comments:
Excellent shots, butterflies in the morning make me smile, I did bees in cactus for today..:-))
Your lavender is just awesome! I'm going to try---again.
Your lavender is fantastic. I'll be curious to see which thrive in KY cold and heat. Also a great reminder to think about scent when deciding where to plant things. I was mucking around the horse paddocks next to our big, old apple tree here one night this spring and got washed in a wave of apple blossom scent. I don't think I'd ever truly smelled apple blossom before and I wish there was a way to move that tree to a spot next to the patio.
My lavender is very happy here, but Rick hates it for looking "messy" (it's in a bed along the driveway). I'm wondering if he'd be happier if the plants are sheared back each fall; do you know anything about pruning lavender?
Please add a 'smell button' to your posts :) !!!
I love Lavender but it's a fairly tender perennial here. I've only managed to keep one growing in this garden. But the scent is amazing, they attract so many pollinators and look pretty too, that it's well worth the effort to try to keep them growing!
I came here via Throwback at Trapper Creek, but I wanted to say I'll be back! Your photos are beautiful and very inspiring. And what an amazing butterfly!
Oh My!!! What stunning captures! Calendar worthy for sure!!
I tried Munstead here, it's supposed to be hardy for this area. No luck! It winter kills. I think I'll try it in a different location, more sheltered.
I love it,just so!!!
So pretty! Thanks so much for the information!
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