Category: Lavender Stream

Budding Lavender

Lavender Hill

It’s almost summer solstice and my lavender is in varying stages of budding up and budding out. The L. angustifolia varieties are in bud while the L. x intermedia are far behind ~ but that’s normal for the lavadins of Lavender Hill that bloom later.

This is three year old L. angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ variety of lavender that I planted, towards the end of summer 2016, into the flower bed that runs alongside my driveway. This year, I’ll allow this little L. angustifolia to flower, whereas in year 1 and year 2, I cut or pinched off any flower spikes to direct energy into the plant rather than expend that energy on producing flower spikes.

This is another 3 year old L. angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ planted out in one of the lavender streams. Its development isn’t as advanced as its sister in the other location.

Subtle colouring between varieties and varying stages of growth may be seen in the following photos:

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The Purple Road

Lavender Hill

Have you heard about The Purple Road?

The Purple Road is the public face of the Ontario Lavender Association.

Established in 2010, the Ontario Lavender Association (OLA) represents the interests of lavender growers within the Province of Ontario.

Lavender Hill became a member in 2015 to 2019 when the associated membership fee became a financial hardship for us and we regrettably put our membership on hiatus.

On the OLA’s website you will find The Purple Road with links to Ontario lavender growers, producers and suppliers of lavender and lavender based products.

Lavender Hill is a small ‘p’ producer of lavender. Harvested by hand, bundled and hung in our drying room, Lavender Hill sells its crop at our seasonal roadside stand and at local farmers’ markets.

The Purple Road

Trim your young Lavender plants

Lavender Hill

If you planted a young lavender last year and if it’s blooming, cut off those flower spikes! I know how hard it can be to cut off those lovely blooms but DO IT! During the first 3 years you’ll want to encourage the plant to keep its energy in the plant rather than in making flowers. You will also be lightly trimming and shaping the plant into a pin cushion shape during these early years.

In the photo is a Lavandula Angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ that I planted towards the end of summer 2016. At almost a year old it’s doing wonderfully in the rock garden, and it threw up several flower spikes. These were cut off and the plant given a little haircut to keep its tight pin cushion shape. If it continues to thrive and survive its second winter (and I have every confidence that it will) it will likely double in size.