Taking a cue from some of my blog friends, I saw now was the time to harvest my lavender! This past spring I planted eight lavender plants and over the course of the summer four of them died. I really can't figure out why they died. They were in the same section of the yard as the ones that survived. They were watered the same and got the same amount of sunlight. They didn't all die at once either, they each thrived then slowly died over the summer.
I was able to get a small bundle from the four plants that survived and the aroma is heavenly! I read that Denver (and most of Colorado) has the perfect zoning for lavender so next year I will replace the plants that died and hope they do better! I would love any suggestions from those of you who have had luck with lavender plants.
Here is the lavender all dried and pretty...just kidding. This is my stunt lavender that I already had. The lavender from my yard is still drying and not nearly this purple. I just liked the way the light was shining on them.
Just for the record, I can't get lavender to grow. They all die, yet I keep on buying new plants every spring! One day....
ReplyDeleteSharon
@novaraway
I think we just need to keep trying until they stick! Hopefully we'll have better luck next spring!
DeleteBeautiful lavender. I never plant lavender successfully, maybe to hot here.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day.
Hello Khammany ... just up around the corner from me is the most beautiful lavender farm ... my friend that owns this tells me lavender likes quite dry conditions & full sun. Anything with the silvery grey leaves prefer full sun to any shade. Also she slightly mounds the soil around it. My lavender bushes that are in full sun here do much better than any that I have in a shady spot. There was a real trend here for a few years of planting lavender under white rose bushes ... but the roses required lots of water & the lavender hated it. I hope this helps a little for next time x0x0x
ReplyDeleteYes lavender does like full sun & poor soil. In my garden I have what I call my lavender bed, each summer it gives me & all my summer visitors great pleasure. After each winter I think I've lost it, but after a cutting back it springs back to life.It always amazes me too how a whole row are plants, all treated in the same way I can lose some. We should realise our plants are like people...we are all different and some of us are much stronger than others and some need extra loving care.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by to see what I'm up to in my garden .We have lots of lizards.
I have finally succeeded in growing lavender, after years of failure, and I don't know what makes the difference. It is now blooming - I must try hanging in a bunch as you show in your photo. The fragrance is always beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI will keep on trying. I love lavender too much to give up!
DeleteWhen I lived in Colorado, I had some beautiful large lavenders of the Munstead variety. I have some drying upside down right now. Love this gorgeous plant :)
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of Lavender. So relaxing! I think I have a patch of it in my front yard.
ReplyDeleteBTW - newest follower. :) lovely blog!
Deletelavender is such a great plant. smells great and looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell what I do know about lavender is that it does not like to be watered. It loves dry soil conditions and and full sun ~ think about the summer lavender fields in the south of France ~ sans l'eau. I was hoping to pair lavender with my roses next spring but roses love water so that will not work. Anyway, any plant that doesn't need a ton of water yet produces such amazing flowers are plants you want to have in your garden so I'd try it out again next year.
ReplyDeleteKhammany, I haven't tried to grow lavender and I haven't seen it in any of the gardens in this area. The wet clay soil in this around here probably would not work out well for lavender. I am content to buy some already dried bundles when I can find them. I love the smell of lavender around the house during the winter. It helps to brighten the dreary cold days.
ReplyDeleteI have my lavender drying upside down on my dining-room chandelier! But it doesn't dry purple either!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! I love lavender, but mine died, too! Luckily my friend gives me some of hers. At least you got some...so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
I have two very full lavender bushes, but they don't seem to bloom much. Thanks for the remindet that it's time to harvest them! I even have the perfect spot to hang it to dry! ~Zuni
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of lavender here in Texas, but I failed with mine a few years ago. Since then, I learned it likes to be mounded and left alone. I'm gonna try again next spring.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen any lavender in our area of Georgia. Yours is simply lovely! Lavender is a fav of my daughters ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't grow lavender but I sure do love it! Hope you get some good tips for growing! Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteI planted some lavender this year, too. I got tons of flowers, but the stems are spindly and they flop over. Looks like we'll both be doing some lavender research for next spring. I haven't harvested mine yet, and your pretty post has reminded me to get a move-on and do it today. First, I'm going to read the other comments to see if I can learn something new about lavender. Thanks!
ReplyDelete