Lavender Love

Annie at Sunshine Lavender Farm had her annual festival this past weekend.  I've been the past three years and it just is not possible to tire of it.  No way.  Arles Lucy and I headed out early in an attempt to beat the heat that has descended upon us now that it is almost officially summer.  I snapped lots of photos and am unable to choose a favorite so here are a few--

As you can see, humans weren't the only ones enjoying Annie's lavender.

She always has lots of lavender things around the farm...

I loved this one!

The Farm Fairy was there with the lovely lavender eggplant as well as baked goods.  How could we resist the beret and baguette?

And I realllllly loved this one...

Chocolate lavender ice cream from Maple View Farms, my favorite.  I usually try the vanilla, too, but decided to leave some for others this year.  One dear lady dropped her scoop on the ground.  I didn't take a picture.  It was just way too sad.
We also sipped lavender lemonade, checked out Annie's kitchen garden, watched Annie's mom make lavender wreaths, and headed down to the barn to see the lavender drying and hear about Annie's upcoming trip to Provence to see the lavender fields there.  Arles Lucy and I swoon just thinking about our trip there in July 2006, thanks to Chef Érick and the Arles 6.

The plant that I bought from Annie last year is thriving, so I have my own little lavender paradise this year.  It needs lots of sun and can be a bit fussy to grow.  Two smaller plants didn't make it through the winter, but this one did!

I even have a few sprigs on the table.

Three more plants are ready to go into the ground.  Two in my little herb garden, one for Arles Lucy whose yard is too shaded and another for moi.  I also picked one up for the BFF who treated us to pickle chips and a glass of Gavi at Bull City Burger and Brewery after our lavender adventure.

We had worked up quite a thirst, you know.
I like this photo, too, of Arles Lucy...

Sunshine Lavender Farm Lavender Lemonade

(You can find this and other recipes on Annie's website.)

Fill a tea ball (or cheesecloth) with loose lavender florets, fresh or dried.  Place tea ball in a quart of water to boil.  Turn off heat and let steep 20 minutes.  Use the "lavender tea" instead of water as you make your favorite lemonade recipe, either homemade or from a mix.

And I would be terribly remiss if I didn't add a photo of Provence lavender, n'est-ce pas?

Bon appétit, Annie and lavender everywhere!