Falling Off Of The Face Of The Earth--Not!!

Rhapsody in lavender.

Just the other day I went to a birthday party, held at a local winery, for my friend Vickie.  It was then that I realized that I had not done much of anything lately that did not have something to do with lavender here at the farmlet.  Filled with events and gatherings, May was just about non-stop leaving not very much time to even think about anything else beyond Blooming Hill.  It seemed as though I had fallen off the face of the earth, forgetting that there is life after lavender.

The Monacacy Garden Club at Blooming Hill for a tour and talk.

An evening seminar, sponsored by the Loudoun County Master Gardeners.  Lots of people interested in learning about lavender.

My last post was on April 29.  Has it been over a month already?! My, how time flies when you are having fun and it has been fun.  Between weeding and planting, there have been garden fairs to attend, garden groups who have visited, the annual Loudoun County Farm Tour, the shop to be tended and lavender teas, talks and tours right here at the farmlet!  PHEW!!--We certainly have been busy but never, no not once, did we ever slip and fall off of the face of the earth.  In fact, we are thrilled to have welcomed and continue to welcome those of you who are so enthusiastic about lavender and gardening and gardening with lavender.

A lavender bicycle built for flowers, lavender or otherwise.

Setting tables for one or our many tea events

Warmer weather certainly took its time in arriving and, thankfully, the hot, hot weather has not taken up its summer residence, around here quite yet, although I have a feeling it has booked itself into a cozy space somewhere in Western Loudoun County as usual, just a few weeks later in the season.  But, that's okay too, because its summer and all of those silvery lavandula bushes need hot and sunny weather to unwrap their pale headdresses and transform themselves into "splendiforous" purple queens of the summer garden.  Spring let them sleep a little later this year. After all, two polar vortexes and a few mega storms can be rough on even the sturdiest of hairdos, no matter how much you try to protect it--You know what I mean!

L. angustifolia 'Elizabeth'. An early bloomer that promises to be a showstopper among the lavenders this year.

The month of May also introduced to me a new favorite variety called 'Elizabeth'. It's a lavandula angustifolia and it's dark purple buds, elegant stems and shapely branches will give any of the L. angustifolia varieties like 'Hidcote Blue', 'Folgate' and 'French Fields' a run for their money here.

Peter planting new six new beds of lavender.

A sunny hillside of furrows newly planted with L. angustifolia 'Hidcote' and L. x intermedia 'Fat Spike'

In early April, we thought we might have lost about 30% of this year's lavender crop, along with a quite a few boxwoods, crepe myrtles, buddlia and more.  However, Mother Nature had other plans for Blooming Hill's lavender and, although this season is about 3-4 weeks behind, just about every plant greened up, if not a little reluctantly, and they are alive and well and, more importantly, thriving.  While we weren't completely spared--older plants took this past winter much harder than younger plants--the gardens are now lush and robust with color and texture confirming that we really do grow hardy stock here in Northern Virginia.

Members of the Hillsboro Homestead Club came for a Downton Abbey-Style Tea in the early evening.

Upperville Garden Club members admiring floral entries in between a talk on lavender and a lavender-infused cream tea. 

Early morning in the herb garden, quiet and dewy with mist before another busy day begins here at Blooming Hill.

In any case, after the whirlwind month of May and now June, I did not fall off of the face of the earth and Blooming Hill is standing strong, blooming bright and busy tending our lavenders and welcoming visitors.  I just have to make it a point to leave the property here and there and view the outside world for myself--Maybe in August after the harvest is in.  In the meantime, if all of this coming and going here at Blooming Hill is like falling off of the face of the earth, then I'll take the plunge every time.

Somewhere in the midst of everything, P. Lorenz (a.k.a. Peter) found time to design and deliver a lovely flower arrangement for a dear friend's daughter's wedding.  Look at that. No lavender in sight!