A handy, practical guide for growing and using lavender in your garden and home. I have been giving lavender talks for 10 years now and this book answers the basic questions gardeners have asked.
When I decided to write this book, I bought every lavender I could and grew them in the garden and in the house. I spoke to local garden centers and some herb growers and asked them about their experiences with lavender.
There is no section on history because during my research I learned that most of what I'd read was wrong. Lavender was not found in King Tut's tomb! There is no evidence it was used by ancient Egyptians in embalming!
Growing Lavender covers
Selecting and caring for lavender plants
There are over 400 varieties of lavender. Growing Lavender looks at the twenty most available varieties.
What is the height? What color is the flower?
Is it suitable for container growing? Will is make a good topiary?
How often do you need to prune your plants and the best time of year to do it.
These questions and more are answered.
Growing lavender in containers
Lavender makes great container plants and some varieties are wonderful in the house in the winter, but not all. Some varieties are easily trained as topiaries and sell for $75 - $100. Our instructions show you how to grow your own lavender topiary and which varieties are suitable.
Landscaping with lavender
What can I plant with lavender is a question I'm often asked. Growing Lavender gives a list of annuals and perennials which make nice companions to lavender. The mature plant sizes are also listed to help you decided whether to the plant needs to go at the back or the front of the border.
What is lavender essential oil?
We have a chapter on how the oil is made and simple ways you can use it.
What can I do with my lavender?
First, you don't need to do anything - simply enjoy the lavender flowers in your garden. We include some simple ways to use lavender in the kitchen and an easy potpourri recipe
Lavender farms to visit
The appendix lists lavender farms and sources in Canada, the United States, Australia and England. We also list the main contact for finding farms to visit in France.
Reviewers say-
“..”Growing Lavender “ is a good book and an
excellent reference to a genus of plants that interest gardeners in all parts of
this country, in addition to those in the northern U.S. Christine explains the
almost three dozen species and cultivars of this intriguing plant--including
names, bud and flower color, height of plant and flower and hardiness zone.”
Art Drysdale, Icangarden.com
December 2004
“My own experience of giving talks on lavender
is that exactly these questions come up, time after time, and it is really
helpful that Christine has gathered them together and put into writing what we
find ourselves regularly repeating....Despite its title, this book will appeal
to lavender lovers in many climates complementing what is already on the
market.”
Joan Head, The Lavender Bag
November 2004
“It's a really nice book with lots of useful information”
M. Holm in Sweden
“Christine, your book is a gem.”
E. Brumfield, England
92 pages soft cover $18.95 Cdn / $14.95 US
Where you can find a copy
1. Lavender Blue
This is a beautiful lavender farm south of London Ontario with gorgeous lavender products for sale. The website info is: www.lavenderblue.ca
2. www.veseys.com I've purchased my garden seeds from them for years. Their catalogue now carries 5 different kinds of lavender seeds.
You can print the order form below and mail it with cheque (on a Canadian bank only), money order (make sure it is an International one if you are sending from the US), or Visa.
Thank You to everyone who helped make this book a success.
If you would like wholesale information, please use the 'Contact Us' at the top of this page to request information.