I've loved lavender for years which will come as no surprise to those of you who know that I used to have a shop specialising in Lavender products and then a Farmers Market stall selling more of the same. Each and every year various lavenders come into bloom in my garden .... although now they are all mine and I don't have to sell them to anyone else. I love it, the bees love it, well there's nothing not to love is there, it's beneficial to health, it's tasty in small doses, and it simply smells divine.
In fact I probably will go back to selling it again in the future when all this years plantings have gotten bigger and can be divided and cuttings taken. It could prove to be a nice little sideline for either our farm gate sales or at car boots sales in the future, we are permanently on the lookout for income streams, and surplus sowings and cuttings from existing plants are going to be one of mine.
So that's the 'usual'of the title .... what's the 'not so usual' I hear to ask .....
... it's this weird and wonderful thing!!
You might just be able to make it out on this photo taken last year, it's in the same spot on the front step. It started out as such an innocuous little plant, all frosted greenery ...
... with nothing to suggest it was going to grow to over eight foot tall with it's weird and wonderful flower spikes.
Seemingly it's a Verbascum!!
It's also another plant that the bees have absolutely loved this year.
Until last week the lavender in the pots and the Verbascum were still getting little visitors, although I think it's too cold now to expect to any more of our little furry striped friends.
Sue xx
