Lavender Festival 2024
Lavender Festival preparations have begun! The dates for this year’s event will be June 22 and 23rd, 2024. We are excited to host the only festival of its kind in Windsor Essex where our guests can enjoy live music, food, and local makers, artists and artisan vendors.
This event will feature over 30+ vendors.
Where: 130 County Road 50 East, Colchester, ON N0R1G0
When: June 22nd & 23rd 10 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Type of Event: Outdoors
Applications Status: Open. LAVENDER FESTIVAL VENDOR APPLICATION 2024
This is a RAIN or Shine event. The cost is $85 for one day and $150 for 2 days for a 10×10 booth.
All items sold must be original pieces created by the Artisan. All applications will be juried . Artisans are required to provide their own tent and tables/displays.
All applications must be received by April 5th and will be reviewed by May 5th 2024 and the successful artisans will be advised of the decision to participate.
Here it Is the 2023 Lavender Festival Schedule of Events!
We are happy to share this year’s schedule of events. Lots of great local musicians and of course our talented local artists and artisans. We have something for all ages. And the star of the show is showing its beautiful shades of purple from pale lavender to a regal royal purple. Be sure to savc some time for a tour!
This year the children’s activities include: the chalk walk, colour station, scavanger hunt, wishing tree, story time by Jane Buttery, on Saturday. She’ll be reading exerpts from our favourite book ‘Lavender Dream’. Wonder who she based the character on?
On Sunday we have a wonderful entertainer Kobler Jay whose stilt walking antics and juggling will surely put a smile on your face.
This is a rain or shine event and we can’t wait to see your smiling faces!! June 24 and June 25 10-5 pm. 
There are some many ways to personalize and make your home interior original and fresh. Certainly, adding plants to it is one way. It’s probably the most simple, inexpensive and popular one. You can easily decorate your home with lavender. Lavender plants have beautiful colours that range from mauve to lavender to royal purple. But if you don’t have a green thumb thanks to the popularity of Lavender in Provence there are plenty of decor items that feature it. Here are ten ideas to help you decorate your interior with lavender.
Lavender Decor Item #1
Stylish home decor to suit any taste
This series of Lavender Design Planters makes a great home for more than just lavender! Crafted out of cement, this waterproof circular planter is accented with raised expressionistic lavender blooms in light purple — an understated compliment to any plant or flowers. Various sizes are available or a collage with the series makes a nice focal centerpiece on a dining room table or side table.
Lavender Decor Item #2
Soft hues of purple, grey and cream make this lavender canvas art a romantic addition to the home
Soft hues of purple, grey and cream make this lavender canvas art a romantic addition to the home. This array of lavender artwork gives a room a more refined flair and elegance and lifts the eye upward adding a dimension of height to your room.
Lavender Decor item #3
A contemporary textured lavender themed cushion for your home
What a difference a few cushions can make and these lavender cushions are an easy and inexpensive way to liven up a room. Textured and embellished they add a bit of colour to your room. So before you get stuck in re-painting, re-carpeting, or replacing your old couch, consider the idea of using a few lavender cushions to spruce up your room.
Lavender Decor Item #4
A pretty tablecloth changes a room instantly. It not only adds a pop of colour but also a romantic charm to your dinner table. Just add crisp white dinnerware, warm candles a mouthwatering meal and friends.
Lavender Decor Item #5
Dried lavender bouquet
Dried lavender in a simple neutral coloured vase can make a wonderful statement in a room.
Add a bit of baby’s breath for an even more stunning bouquet or use a set of 3 vases of different shapes to add a visually appealing composition.
We like the simplicity and touch of colour that the lavender adds making it a sleek and elegant addition.
So many different ideas to spruce up a home using lavender!
Get ready to plant lavender in your garden this season.
Planning your lavender garden
January is a terrific time to design your landscape, choose the flowers and vegetables that you want to grow this year, order seeds and get leads and information on how to grow your favourite plants. And so, its a perfect time to share some tips on how to grow lavender.
Hidcote Lavender the deepest purple lavender is ready to bloom
The focus is on Lavandula angustifolia which is commonly known as English lavender. It comes in assortment of colours from deep purple to lavender and even a blush pink that is so light that you’d swear it looks white in mass plantings. Lavender with its lovely fragrance is part of the mint family. It has made a come back in recent years and is now commonly grown in home gardens for it’s beautiful aroma, pretty flowers, culinary and therapeutic benefits – and isn’t it just a romantic plant that takes our stress away?
Quick Lavender growing tips
This easy-care plant typically enjoys hot, dry conditions, making it suitable for use in a variety of landscape settings and an excellent candidate for beginner gardeners or those who tend to forget to water their gardens. Once it is established this plant is very forgiving although it is important to keep in mind that lavender is drought tolerant not drought resistant, so in dry years it will still need some TLC.
Lavender Stoechas with its pretty butterfly wings in not suitable for overwintering in Ontario lavender gardens
Although Lavender stoechas is readily available at garden centres across Ontario in the springtime. This pretty butterfly petalled tenSome der heat loving varietal will not withstand overwintering in Ontario even in the mild winters of Essex County. It is more adept to the indoors or more the temperate climates of Spain or Texas and can only tolerate winter temperatures around 45 degrees.
Keep reading to learn more about lavender plant care.
How to Grow Lavender in the Garden
Lavender comes in all colours even a blush pink
Lavender seeds are very slow to germinate and often not successful. Beginner gardeners are best advised to purchase seedling plants in 4 inch pot. This is the most reliable way to grow lavender. Growing lavender plants is an easy endeavor provided you give them what they need. Although lavender can tolerate a variety of growing conditions, this plant thrives best under warm, sunny conditions in well-drained soil.
To grow lavender outdoors choose a area that has full sun. If it is planted in partial shade the plant will reach for the sun and not have any flowers on the shady side. Sandy loams are ideal. If you have clay amend the soil by adding sand, vermiculite and some gravel. Plant the lavender in raised beds or mound the soil. During the first few weeks pinch the flowers so that the lavender plant puts its energy into growing a healthy root system. The plant should be watered weekly and given a light fertilizer feeding for the first 3 months. If it is a dry year then continue watering regularly.
Lavender is native to arid regions, the plant will not tolerate moist or overly wet conditions; therefore,
The deep rich colour of lavender plants
it’s important to consider location when growing lavender plants, especially in Ontario where we have wet springs and falls. That’s why it’s recommended to mound clay soil to raise the plant so if its a rainy year they don’t get their feet too wet.
Lavender should be located in areas with adequate drainage and spaced far enough apart to ensure good air circulation. Be sure to clear away leaves or mulch in early spring. This will help reduce the chance of developing root rot.
Lavender Plant Care
Well pruned lavender
Once established, lavender plants require little care or maintenance. While they should be watered regularly early on, established plants need water in dry years and a bit of fertilizer after blooming. Regular pruning is recommended in the fall time. Pruning not only keeps lavender plants neat looking in appearance, but also helps to encourage new growth. Lavender can be cut back to about a third of the new growth. Severe pruning is only recommended in years of heavy frost.
We’ll share more tips for growing lavender including information about pruning, harvesting and varietals we grow in future blog posts.
Lavender bloom at Serenity Lavender 2020
We’ve been longing to travel… but that won’t be happening soon So, if we can’t travel to Provence at least we can bring that idyllic wine and lavender oasis of France to our dinner table. And what is more reminiscent of the beautiful region in France than herbes de Provence.
Obviously travelling vicariously is not quite the real thing but, it’ll have to do and what better way to travel than through food.
This week it’s a simple meal: chicken, dusted in flour and roasted with shallots, lemons, tomatoes, olives and garlic in a douse of dry red wine (I use the Pinot Noir from our sister company North 42 Degrees Estate Winery https://north42degrees.com/product/pinot-noir-2018-vqa/ ) and a sprinkle of our own blend of herbes de Provence. https://serenitylavender.com/product/herbs-de-provence/ The chicken pieces crisp up on top, while the shallots and garlic melt into sweetness below. You could serve with rice, mashed potatoes or a simple green salad and a crispy fresh baguette to mop up the sauce.
Chicken Provencal with Herbes de Provence
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and/or drumsticks
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ to ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Serenity Lavender herbes de Provence
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 8 cloves garlic, peeled
- 6 medium-size shallots, peeled and halved
- 1 pint/2 cups of cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup pitted green olives
- ⅓ cup dry red Wine
- 4 sprigs of thyme, for serving
Method
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Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
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Rinse the chicken and pat dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture; this will ensure the skin gets nice and crispy
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Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow pan or plate, and lightly dredge the chicken in it, shaking the pieces to remove excess flour.
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On the stove top in an oven proof skillet heat the olive oil and place the floured dredged chicken skin side down until crispy and golden brown about 6-7 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook the other side for about 6-7 minutes. Sprinkle the chicken with the herbes de Provence.
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Arrange the lemon, garlic cloves, tomatoes and shallots around the chicken, then add the dry red wine to the pan.
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Put the pan in the oven, and roast for 10-12 minutes, then baste it with the pan juices (do not skip this step). Continue roasting for another 20minu tes, or until the chicken is very crisp and the meat cooked through.
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Serve in the pan or on a warmed platter, garnished with fresh thyme sprigs.
Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or crisp baguette.
Bon Appetit!
This time of year there is a lot of entertaining going on in our neighbourhood with house parties abound. The food is just as diverse are our friends who are hosting these little soirees from wine and cheese minglers to the causal elegance of a sit down dinner.
If you are hosting a party this season we have a perfect recipe that gives a tender juicy lamb loin or rib chop a bit of zing in the flavour department using locally grown lavender. The aromatic rub of lavender and orange zest is an ideal flavour combination to make any cut of lamb a herbal fragrant note that is reminiscent of the southern coast of France.
Served with a lovely fall salad of arugula or other bitter greens and tossed with roasted hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds. The pomegranate seeds are delightfully sweet and crunchy. The bright red colour and burst of flavour is one of our favourite additions to any salad this time of year, not just this one.
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon minced shallot
1 Tablespoon finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon Serenity Lavender’s dried culinary lavender buds
Pinch of sea salt
Pinch of freshly ground black peppercorns
8 double cut lamb chops (about 450 grams each)
Method
In a bowl, blend the olive oil with the shallot orange zest, lavender, salt and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the lamb chops ad transfer them onto a broiling pan or metal rack set on a baking sheet. Let the chops rest in the fridge for 2 -3 hours
Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8-10 inches from the heat. Broil the chops for about 20 minutes, turning occasionally until the temperature reads 140 degrees F.
Salad
Ingredients
1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 a large lemon)
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
400 grams of arugula
1/2 cup of roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup of pomegranate seeds
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Method
Place the arugula in a large bowl. Add the remainder of the ingredients into a small round covered plastic container. Shake well until the oil and lemon juice are blended. Pour over the lettuce, toss and serve with the lamb chops.
Enjoy!
Our bees have been busy this year and we have once again we have lavender honey!
What’s the buzz? A worker bee gathers in her entire life 0.8 gram (0.0288 ounce) of honey and it requires 556 worker bees and a million flowers to gather a pound of honey. Bees normally fly once around the world to gather enough nectar for that pound of honey but we make it a bit easier for them by placing our hives in our lavender production field. Still, that’s a lot of flowers.
Bees at work at Serenity Lavender
Raw honey has been used as a folk remedy throughout history. But those old wives tales are true and honey has a variety of health benefits and medical uses. It’s chocked full of antioxidants, is heart healthy and tastes delicious too!
The bees arrived back on our property on June 7th and we have 8 hives this year. The bees were very busy with 2 blooms this summer and our first batch of honey was extracted on July 21st.
Taste the pure goodness of raw lavender honey
Lavender honey in the making
Sooooo golden in colour and the delicate floral scent of lavender flows through this pleasant, well balanced and rounded honey.
Our bees make terrific lavender honey – not infused
Lavender honey comb
And we just stocked our shelves with some gorgeous honeycomb. Eating honeycomb is one way to enjoy the full fruits of our bees’ labour. To produce one pound of wax the bees consume 6-8 lbs of honey. The wax is edible and honeycomb contains not just honey but also pollen and sometimes royal jelly. It’s the perfect addition to a bowl of oatmeal in the morning and you’ll find it on our charcuterie boards at the Bistro 42.
We’ll be saying goodbye to our bees soon as the evenings cool but we thought we’d share this old family recipe as our bee season winds down and they go into hibernation.
Polish Honey Spice Cookies (Pierniczki)
Ingredients
1 c sugar
¼ c water
1 c honey
2 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp cloves
½ tsp nutmeg
4 tsp butter
4 c flour
1 whole egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup warm water
Icing
1 c confectioner’s sugar
1-2 Tbsp water depending on the thickness of the icing you want (glazed or piped)
½ teaspoon almond or peppermint extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a saucepan measure out 2 Tbsp of sugar and ¼ cup of water stir until dissolved and carmelize over gentle heat stirring until it begins to turn a golden brown colour. Add the remaining sugar, honey, spices and butter. Stir continuously until the mixture begins to boil. Remove from the stovetop and set aside to cool.
In a large bowl beat the egg and mix in the flour, baking soda and water. Blend in the sugar add spice mixture . Knead the dough until smooth. Cover the bowl with a towel and let it rest 20 minutes.
On a flour dusted countertop roll out the dough into a rectangle. Cut the dough into shapes using your favourite cookie cutters and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Let cookies cool. Ice the cookies.
Smacznego!
Schedule of Events
Thank you for joining us for Lavender Festival 2019 and helping us celebrate all things Lavender!
SATURDAY
10:00 am Tai Chi Demonstration
Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism
10:30 am Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
11:00 am Cooking Demo
Learn the art of BBQ from Award winning competitive barbequer Wally Hayes. Meet at the Food tent
11:00 am Live Music – Max Marshall
-2:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
12:00 pm Lavender Wand Dem0
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
12:30 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
1:00 pm Paint and Sip Class
Prepaid tickets – meet under the canopy
1:00 pm What’s the Buzz? Bee tour
Pre sold tickets –Anderdon Apiaries stay tuned for future events
1:30 pm Decoupage Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
2:00 pm Live Music- Aaron Furlotte
-5:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
2:00 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
2:30 pm What’s the Buzz? Bee tour
Pre sold tickets –Anderdon Apiaries stay tuned for future events
3:oo pm Wreath Making Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
SUNDAY
10:30 am Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
11:00 am Cooking Demo
Learn the art of BBQ from Award winning competitive barbequer Wally Hayes. Meet at the Food tent
11:00 am Live Music – James Staley
-2:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
12:00 pm Dried Flower Music Cone Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
12:30 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
1:00 pm Paint and Sip Class
Prepaid tickets – meet under the canopy
1:00 pm What’s the Buzz? Bee tour
Pre sold tickets –Anderdon Apiaries stay tuned for future events
1:30 pm Decoupage Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
2:00 pm Live Music-Garage Mahal
-5:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
2:00 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
2:30 pm What’s the Buzz? Bee tour
Pre sold tickets –Anderdon Apiaries stay tuned for future events
3:oo pm Felt Flower Wreath Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
Thank you for your smiles and continued support!
Saturday June 30th
10:00 am Festival opens
Tai Chi Demonstration
11:00 am Alcohol Ink Class with Val Reid
(Advance registration on Eventbrite)
11:30 am Lavender Tour
Music by James Staley
1:00 pm Lavender Tour
Music by Joel Furlotte
1:30 pm Lavender Wand Demonstration
3:00 pm Cooking Demonstration with Chef
3:30 pm Lavender Tour
Sunday, July 1st
10:00 am Festival opens
Yoga class with Caroline Holmes
11:00 am Alcohol Ink Class with Val Reid
(Advance registration on Eventbrite)
11:30 am Lavender Tour
Music by James Staley
1:00 pm Lavender Tour
Music by Six Degrees
1:30 pm Lavender Wand Demonstration
3:00 pm Cooking Demonstration with Chef
