High Sierra Lavender Company & Terra Whimsy Botanicals LLC

08/06/2021

Harvest in the East field started this morning. Edelweiss and Vera.

05/23/2021

I'm sharing this info even though it refers to lavender varieties as English and French.
These labels are misleading and have nothing to do with the original of the varieties.
I would love to see lavender referred to with as correct variety such as Angustifolia, and Intermedia.

https://www.thegreenpinky.com/growing
-lavender/

Lavender is typically grown for its fragrant flowers and essential oils, versus being used as a culinary herb. Plants prefer lots of sun and drier soil, almost thriving on neglect. Choose from English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Lavandin types that blossom tiny flowers in shades of lavender, blu...

04/26/2021

Rats!
No pulling weeds today. Lavender is not entirely out of Winter dormancy yet. They will be fine. It's the snow in June that burns up the tender developing spikes. Weather forecast is high 70s end of week. The best thing about snow this time of year is it does not stick around long.

03/06/2021

You may have noticed "Bud", the peacock offering a bouquet of lavender through out these posts
There is a story, one I will save for another day, that led to my ranch being turned into a lavender farm. It all started with peafowl and chickens. Oh, and a woodpecker.
These birds are my flowers in the winter. They are exquisite walking across the snow. Peafowl are beautiful, but also are such curious and whimsical creatures. Bud represents the Whimsy, and of course the lavender.

02/19/2021

It's Snovid out. Snow and Covid. A cup of hot chocolate sounds good. With Lavender of course.
Here are a couple recipe options for Lavender Hot Chocolate
First is a basic hot chocolate with lavender.
Also a recipe for lavender infused whipped cream.

I'm thinking swap out the lavender in the hot chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps, and then topping with lavender whip cream might be the way to go. Culinary lavender information follows.
Don't forget to eat your lavender!

Single serving. Multiply Ingredients for additional servings.

2 cups of your favorite boxed/jugged white liquid. Milk, Almond/Soy or Oat Milk.

1/4 teaspoon of lavender buds* ( see culinary lavender below)

2 tablespoons of cocoa powder

Sugar, Stevia or Honey to taste.

Method: In a saucepan, over medium heat, heat up milk, coco powder , Sweetner and lavender. bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, turn off the heat, and strain into a mug to enjoy. sip once the hot chocolate is at a temperature that you are comfortable with, enjoy!

Lavender Whipped Cream
1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon dried lavender, crushed * (see culinary lavender below)

2 tablespoons superfine granulated sugar

Step 1
In a small saucepan combine whipping cream and dried lavender. Bring to just a simmer. Remove from heat. Strain mixture and discard lavender. Cover and chill whipped cream mixture at least 2 hours or until completely chilled.

Step 2
In a chilled metal mixing bowl beat whipping cream and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed, beating just until soft peaks form. Use at once or cover and chill up to 2 hours

CULINARY LAVENDER
The flavors and intensity of lavender vary by Cultivar. They longer the buds are steeped, the stronger the liquid they were added to becomes. I think using less than a recipe calls for is a good place to start. Add more if necessary to your taste.
Many lavender Cultivars produce edible buds. I prefer Angustifolia buds. Here are a few commonly found lavenders to try.

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote and ’ Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead. ‘Hidcote’ edible lavender is deeper violet-blue bloom that has a richly fruity flavor.
‘Munstead’ flowers are the traditional purple and have a more herbal, floral flavor.
Look for pink-flowering ‘Rosea’ , (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Rosea’) or ‘White Ice’ (Lavandula angustifolia ‘White Ice’) for unusual bloom colors with a milder, almost candy-like flavor.

If you don't grow lavender...Terra Whimsy Botanicals can set you up with a "Flight of Flavors" at harvest time.

11/13/2020

A Gold Award of Excellence in International Lavender Sommelier Competition for the farms Intermedia Dutch Mill Essential Oil was a wonderful way to complete the 2020 Lavender Harvest.
My last post was in regard to this cultivar. It has become one of my favorite Intermedias. The oil yield from Dutch Mill is abundant. The fragrance warm and buttery. Always a favorite!

09/15/2020

This plant is Intermedia Dutch Mill. I planted a fields the same year as the Intermedia Provance.
It is the reason I pulled all but a few of the Intermedia Provance I had growing.
X Dutch Mill has nearly the exact characteristics of X Provance. Same, color, same fragrance, same flavor.....side by side you have to look closely to determine the subtle differences.
The flower heads of X Dutch Mill are longer and weigh much more. The buds dry on the stem of X Dutch Mill, unlike X Provance buds that drop as they dry. Best of all X Dutch Mill produces a high yield of a very nice oil.
So in response to all the "oh no, why".....there was a good reason to say good bye to X Provance!

09/15/2020

This plant is one reason of why I'm always raving about Intermedia Riverena Thomas.
In May I propagated R. Thomas directly into the rows. No potting. I prepare holes as I would for field plugs, adding perlite. Each plant gets a dripper. However, until roots are developed the plants need to be misted. Even though I have the extra step of misting this process saves so much work and time.
No other Cultivar preforms at this elevation like this Thomas so far. It keeps sending up spikes, I keep cutting them off. My trimmers are for size reference.

09/03/2020

A photo from 2 years ago on this day. I had just finished distilling for the season. This year I have just started. Weather makes such a difference.
The colors in the photo are from a prism that was hanging in a tree near where I was standing. I love the colorful reflection.

09/03/2020

Finally! Lavender oil is running.
First distillation of the year is Intermedia Edelweiss. Oil looks beautiful.
I love that the bees like it too!