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.
Lavender Festival 2023
Artists and Artisans at this year’s Lavender Festival
It wouldn’t be a festival without our wonderful artists and artisans. We can’t believe that this is our 10th year of hosting this festival. It started with a dream and a small group of artists and artisans- six to be exact! We’re ever grateful to those who started this journey and are still with us. They include Robert Bishop Artworks, Canadian Heritage Candles and Ring Weavers (if we’ve forgotten someone our apologies, our memories aren’t what they used to be) 
It’s been an exciting year and we are thrilled to have 32 vendors this year from a variety of genres from wood, to pottery and textiles, and of course an assortment of jewellry makers. Each one is so talented and this festival would not be the same without them. The bonus is that everything is made by hand right here in Windsor Essex!
Show your support this weekend to our local handmade artists and artisans and pick up some gifts for your loved ones- Christmas is 187 days away 🙂
2023 Lavender Festival Artists and Artisans
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. 
Welcome Back!
It’s been a long wait but we’re back with over 30 artists and artrisans, a great line up of musicians, craft demos, lavender tours, some delicious food and drinks and of course the star of the show Lavender!
The lavender had a rough spring but the little buds are filling in and starting to pop just in time for the festival.
Date and Time of Lavender Festival
June
24, 2022 1-4 pm
June 25, 2022 10am-5pm
June 26, 2022 10am- 5 pm
Location of the Festival
130 County Road 50 East, Harrow , Ontario. We share our home with our sister company North 42 Degrees Estate Winery
Schedule of Events
Thank you for joining us for Lavender Festival 2022 and helping us celebrate all things Lavender!
This year we are offering a photo contest. Stay tuned for details and watch for signs on how you can enter around the farm!
FRIDAY
1:00 pm Festival Opens
2:30 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
7:00 pm Dine Among the Lavender –
A Culinary Experience
Using the finest ingredients from wagu beef to truffles Executive Chef Cameron has woven a tapestry of flavours to celebrate the long awaited return of Lavender Festival.
This exclusive 5 course interactive wine pairing dinner showcases our team’s culinary talents and artistic creativity. It is truly a culinary experience. Each course is served with an award winning, North 42 Degrees wine, including some from Martin and Suzanne’s private cellar, that has been carefully selected to pair with each dish.
Chef Cameron will then join you to take you through the inspiring journey of how the food was selected, prepared and plated and you will also learn about the wines.
This exclusive dinner experience is limited to 24 guests. The cost is $150.00 pp+Hst + gratuity. Advance reservations are required. Seats can be reserved by calling the winery at 519 738-6111.
SATURDAY
10:00 am Festival Opens
10:30 am Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
11:00 am Live Music – James Stately
-3:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
11:30 am Crafting Demo
Come see what Suzanne is making with Lavender.
Meet at Serenity Lavender’s tent
12:30 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
1:00 pm Paint and Sip Class with Rico Dancel
Sign up by calling us at 519 738-6111 $55 pp and you’ll receive a complementary glass of wine and go home with your own masterpiece – Rustic Lavender
Prepaid tickets – meet under the canopy
1:30 pm Decoupage Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender tent
2:00 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
3:00 pm Live Music- Aaron Furlotte
-5:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
3:oo pm Wreath Making Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender booth
SUNDAY
10:30 am Lavender Tour (free)
Lavender tour group learning the various aromas of lavender
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
11:00 am Live Music – Eric Bellis
-3:00 pm Grab some food, wine/beer and enjoy under the music tent
12:00 pm Wreath Making Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender tent
12:30 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
1:00 pm Paint and Sip Class with Rico Dancel
Sign up by calling us at 519 738-6111 $55 pp and you’ll receive a complementary glass of wine and go home with your own masterpiece – Rustic Lavender
Prepaid tickets – meet under the canopy
1:30 pm Decoupage Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender tent
2:00 pm Lavender Tour (free)
Meet at the Peace Garden/Labrinyth
3:oo pm Flower arranging Demo
Meet at the Serenity Lavender tent
Children’s Activities
All 3 days
Wishing Tree, Chalk Art, Colour Me Now
Scavenger Hunt
Saturday and Sunday 11:30 Story Time under the Wishing Tree
Thank you for your smiles and continued support of Serenity Lavender and Lavender Festival!
Call for Artists and Artisans
The beautiful sunshine today reminds us of the wonderful weather we had for Lavender Festival we had in 2019 (although a tad warmer) and afger a 2 year absence we are sooooo excited to announce that Lavender Festival will be held on June 24th, 25th and 26th. It’s that time, we are calling for artists and artisans to be part of our wonderful festival!
The last year we ran the Festival was amazing with record breaking attendance and 36 vendors but we still have room to grow.
The date is Friday, June 24th from 1- 4 pm Saturday, June 25th & Sunday, June 28th from 10 am -5 pm
All works must be original, All applications (see the link below) together with payment and photos must be received by April 20th by either email, hand delivered or snail mail.
We’d love to see you!
Have you been mesmerized by a field of lavender? It’s one of the most relaxing and sensory experiences. The colours, the aromas and the sounds of softly buzzing bees enhances the whole experience.
Lavender makes a wonderful addition to your home garden for that reason- the heavenly scent. It is a relatively easy plant to grow in Zone 6 and is known for its longevity and hardiness.
With their vivid color, cut lavender flowers make a nice addition to a home’s interior. A gift of lavender flowers symbolizes purity, devotion, serenity, hence our name. And in some schools of thought, it represents love. Not only does the flower have significance, the purple colour is also symbolic. Purple is the color of royalty and speaks of elegance, refinement and luxury.
It is certainly a flower you can grow to appreciate. If you love lavender, there are many varietals to choose from, making it easy to become a collector! Just like us at Serenity Lavender. We have over 40 varieties of lavender on display on site in our gardens and in our field.
In this post we will be focusing on 5 different varietals of Lavendula Angustifolia or English lavender. Read more to learn which lavender is best for your home and garden. For more information about plant care see our Gardener’s Guide to Growing Lavender.
Folgate Lavender
One of the first to to bloom, a coveted favourite. The plant grows 20-24″ and is a compact tidy bush with vivid, bright violet flowers. Soft, sweetly aromatic blooms abound on this dense mid green evergreen with narrow foliage and small neat looking upright spikes. Beautiful as an informal hedge, in rock gardens, and in mass plantings along sunny borders. Folgate is an excellent source of lavender oil and is terrific for culinary use. It is one of the varietals that we use in our culinary lavender.
Folgate Lavender
Royal Velvet Lavender
Royal Velvet is rich in fragrance and showy in bloom. It is covered with long stemmed, 3-4 inch long, velvety, dark purple-blue flower spikes which are much longer than Hidcote and the hallmark of ‘Royal Velvet’. Tall, waving flower spikes last and last, and will bloom a second time after a mid-season harvest in the right conditions. The flowers hold their dark colour extremely well when dried and makes excellent fresh cut bouquets and perfect for dried wreaths.
Royal velvet lavender
- Sun: Full
- Water: low once established
- Soil: sandy
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Bee Friendly
- Attracts Butterflies
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Good for cut bouquets
Super Blue Lavender
A new addition to our collection, the fragrant wands of rich lavender-blue flowers deliver a soothing scent in early summer. ‘Super Blue’ produces blooms that are tighter together, delivering more color and fewer airy gaps. A compact and fragrant Lavender plant with short spikes that tops out at 12″, making it a perfect choice for edging walkways and setting into patio containers. The large, full blooms lend themselves to cutting and drying.
- Sun: full
- Water: low once established
- Soil: sandy well draining soil
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Bee Friendly
- Attracts Butterflies
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Good in containers, edging pathways and dried buds
Super Blue lavender a new varietal at Serenity Lavender
Melissa Lavender
Lavandula ‘Melissa’ is a lovely lavender that was named by Oregon grower Andy van Hevelingen for his wife Melissa. A prolific bloomer with aromatic foliage that perfumes the garden when brushed against. Soft romantic pale lilac blooms offset the fine silvery green foliage. On mass the flowers appear white from a distance. Very prolific it has a nice upright and compact habit. The flowers are very sweetly fragrant and persist for a long time.
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Lavandula Melissa
Sun: full
- Water: low once established
- Soil: sandy well draining soil
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Bee Friendly
- Attracts Butterflies
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Good for culinary and fresh bouquets
Hidcote Lavender
An old favourite, the flowers on this plant are the darkest purple of all lavenders. This erect greyish green bush with a splayed or floppy habit grows up to 12- 20 inches tall and approximately 24-30 inches wide depending on soil conditions. The flower stems are short but very aromatic. It is an excellent choice for edging and borders. In the right conditions this plant will bloom continually until the first frost, albeit with a smaller flush of flowers. To enhance blooming, cutting back the stems of faded flowers will enhance a second and third bloom. Hidcote retains it’s colour and is excellent dried and culinary use
- Sun: full
- Water: low once established
- Soil: sandy well draining soil
- Climate: hot summers and warm winters
- Hardiness zones: 5-9
- Bee Friendly
- Attracts Butterflies
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant
- Good as dried buds and culinary with a citrusy note to its flavour
The darkest of lavenders
If you are interested in purchasing lavender plants, our plant Sale begins May 1st, 2021. All varietals are currently available except Hidcote. Call 519 738-6111 to reserve your plants for curbside pickup.
Starting this chilly morning off with a Lavender Latte using lavender syrup that we’ve made ahead of time. Lavender and mocha are heavenly together. This latte is perfect for a day that you need to treat yourself to a relaxing morning. This easy recipe is uses calming lavender to make a homemade syrup and topped with a frothy cream. You can always substitute your favourite oat milk or almond milk.
The key to cooking and baking with lavender is to use a good quality culinary lavender. There are many varietals of lavender and each has its own unique aroma and flavour. Our favorites are coconut ice which has a light spearmint and tropical notes or hidcote which has a beautiful colour, especially making lavender syrup and a citrus flavour that highlights its floral notes.
How to make your latte
Brew your favourite coffee or espresso.
In a separate saucepan heat 1/4 cup of whole milk or other milk substitute.
Pour 1 cup of coffee or 2 shots of espresso into desired mug.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of lavender simple syrup and stir. Top with steamed milk and froth, Then top with whipped cream and sprinkle dried lavender…and Voila!
Lavender latte
Lavender Simple Syrup Recipe
Lavender syrup
In a medium saucepan add the water and sugar. Stir over low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the lavender. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Using a fine mesh sieve, strain out the lavender. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
You can store the syrup in the fridge for up to a month- it’s terrific on berries, in a salad dressing or in your favourite cocktail!
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!
