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Yes, it’s Lavandula, all right. Nothing else can match the fresh, clean fragrance of this legendary herb. We know that fragrance well, since we grow 12 varieties in several species. Let’s look at more of them, shall we?Earlier, we examined some varieties of L. angustifolia. This time, let’s look at …Lavandula stoechas, a.k.a. Spanish lavender. This lovely, aromatic, useful species is less winter-hardy (Zones 7 – 9) than “English” lavender, but very heat-tolerant. All varieties feature striking

The Eponymous Garden Rides Again!The green industries embrace many careers and companies that could be described as “a hobby that got out of hand.” You may know – or be – one of those ex-hobbyists.One such entity gave the world a popular herb: Lavandula ‘Otto Quast’. Let’s meet its namesake.Born in 1924 in Hamburg, Germany, Otto Quast emigrated to California. He worked as a shipyard carpenter and dabbled in gardening. When an accident ended his woodworking career, he turned his pastime into a fu

When the color experts at Pantone announced their Color of the Year for 2021, they gave us a rare double-header. Illuminating is a cheerful yellow. Ultimate Gray is exactly what it sounds like. They complement one another beautifully: Yellow for sunny optimism, gray for rock-solid reliability. We looked at yellow last time, so let’s go gray again!Obviously, gray – even Ultimate Gray -- is not sexy. Let’s call it silver. Either way, there’s a place for it in nearly every border. Colors