Isle of Wight Lavender Blog

Another Busy Year

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Hoorah the sun has finely decided to grace us with its presence. It may be a bit cold but at least it is dry. We have just started putting up another greenhouse for the show plants to reside in. We are showing this year at Malvern, Chelsea and Gardeners World.Last year was so busy we were burnt out by the end and still not recovered. January has been fairly quiet but there is still plenty to do. The plants will start going out in March and already we have had visitors wishing to purchase. The best time to start planting is Mid March threw til October. The farm is open Daily although we do have a few more Wednesday off so don't come and see us then. We hope everyone had a good xmas and New Year and here's to a fantastic 2008.

End of a Season

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:26:00 +0000

Well another summer is over. We are know closed on a Wednesday giving us a chance to say hello to the children and for them to recognise who we are again. Although it has been a wet summer we have still had a good year. Visitors have been up and we are expanding our field production.
The shows are only just over and already we are waiting to hear what we may be in next year.
Remember to protect your tender varieties from the frosts that have started. So fleece if in the ground or bring into the greenhouse or conservatory if in pots.
Already we are preparing for christmas and next years busy summer season. So for know lets hope we are heading for a wind free winter with nice spells of fine weather so we can catch up with the work we wanted to do during the summer. ha ha!

80 Year of Farming

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:12:00 +0000

Well friday night we had a party not your usual August evening weather more like October. But the hog roast was great the band were good and the kids enjoyed the bouncy castle along with our very own Lavender Girls ( Jess, Debbie, Jo, Harry & Amy ) Everyone enjoyed the evening with not much food or DRINK left.
The party was to celebrate 80 years of farming at Staplehurst Grange by our family. Originally a dairy farm then beef and now Lavender. We all feel that our Mum (Margaret) and Grandad (Edwin) would have approved of the change and the celebration. Paul, Jackie & Reuben would like to thank everyone that came and for the cards and best wishes. Heres to the next 80 years.

Harvesting at Last

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:58:00 +0000

Well we a have finally started the Harvest for 2007 a little later than normal granted but as the weather has been so bad it has held everything back. So much for the rest after the shows now we're working from stupid o clock til stupid o clock.

Tatton Park

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:34:00 +0000

We are at Tatton Park today, the stand won Silver Gilt. We also won a joint Gold medal with the National Collection Stand. It was extremely wet and the lorry was not a comfortable sleeping envireonment. The food was pretty good and the company not bad either. Although the wife will not trust Tony from Devine Nurseries to look after me again!

New website!

noreply@blogger.com (Isle of Wight Lavender) — Thu, 31 May 2007 10:11:00 +0000

Welcome to our new website!!

Well it has been a funny year so far. We started well with good weather in April and beginning of May. Fantastic show of flowers at Malvern and then desperately lighting for Chelsea the week before. Very nice week at Chelsea if not a bit tiring. Then Autumn arrived early and what a struggle to get everything flowering on time. The lavender in the beds all went over very quick because of the wind and rain so we are at present cutting back the lavenders.

The shows are know over for another year and I feel we've done well this year. Everyone is knackered and looking forward to our day off in October. The sun is finely trying to come threw so hopefully a little warmer for August.