Welcome … 2010 is a very special year for our farm as we celebrate its 100th Birthday!

A little genealogy; my grandfather Albert Hankin JR signed the deed for this property on March 23rd 1910. He originally was from London, England. My great grandparents, Alfred SR & his wife Sarah Anne nee Gates; also lived here in their old age finding eastern Canada, where their other son Francis lived, too cold for their taste even with jaunts to the Caribbean to warm up! Alfred JR married Evelyn Margaret Dyer, originally from Kenilworth, England November 11th 1925. My father is Wilfred Francis Hankin, born May 17th 1928 here, currently living in Brentwood Bay …my mother is Lottie Ada Shirley nee Holmes originally from Wetaskwin, Alberta. They were married on my grandparents 25th wedding anniversary November 11th 1950.…Count me in this line up with my English husband Michael Dowling; born in Wandsworth, England and our two children Rowan & Frances, born here and it now adds up to 5 generations and 100 years of one continuous family on this part of the original 1910 property! …I’m actually on the old goat pasture part: good thing the goats are not here now to eat everything in sight, though I am told they will not eat my beloved Lavender! Of the original homestead I have four 100 year old apple trees that still happily produce, my grandfather’s old chicken shed that luckily never saw chickens and currently is my Lavender drying shed, and finally a wonderful 25+ foot cedar hedge that screens us from the 21st century traffic…Come take a peek behind that daunting cedar hedge and discover our timeless sanctuary of gardens and our beloved Lavender!

The gardener’s New Year began at Solstice, Dec 21, 2009, with the gradual swing of returning light to the Northern Hemisphere…but that does not mean I am running out there yet to weed in the frosty dawn! It is still timely to “garden” inside by the woodstove with my favourite gardening books, seductive seed catalogues and daydreams of this season’s successes to come. And: plan new ventures to include local gardeners here in person and those of you that follow on line. This year’s local newspaper MUSE articles will include success with Veggies & Herbs in your backyard as well as my beloved Lavender. Begin in January with “The Case of the Accidental Gardener”…February I will start seeds for us both and let you in on my secrets to success in your gardens!

Locals: Our Nursery will open weekends for April and May…
Our hours will be 10-4pm. Plant sales will be directly from the farm only. (Though, I will post lots of helpful hints for those gardening on line) At any time, you can phone for an appointment outside our posted hours. The farm number is 250-474-5767 with a message machine if you miss me out in the greenhouse. A bit old fashioned perhaps for this technology world but then I want you to have good old fashioned organically grown healthy babies for your gardening enjoyment in the old fashioned world of soil & sunshine. Your Sweet Basil will only taste better for your backyard personal loving care!

Our 22nd annual Lavender Daze will be during the first three weeks of July. Harvest Sunday will be July 18th; details will be posted shortly.

Dried Sweet Lavender from 2009 Harvest is still in stock plus our various Lavender products, cooking blends and tea.

Our Lavender recipe for 2010 is in its final testing over the holidays…yum.

Wishing you all a great gardening season with serene moments where you simply pause, breath deeply and enjoy the blessings of our precious natural world. Welcome 2010!

See Lynda’s gardening articles written for the local Metchosin Muse that encompass her love of Lavender and beyond, with projects and recipes tucked in too; inspiration for all gardeners!

An unexpected offering this year in 4 inch pots is an eclectic group of Sweet Lavender plants I grew from seed “liberated” from any Lavender plants I came across on a trip to England to visit my in-laws in September 2007. It was the perfect time to discreetly collect seeds from any stately home, botanical gardens or public parks I came across on our trip there. The series is simply called “England 2007” and as yet I have not seen the range of blossom colour myself. A treat to have real English Lavender plants to offer here!

See Lavender Products for prices plus Lavender blends for cooking, teas, soaps and more.

For some local gardening and event links, click here.

Lavender fields
click for larger image