Farm Updates/Vintage Market Home

 I was surprised to go out into the field yesterday find a harvest of Hidcote English Lavender.   I do recall a smaller harvest earlier in the summer, but we didn't get a ton of English lavender.  We got more Grosso and Phenomenal (intermediate lavender).  Mostly, the Melissa (light lavender color) bloomed earlier this summer. The Hidcote was late to bloom.  I always enjoyed the deep purple color of this variety. 

Another surprise was the sunflowers.  I planted them when I planted the zinnia field and the wildflower fields.  I assumed they didn't take or something was eating them as I didn't get any blooms.  I guess I needed to be more patient, because they are blooming now proficiently.  These are the not giant sized sunflowers, but rather smaller ones for bouquets. Our sunflowers were really part of a test plot.  Next year I will move them to their own raised bed or field now that I see they seem to grow fairly well. 

I am headed to the Vintage Market Home this evening with a ton of new products.  Please head down and check this store out.  It's right next to Stroh's at 110 Sycamore Wyandotte Mi.  They carry our products including our bath/spa line, soaps, sachets, bouquets, lavender bundles, dried wreaths, laundry soaps, hand-painted mason jars and NEW! this month our lavender jelly and strawberry-lavender jam.   Lavender Jelly is said to be one of Queen Elizabeth's favorites and it makes a wonderful tea jelly with scones or biscuits.  The strawberry-lavender jam is really more like a preserve.  It's not overly sugary.  As my husband is diabetic I am careful to watch sugar.  While it's not sugar-free (I am looking into a sugar-free recipe though), it has about half the sugar and it has  little more tart taste with a hint of sweetness and just a hint of lavender - not overpowering.  My family just had some on our toast with breakfast this morning and everyone seemed to enjoy it. 

​You can check out their Facebook page of the Vintage Market Home here

​Here are some products they are carrying: 

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