Blooming Rose

Blooming Rose

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Fields of Lavender



I recently drove up to the beautiful lavender fields in Ojai, California...




It was an extra special day because I met up with lovely Jermaine of  French-Kissed...




A path of dark purple lavender greeted us when we arrived to this beautiful
countryside...



The fields were radiant...


There were so many sizes and shades of the beautiful flower.  Webster defines
lavender as a fragrant European mint, with spikes of pale purplish flowers...



The sun was hot but a beautiful breeze was blowing.  Everything seemed so
peaceful and perfect...


The fields were full of bees but they were very friendly.  Hmm, I wonder if the lavender
calms them...



So many varieties.  These are just a few...






The scenery and weather were perfect for spending lots of relaxing time in the fields
picking fresh bouquets of lavender and taking pictures.  It really was a very special
place to spend time with a friend.  It is always so wonderful to have some time with
Jermaine from French-Kissed.  She is delightful and her posts are always so creative
and so very beautiful.





After bringing my bouquets home I decided to use the lavender in a few different
ways. 
I had a house guest coming for an overnight stay so I filled a french wire basket
with fresh towels and added a small bouquet of lavender, some lavender soap and
lavender candles...



I also added some roses from my garden and some rose petals...



And because I was in a lavender mood and had quite a bit of it, I decided to add some
of the culinary lavender to some rose and lavender macarons and assorted cupcakes...



And...I froze some of the culinary lavender in ice cubes to add to lemonade...


Today I also made a lemon loaf cake infused with lavender but it was gone before I
could take a picture.

I also want to take a minute to thank those of you who knew about my cousin's passing
and sent lovely emails to me.  Your words meant the world to me and I thank you so much.

If you ever have a chance to walk in a lavender field be sure to do so.  It is a lovely
experience. 

La Pouyette has a stunning post on old lavender and linen here. Enjoy!

Have a wonderful week.

I am joining Rose Vignettes for her Fresh Cut Friday party here.

32 comments:

Donna said...

What a gorgeous post! I can almost smell the lavender from here:) I'm glad you had such a wonderful day, and got to meet up with a blogging friend. I adore lavender, and was drooling over your beautiful photos, as well as your lavender goodies! Your friend will love the basket full of lavender goodness, too! How thoughtful! And I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your cousin. Hope you are doing well.

Acquired Objects said...

Those lavender fields are gorgeous and I’m jealous I wish we had them on the east coast. You’re very talented to think of so many ways to use lavender.

Pop over to my blog when you have a chance I'm having a one-year anniversary "giveaway"!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

How gorgeous! And what a beautiful welcome for your guest! Loved this post. Hope your heart is healing from your loss ... xoxo, Stephanie

Unknown said...

Simply stunning!!! What I would give to walk through a field full of lavender!!!

Your lucky houseguest!!
xo Elizabeth

Masha said...

The lavender fields are so lovely! Thank you for posting these pictures, there were a delight to see. I am glad you met a virtual friend who became a real friend, blogging is great for that...

Leo said...

Wow - these photographs are gorgeous. I bet the fragrance was wonderful. So pretty and I bet your guest loved the little presentation. I am sorry to hear about the loss of your cousin. Hope that you have a nice week.

vignette design said...

What a lovely post! Our lavender is blooming too and I love it! I really like your photos with the roses and goodies, showing the various ways to use lavender.
~Delores

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

Stunning shots! Love everything about this post! I can almost smell those lavender from here:) Beautiful welcome for your guest!
Gorgeous space you got here.
Hope to see you on my blog:)

Pondside said...

First of all, I'm sorry to hear that you have lost your cousin. I hope that you are buoyed by your memories.
I love lavender. There is a lavender festival here on the south Island next week. I try to buy lavender at the festival to supplement what I grow here.

a quiet life said...

love love love this, i have been waiting for this since you accidently posted this a week ago and it dissappeared!

i adore all things lavender :)

especially edible too~

French-Kissed said...

Just like reliving our beautiful morning in the lavender fields...thanks for inviting me to go along with you. Lovely lavender basket you created for your house guest and the lavendered macarons...oh my!

Jermaine

Tricia said...

Oh, how beautiful. I would barely be able to contain myself if I were to experience this in person. The little basket of lavender and rose items that you put together is so wonderful too! I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of your cousin...I hope you're doing okay.

hugs ♥ Tricia

lvroftiques said...

I'm so so sorry you lost a loved one. I hope all the beauty you've experienced will help to lessen the pain in your heart.
I've never been to Ojai but what a beautiful place. And Jermaine's blog is always inspirational to me. It's great to have a virtual friend become a RL friend isn't it?. Your welcome bouquet for your guest is lovely! Vanna

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

I always use lavender in my linen closets but I don't think I have ever eaten it! I did not know it was edible. Putting some in ice cubes seems like a nice idea! And your guest basket is so pretty and welcoming. I am sure she appreciated the beauty and hospitality! I've been to huge lavender fields in Provence and the smell is amazing, isn't it? So glad you met a blogging buddy--I'm off now to visit her site. Linda

Privet and Holly said...

Be.still.my.heart!!!
Walking in lavender
is such a joy and
you have captured it
beautifully here,
Susan! I am hoping
that it won't be too
late to visit a lavender
farm when I go see my
folks at the end of
the month. Your day
looks so amazing, here!
xx Suzanne

Stephanie Lloyd said...

A friend in a field. Beautiful!
xoxoxo

Unknown said...

Amazing! I have never seen anything like this! It must have been so fragrant. So Pretty!

~Liz

La Dolfina said...

This post smells and looks heavenly!
what an amazing day the two of you had! I adore all the ways you used your lavender treasures. What a very lucky house guest you had. I'm sure they were as calmed and soothed as those bees in the lavender fields :)
Miss you sweet friend!!
xo

Karen said...

What a lovely find! I live in Southern California and had no idea there were fields of lavender that you can visit. I had seen them in the wine country and up in Washington state.
Your house guest will be thrilled with the beautiful treats and thoughtful lavender touches.
Karen

Karen said...

What a lovely find! I live in Southern California and had no idea there were fields of lavender that you can visit. I had seen them in the wine country and up in Washington state.
Your house guest will be thrilled with the beautiful treats and thoughtful lavender touches.
Karen

Rose West said...

What an incredible place! Would love to wander around those fields...

Eileen @ CottageBeachHouse said...

Wow, I have never seen fields of lavender. So, so pretty.I love the little basket you made, just so , so pretty.

LaPouyette said...

This is incredible! I would not dream about in 'hundred years' that there are lavender fields in the US like in Provence!
Have to tell this a friend who lives in Ojai!
Just wonderful, all images, and of course the recepies!
Heartily greetings from Périgord,
Karin

The PvdH Journal said...

Lavender is my favourite flower... particularly after trying the pana cotta di lavanda in Provence.

Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful images!

xx PvdH
www.ThePvdHJournal.com - a fashion designer's virtual mood board

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Wow! All that lavender looks amazing! And I love the way you've paired lavender and roses. Don't they look gorgeous together? I haven't seen them twinned like that before but I rather like the country look it gives!

Sarahx

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Hi, it was so nice of you to stop by and visit me. I am so impressed that you made marcarons...we visited La Duree in Paris and after coming home I looked up recipes...wow! very complex. Still I just might try making them some time.

Lovely post with great pictures of the lavender fields. It must have been wonderful. I grow some, but it is never enough.(-: have a great day.

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

So absolutely beautiful! The fields of lavender are just gorgeous~ lovely photos too- thanks for sharing at FNF this week :)

Unknown said...

I still love this post! :)
Thanks for sharing it at Fresh-Cut Friday!! :) Hope you have a lovely weekend!

~Liz

P.S. I am soooooo copying that idea for the wire basket and towels in the guest room. LOVE it!

Lynn said...

Your pics are really pretty, it looks like a wonderful way to spend the day:@)

Mylise said...

It is like being in Provence !
Wonderful...
Bonne soirée, bises

Mary said...

Lavender Heaven~ What a picture perfect post with lavender fields! I adore your ice cubes and your macaroons & cupcakes are presented so deliciously!

Unknown said...

How lovely to be surrounded by so much lavender. It must have been a lovely day spent. Sad about the passing of a loved one. May you find peace in your heart.