There's a lot more to know about lavender besides its delightful smell.
We spoke with the founders of Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop A Magical Place in Washington Island to learn what goes into growing and harvesting the plant.
Lavender is a perennial herb that is part of the mint family.
And although it is well known in the United States, lavender is not native to North America. Its origins come from Europe and the highlands of North Africa and the Middle East.
Spring is the best time to plant lavender. But it is important to plant lavender in late spring when temperatures are consistently warm and there is no chance of nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing.
Lavender thrives in sunshine, but also needs consistent and near average rainfall to make sure it is getting enough water.
The lavender plants are full of buds in June and the plants bloom by the end of that month.
Since Fragrant Isle has 10 varieties of lavender, the plants bloom at different times. These blooms can happen anywhere from late June to mid-August.
Although we often associate the plant with its sweet floral smell, there are many other ways lavender can be used.
Lavender also has medicinal and therapeutic value, such as relief of muscle aches, headaches, etc.
But it doesn't stop there. The lavender essential oil has been known as a soothing balm used for burns, scratches and cuts.
And according to Fragrant Isle's founders, Martine and Edgar Anderson, if you rub a drop or two of lavender oil underneath your nose, it will help induce sleep at night. (I need to try this before one of my early morning shifts!)
For those of you who are looking to spice up your everyday recipes, lavender is becoming a more popular ingredient in the culinary industry. It can be infused or steeped into sauces, ground and mixed with other spices, or its oil used directly to flavor any meal.
As mentioned above, lavender is not native to North America. And with the Midwest's colder temperatures, the geographic location presents more challenges and limitations on the varieties able to grow in this climate.
But that didn't stop Fragrant Isle founders, Martine and Edgar Anderson, from wanting to start a lavender business in Wisconsin.
When the two moved to Washington Island, they were looking into investing in a business, but they didn't know what.
Since Martine grew up in the south of France, she thought that Washington Island had a lot of similarities to Provence. And that's where the idea to start a lavender business originated.
So, her husband Edgar did a little more research. From studying the weather to taking soil samples, and even planting a test garden at their home, the couple's successful research lead them to create a lavender farm.
Now, you can see Fragrant Isle for yourself! Head on up to Washington Island to check out the lavender farm.
After Memorial Day Weekend, Fragrant Isle will be open daily from 10 am-5 pm.
Let's leave you with a few more fun facts about Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm. Enjoy!
