Love That Lavender!
In any case, the venue is spectacular and you might check out a few travel notes (you'll need to scroll a bit but it's there) about that town called Gasse! Oooh lala!
But do you have to cross the ocean for lavender? Mais NON! Let's set all snobbery aside: Here is a lovely phototour of North American grown lavender and you could visit there, or maybe one of these lavender farms of the Olympic Peninsula, too.
For the sorry stick-in-the-muds among us who will not be traveling forthwith to visit the Alps or fields to enjoy the happy harvest (they say the lavender harvest is always a happy one, something to do with the fragrance) or whip up a batch of perfume: try some good old down home cooking with lavender.
Or how about scalloped potatoes like nothing your mother ever made or adding lavender to your own house blend of Herbes de Provence. If you do manage to grow a bit of lavender at home, here's a wonderful dish for guests: Lavender and Thyme Roasted Poussins. (Yes, you can use chicken.) With food like that you may be transported temporarily.
Watch out though, to be sure you are using the right type of lavender! English lavender is called for, as in a recipe for lavender sugar. Here are some more (simpler) recipes and quaint little uses to try including the custard and tisane.
For some reason lavender seems to bring out the home arts urges in many gardeners, among them that need to clean and freshen; that's not surprising since the name comes from the latin Lavare (to wash), and it was popular in the famed Roman baths. Its fragrance says "clean"! In the themed Mary Gardens it is considered Mary's Drying Plant. Many people still like to dry sheets by stretching them out in the sun atop the lavender patch, or tuck some into the linen closet or blanket chest.
Lavender crafts are widely popular, from wreaths and potpourri and sleep pillows to delicate treasures like beribboned lavender wands and sachets or lavender cages.
People are drawn to lavender as a cosmetic, too. You could easily try the full sensory route and make your own vegetable/lye beauty soaps with lavender along with lavender Bath Potpourri and while you're at it try Zenda's next recipe for (lavender-free, alas) Bath Cookies! So
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