Pick your own lavender at the Blanco Lavender Festival

Blanco celebrates all things lavender during the annual Blanco Lavender Festival June 7-9. Festivities are centered on the Old Blanco County Courthouse, which includes an arts and crafts show and plenty of food and music.

To get a real feel for the town’s main industry, take a tour of one or more of the 10 lavender farms. You can pick your own and learn about how the alkaline limestone soils around the area are perfect for growing this magical herb.

For more, call the Blanco Chamber of Commerce at (830) 833-5101 or go to www.blancolavenderfest.com.

Marble Falls grows lavender, too!

You can also slow down and smell the lavender at M&J Lavender Farm on U.S. 281 south of Marble Falls. Though they are not officially part of the lavender fest in Blanco, they are open for business. You are invited to come pick your own lavender and buy great soaps, sachets, wreaths or lotions, all handmade by owners Mitchell and Jane Stephens. You also can purchase peaches at the roadside stand and make an appointment for a tour of the farm.

“Between May and October, you can come out anytime by appointment,” Jane Stephens says. “We encourage you to come and pick your own lavender and see the farm.”

The peach stand and lavender farm are located at 12992 U.S. 281, nine miles south of Marble Falls on the east side of the highway — and yes, that’ s on the way to Blanco, so you can do them both!

And if you miss the lavender fest — or want to wait for cooler weather — M&J Lavender Farm will be open to the public for special festivities the first weekend in October.

“The Provence lavender is the most aromatic,” Stephens says. “It also lasts longer. That’s what we use in our sachets because it will last for years.”

Fresh lavender is a good cure for moths in your closets and weevils in your pantry, so be sure to get plenty.

To make an appointment, call (830) 693-6624. For more, visit the website at www.mjlavenderfarm.com.