Lavender is one of the best-known plants—if not by sight, then by smell. It’s hard to argue with the beauty of its fragrance, silver-gray foliage and spiky flowers—which, as you might suspect, are often lavender-colored, although purple, pink and white blooms are also available.
Native to rocky hillsides in the Mediterranean, lavender prefers hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters, so it’s right at home on Donna Anderson’s Lavender Acres farm in Meridian, Idaho. But it can be grown elsewhere if the conditions are right. In addition to six to 10 hours of sunlight, lavender needs lighter, well-draining alkaline soil and special care when watering.
“Many homeowners will put lavender in their landscaping and let the lawn sprinklers water it,” Donna says. But, she points out, grass requires a lot…
