This past weekend was the 10th annual Blanco Lavender Festival, and I’m still reeling.
Tent after tent of lavender products; from soap to fresh lavender, from ice cream to ceramics — everything was a slight shade of purple.
If you are a fan of the heavenly herb, Blanco is a Hill Country town that you should know about. The Lavender Capital of Texas is home to some of the more fruitful and abundant lavender farms around.
Every year the free festival is put on by the Blanco Chamber of Commerce, and seeks to showcase the lovely purple zest in all of its varieties. Vendors make their way down to the square to set up and share their version of lavender products.
In addition to getting to shop the newest in lavender goodies, throughout the weekend there were special speakers that gave informational lectures ranging from growing tips, how to grow lavender “off-the-grid”, discussions about how to come together to solve the bee problems in the area and cooking techniques that can employ the delicious herb.
Cookies, ice cream, tea, lemonade, margarita mix, soap, lotions and cooking oils infused with lavender — you can’t believe just how many items can be made with a plant that is also one of the most recognized scents in the world.
The sun was bright, the festival was in high swing as people traversed across the lawn at the Blanco downtown square. After enjoying visiting with the locals (and buying a few things), we decided to head to our next stop, the lavender farm tours down Highway 281.
Just a few miles up the road were three lavender farms that open their gates and land to visitors for the weekend. We stopped at Imagine Lavender Farm first to marvel their lavender labyrinths, and then to wander their vast and long rows of the sweet smelling plant.
There’s a lot to learn about the history of Lavender in Blanco — and there are more uses than you can shake a stick at! All in all, it makes for a very educational and delicious weekend while getting to meet the farmers, growers and people that make Blanco so special.
If you can’t wait for next years Lavender Festival, there is still plenty of lavender to go around and things to do in Blanco that make it worth taking a trip any time.
