Lavender Season at Piety Flats Winery

What incredible beauty and what a fragrance ... ummm ... come by Piety Flats during the months of June and July and pick some lavender for your personal use. Bring your own scissors and a baggie .. and create your own sachet or potpourri with lavender from the Yakima Valley !

Lavender growing in Yakima Valley

Stop by our Lavender Corner

Check out the wonderful lavender products in the store ... from dried lavender from our own lavender patches .. to heavenly scented lavender soap, lotions, and potions !

Tips for Harvesting and Drying Lavender

Tools needed: Gardening shears and strong rubber bands, alternately string/twine

Harvest: Best time to harvest lavender is just before the lavender buds are fully in bloom, and just starting to open and show their beautiful color. The lavender scent is the strongest at this point in the growth of the plant. Cut the stems just above the leaves in order to get a long enough stem to assist in hanging.

Hanging Methods: Depending on how much space you have for hanging you can: 1) Tie several stems together securely at the base with a strong rubber band, forming a small bundle. We recommend using a rubber band as it will hold the stems more firmly in place than string or twine which may loosen as the stems shrink in the course of drying out; or 2) Tie each individual stem separately along the string so that the stems aren’t touching, about ¾ - 1“ apart. The second method is preferred for maximum air circulation, speed in drying, and to prevent mold/rot from insufficiently dried flowers.

Drying: Hang your aromatic bundles of freshly cut lavender with the flowers hanging down in a warm area that is not in direct sunlight. You may want to place a drop towel/cloth under the hanging flowers to catch any bits that may fall from the stems as they dry. Drying time can vary depending on the warmth of the room, air flow and moisture content in the air, but usually takes from 7-10 days to dry fully or up to a month in damper climates.

Flower Removal: Once the flowers are completely dry, you need to remove the lavender buds from the stems. Place dry stems on a length of newspaper or in a large towel or pillowcase and roll the bundle up like a tube. Gently roll it back and forth on a hard surface like you are rolling out dough. This will dislodge the buds without crushing them. Separate the flower buds from the stems and leaves. Compost the discarded leaves and save the dried stems for starter kindling for winter fires/campfires.

Storage: Store the buds in tight dry glass containers, in a Ziploc bag or hanging in a closet. The buds can be placed in sachets for use in drawers or cupboards. Buds can also be stored in an airtight container for later use. The dry stems are great to add to your fire wood store and will release a nice scent as they burn.
The dried lavender buds can be used in various culinary dishes and teas, for sachets in your drawers, in baskets for potpourri, for crafting. When left on the stem the flowers are also widely used in flower arrangements.

Download the Tips for Harvesting and Drying Lavender

Wonderful Recipes from Purple Haze Lavender

Grilled Salmon with Lavender & Basil

4 fresh Salmon Steaks or fillets

Marinade:
1 tsp. dried Lavender
5 large Basil leaves, chopped
2 T. Tamari
2 T fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
1/3 cup Olive Oil

Combine all marinade ingredients to use as a baste for grilling. Place salmon on a hot, lightly oiled grill or barbecue, skin side down. Baste frequently with the marinade. When salmon is done, baste with the remaining marinade. Serve ... and wait for the compliments!

Herbs de Provence Marinade for Chicken

1 T. Herbs de Provence
4 tsp fresh Lemon Juice
8 tsp. extra virgin Olive Oil
2 cloves crushed Garlic
1/2 - 1 tsp. Tabasco Sauce
1 tsp. Sea Salt
4 Chicken Breasts

Combine all ingredients together, then marinade the chicken for at least two hours. Grill until tender, basting frequently with marinade. Or bake uncovered for about 40 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Piety Flats Winery
and Mercantile
2560 Donald-Wapato Road
Wapato, WA 98951
Tel. (509) 877-3115
Email info@pietyflatswinery.com