The Ask a Master Gardener Program is an opportunity for members of the community to ask questions about gardening and learn more about the NC State Extension Master GardenerSM program. Durham County Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to provide answers using research-based information about plants and plant problems.
Image credit: Allie Mullin
You’ll find Master Gardener volunteers at the following community events ready for your questions:
Saturday, November 15, 8:00 am-12 noon, Durham Farmers Market at Central Park
Saturday, November 15, 12:00 pm – 4:00pm, North Durham Farmer’s Market, 1016 Old Oxford Rd. Durham
Durham Garden Forum
Tuesday, November 18, 7:00pm-8:30 pm, “Growing and Maintaining Camellias” by Brie Arthur. Available on Zoom. For more information contact: durhamgardenforum@gmail.com
Learn with our Community Partners
Image credit: Allie Mullin
Saturday November 1, 2 pm -4 pm, Durham County Main Library, 300 North Roxboro, Native Plant Swap (Durham County Master Gardeners will be available for questions).
Saturday & Sunday, November 1-2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ruth Mary Meyer Japanese Garden at Duke Gardens (drop in exhibit) A Festival of Fabulous Mums.
Edited by Martha Keehner Engelke, Durham County EMGSM volunteer.
By Mebette Eckhardt, NC State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer of Durham County
Let’s talk about lavender. It’s one of those plants that feels fancy but is super chill to grow. It looks beautiful, smells amazing, and best of all—it pulls double duty in the garden and around the house. You don’t need a huge backyard or a green thumb. Just a sunny spot, a little space, and a love of good smells. Think of lavender as your low-maintenance best friend: there when you need it, doesn’t ask for much, and always smells incredible.
Getting Started
Lavender likes full sun, dry feet, and room to breathe. Whether you’re planting it in pots, raised beds, or right in the ground, give it: Plenty of sunshine (6+ hours a day); Well-drained soil (sandy or rocky is fine); A little space (it spreads, but in a polite way).
Try English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) or hardy hybrids like phenomenal lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia ‘Phenomenal’) if you’re in a humid zone. Water it a bit when you first plant, then back off—it’s drought-tolerant once settled. Those fragrant purple blooms will return every summer, and bees absolutely love them. Snip it back after it flowers to keep it happy and bushy.
English lavender is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family that is native to Mediterranean areas. It does not like to be wet and will die out in heavy clay. (Image credit: Couleur Lavande CC-BY-ND 2.0; Mebette Eckhardt; Aneo CC-BY-SA 2.0)
Turn Your Harvest into Sachets: Easy, Fragrant, and Fun
Once your lavender has bloomed, snip stems and hang them in small bunches to air dry for about two weeks in a cool, shaded area. The buds should feel dry and detach easily when rubbed. To make your sachets, you’ll need:
1/2 to 3/4 cup uncooked white rice.
2-3 tablespoons dried lavender buds.
Optional: A few drops of lavender essential oil.
Small fabric squares or drawstring pouches (cotton, muslin, linen, or upcycled scraps).
Mix the rice and dried lavender buds in a bowl. Add a couple drops of essential oil if desired.
Spoon the mixture into your pouch or place it at the center of your fabric square.
Tie securely with ribbon or string. If using fabric, gather the edges into a neat bundle.
Let the sachet rest for a day so the scent settles and begins to release evenly.
These lavender sachets make lovely drawer fresheners, calming pillow companions, and thoughtful gifts. The rice slowly releases the lavender fragrance and gives the sachets a pleasant weight and texture.
How Long Do They Last?
Scented sachets stay fragrant for 3 to 6 months depending on where you stash them. To refresh them, gently squeeze the bag or add a drop of essential oil to the rice mixture. Make a batch and you’ve got easy gifts or everyday comfort you can enjoy year-round. Whether you’re growing it for beauty, for bees, or for little bundles of good smells, lavender is a great addition to any garden. It’s unfussy, gorgeous, and gives you a sense of calm whenever you need it.
Image credit: Mebette Eckhardt)
So, grab your trowel, plant some lavender, and let your home bloom with a little beauty!
