Grow a Lavender Tree Year After Year
When I joined the staff at Matanzas Creek Winery in October 2002 as the estate lavender designer, I wanted to create something special and unique for the winery. I decided I would make a growing Christmas tree out of lavender, and each year I would add more lavender to it so that it would get larger and larger…this is why I call it a growing tree.
Materials:
35 lavender bunches (250 stems per bunch)
Rubber bands
2- to 3-inch dowel for trunk of tree
Floral ball of twigs (usually made of grapevines; found at most floral supply houses)
String of small clear or white holiday lights
Flat base optional
Star for top
Dried flowers for embellishing around star
White glue
Take five bunches of the lavender and make into one large bunch.
Take the large bunch and secure upside down with rubber bands and white glue around the bottom of the dowel, to form the bottom of the tree.
While holding carefully, add more bunches of lavender with rubber bands around dowel moving upward in a circular motion to form shape of tree. As you go higher and higher, less lavender is needed. Cut stem lengths accordingly. When you have the shape of the tree ready, allow time for glue to dry, up to 30 minutes.
While tree is drying, lace the ball of twigs with the holiday lights, entwining lights throughout ball.
When the tree is dry, put white glue on the bottom of the dowel and place it into the circular ball of twigs laced with holiday lights. Let dry.
Secure ball on flat base with glue or leave as is.
Secure star on top of tree with glue or wire. Add dried flowers around star for embellishment.
When all is in place and dry, add single lavender stems into the tree with white glue to fill in spots and shape into tree. This is a very important step and takes patience.
Each year, add freshly harvested dry lavender in a circular motion to fill in and shape.
Plug in lights and enjoy.
Instructions courtesy of Patricia Kaczmarek, lavender designer and production manager for Matanzas Creek Winery Estate’s line of lavender products.
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