Signs of Spring
Isn’t it lovely to hear and see the tūī’s feeding among the flowering kōwhai? They have also been visiting the proteas, even though the blooms are now past their best. We have seen many more kererū in our area this winter, too. We usually spot only one or two, so their increased presence has been a nice surprise.
The spring grass flush has arrived in a rush. The ewes and their three-month-old lambs are happily munching on the fresh young growth. Recent downpours have revived the drying earth, and we are now looking ahead to summer.
Markets and Shop News
Spring marks the beginning of our spring and summer market season. As we say every year, where did the first part of the year go? We were relieved to enjoy lovely weather at our first two markets: sunny, mild and surprisingly, wind-free for this time of year. Calm conditions make such a difference, as windy market days can be exhausting.
Stuart now attends many markets on his own while I “woman the shop” at weekends. For larger markets like Tawa, Martinborough and Newtown I tag along, and our lovely Lisa looks after the shop. Lisa is a delight, so please pop in and say hello when you are passing or looking for lavender products and gifts.
In the Lavender Field
A walk through the lavender field reveals the first signs of change: the plants are shedding their winter-brown coats, with dots of green appearing here and there. Growth will accelerate from now on, and within a few weeks the field should become a sea of green. The purple blooms will follow in due course.
The weeds are already making an appearance, so “the royal we” need to start pulling them before they take over. Now is the ideal time to get on top of them, while much of the lavender is still waking from its winter slumber.
New Lavender Treats
- Culinary lavender: Our range is selling well in the shop and online, which is wonderful to see.
- Lavender fudge: A fresh delivery from Choice Fruits arrived this week and is available in the shop. They will also be creating more products for our culinary lavender range, expected in about a month.
- Lavender chocolates: Coming very soon are Lemon Lavender Enchantment and Orange Lavender Mystique. We are very excited!
Award-Winning Oils—Again!
And, of course, we must share the news—although those who follow Lavender Abbey may already know – we won again!
We were thrilled to receive Gold and Silver Awards, along with the trophy for Best Lavandula angustifolia for our 2026 Violet Intrigue lavender oil. Consistency matters to us because it reassures you that our oils are not simply a one-off success. We have been consistent, multi-award-winning lavender oil producers since 2015. If we may say so ourselves, you really can’t do better than that.
Until Next Time
Enjoy these first months of spring. We look forward to seeing you at a market, in the shop, online or back here in a month or so.