Ojai Lavender and Rose Company

Check us out in the 2009 summer issue of Country Gardens!

"Meet the Farmer" event at Bristol Farms in Newport Beach promoting our Pixie tangerines, sponsored by Melissa's Produce. Their head chef, Tom Fraker, developed the recipe below and provided tasty samples for the special promotion.  

Ojai Pixie Tangerine and Fennel Salad, serves 5

2 fennel bulbs, trimmed, tops removed, sliced
8 Ojai Pixie Tangerines, peeled and segmented
3 Tbsp. dried blueberries
1/4 c. champagne vinegar
1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Place the first 3 ingredients in a bowl and toss to incorporate.
In another bowl, whisk together the vinegar and olive oil.
Add to the salad, toss and season with salt and pepper.

Two years ago I decided to design a cheery yellow border. The plants needed to be hardy to withstand drought and poor soil. I included Phlomis fruticosa, Jerusalem sage. With its woolly gray-green leaves and golden yellow flowers, it's the backbone of the border. Next comes Achillea filipendulina, in Coronation Gold. This yarrow is a rather long stemmed flower which can reach 3' tall and has large heads. Both Phlomis and yarrow dry beautifully for use in fall decorations. For the front, there is a mix of Ruta graveolens, 'Jackman's Blue' rue, which is compact and doesn't flower like the common type, and lamb's ear, Stachys byzantina, 'Countess Helen von Stein', which is a non-blooming variety. The delicate gray-blue leaves of rue and the fuzzy green of the lamb's ear provide excellent contrast to the golden-yellow flowers of phlomis and yarrow.

Next year don't forget to buy your tickets early to attend the Garden Extravaganza in Cambria, California.
Always the weekend after Mother's Day, enjoy workshops, music, food, prize drawings, and free demonstrations at Cambria Nursery and Florist, 805-927-4747.
And of course join the always lovely Cambria Garden Tour, which features 6 inspiring gardens, complete with gourmet treats from local restaurants. www.cambriagardentour.com. 
The enchanting Cambria Pines Lodge is my favorite place to stay, enhanced with several themed gardens and a delicious breakfast buffet. 1-800-445-6868.