 Texas, with it's varied and beautiful landscape and rich cultural history has served to inspire many to fulfill their dreams. Such was the case of Robb Kendrick, a National Geographic photographer who fell in love with the Texas Hill Country, there was just one thing missing....Lavender.
Kendrick and his wife Jeannie Ralston had traveled the world and noticed immediately the similarities between the Hill Country near Blanco and Provence, France where Kendrick had shot a story for National Geographic. Provence, is renowned world wide for it's abundant, hearty and breathtakingly beautiful lavender fields and so the couple began to form an idea of bringing lavender to Texas.
The lavender industry is growing in Blanco, now in it's eighth year and thanks to the Kendricks and that first 2000 acres they planted the area now boasts over ten lavender farms. As with most agricultural endeavors it has not been with out its ups and downs but the local lavender farmers are a tight knit group and share with each other their experiences and with any visitors to the area their love of lavender.
The group realized there was no better way to share their love of lavender than to create a festival celebrating their beautiful crop. In 2005, the Blanco Chamber of Commerce hosted Blanco's First Annual Lavender Festival, and the huge attendance of this event inspired grower Charley Pemberton (one of the first growers in the area to attend a Kendrick seminar) to seek out state recognition for the festival as the "Lavender Festival of Texas". Charley, also later received the LAVENDER CAPITAL OF TEXAS registered service mark which he donated to the town of Blanco in February 2007. Both of these titles have brought even more attention to the new industry in Texas and an additional source of tourism dollars to Blanco.
 For those of you unfamiliar with lavender not only is it a beautiful and fragrant flower it has many medicinal properties and is often used in food products and fine cooking as well. In fact in ancient Europe lavender was known as the magical and religious herb. It has been reported to lift depression at the mere sight of the flower, relieve headaches and tension by drinking it as a tea or rubbing the essential oils into the temples, increase blood flow and relieve muscle spasms, the list goes on and on. No wonder people are happy and in love with lavender in Blanco!
The Lavender Festival of Texas is a great opportunity to experience the lavender farms and the inspiring countryside of Blanco, Texas. Set for June 8 - 9 the two day event includes a Laveneder market to be held on the grounds of the Old Blanco County Courthouse where an assortment of vendors, and artists will be selling lavendar items and lavender related goods. Market hours are 9-6 on Sat. and 9-5 on Sunday.
All ten lavender farms participating in the 2007 Blanco Lavender Festival will have booths at the market, each featuring their lavender and lavender-related products. Live entertainment and food are a part of the celebrations as well.
 During the festival nine of the farms will be open for touring, admission is free to all farms and maps will be available at the festival grounds. There are a variety of farms available to see most within twenty minutes of each other so it will be easy to see several in a days time. Each farm will have its own activities and tours planned, some farms will even allow visitors to pick their own lavender. Visitors will get a chance to see the lavender farming industry in different stages of development and grow to appreciate the effort of these farmers to create a new and thriving agricultural industry to the Hill Country.
Adding to the fesitivities neighboring community Johnson City (childhood home of President Lydon Baines Johnson) will host "Johnson City Lavender Evenings with Arts and Music" Friday, June 8, and Saturday, June 9. Events will include Music in the Park, entertainment and dancing, late evening opening of the LBJ Historical Park, with art galleries and shops open until 10.
Blanco is in the Texas Hill Country 40 miles north of San Antonio and 48 miles West of Austin.
Full of Hill Country charm, the town is graced by no less than 37 buildings and a courthouse that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Blanco, which means "white" in Spanish, was so named because of it's notable limestone banks along the river. Established in 1853 by pioneer stockmen who fought long and hard to fortify their homes and ranches against hostile Comanche, the community has been a ranch and farm trade center since its inception, and still depends largely on agriculture and livestock as its economic base. So the addition of lavendar farms to the area is a natural one due largely to the climate and alkaline limestone soils that make the area particularly suitable for growing lavendar.
Area Hotels:
Blanco County Inn: Pet friendly motel conveniently located near the Square, 830-833-4502, www.blancocountyinn.com
Blanco Settlement: Quaint cabins & RV park a little more than 1 mile east of Blanco, 830-833-5115, www.blancosettlement.com
Chantilly Lace Country Inn: Six acres of beautifully landscaped gardens in the wilderness of Johnson City, 830-868-2767, www.chantillylacesoaps.com
Das Zuehl Haus: Two bedroom home in Blanco offering hot tub, Cable TV, antique furnishings. Close to Lavender Hill & State Park, 830-833-5745.
Fischer Haus: Victorian Farmhouse 15 miles east of Blanco in Fischer, 830-935-3011, www.thefischerhaus.com
Flat Creek Forest: Restored farm home 3 miles east of Blanco, 830-833-5465, www.flatcreekforest.com
Green Gables: Premier guest cabins 10 miles southeast of Blanco, 830-833-5931, www.greengables-tx.com
Lighthouse Hill Ranch: Three bedroom ranch house 12 miles northeast of Blanco, 512-587-9656, www.lighthousehillranch.com
Canyon Lake — 15 - 25 Miles East of Blanco, Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, 830-964-3332, www.canyonlakechamber.com
Fredericksburg — 30 Miles West of Blanco, Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, 830-997-6523, www.fredericksburg-texas.com
Johnson City — 12 Miles North of Blanco, Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, 830-868-5700, www.lbjcountry.com
Wimberley — 30 Miles East of Blanco, Wimberley Chamber of Commerce, 512-847-2201, www.wimberley.org
Area RV Campgrounds:
Blanco State Park:
29 campsites with varying amenities and sizes
Miller Creek RV Park:
Charming cabins and RV campground 8.5 miles north of Blanco, 830-868-2655, www.millercreekrvpark.com
River Oaks Riverfront RV Resort
520 River Oaks Dr.
Blanco Texas 78606
830-833-2322
Johnson City — 12 Miles North of Blanco, Johnson City Chamber of Commerce, 830-868-5700, www.lbjcountry.com
Canyon Lake — 15 - 25 Miles East of Blanco, Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce, 830-964-3332, www.canyonlakechamber.com
Area Restaurant Options:
Blanco Rose: Rustic and quaint, offering lunch 6 days a week, located just south of Blanco on Highway 281, 830-833-2888 www.patsythompson.com/blancorose/
Riley's Bar B Que/Steakhouse: Conveniently located on the Square in Blanco, open for lunch and dinner, 830-833-4166 www.rileysbarbq.com
Sunset Restaurant: Varied menu offering lunch and dinner 6 days a week (closed Tuesday), and breakfast on weekends, located behind the Courthouse on the Square in Blanco, 830-833-5776
The Deutsch Apple Bakery & Coffee House: Providing world famous pastries daily except Sunday, 830-833-2882 www.homemadepies.com
Resource information from Blanco Lavendar Festival website and Blanco Chamber of Commerce.
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