For my 60th birthday, Laurie, Leo and Kerrie gave me not only vouchers to buy lavender plants but a voucher promising the clearing and digging work involved in creating a lavender bed - in exchange for tea and cakes! A very good deal, I think, and a very delightful present. It's looking beautiful now but in a few seasons time will fill out and create a whole mist of different purples and blues. At least, that's the idea.