Lavender Lou: Rooted in Love

Christina Stroeh
8 hours ago
2 min read

Introducing Lavender Lou

Lavender Sachets: Rooted in Love

I live on an acre overlooking a river, covered in giant oaks and redwoods. My yellow cottage — my safe place — is dwarfed by these trees, yet it sits proudly in the center of nature’s comings and goings.

For over 30 years, I have balanced my love of beautiful gardens with my desire to let the wild things thrive. I’ve learned which plants the gophers and squirrels will devour, which crave sun or shade, which are moody, and which withstand drought without complaint. It has been a grand experiment — one that now attracts bees, butterflies, countless birds, and even seasonal nests of owls and red-tailed hawks.

I haven’t given up on my roses or fruit trees. They still valiantly offer their gifts each year. But through all these years, I have come to one steady conclusion: the one plant that survives everything is Provence lavender.

During the pandemic, it became clear I didn’t have enough to do. So I built an amphitheater in my backyard for family and friends. When that wasn’t enough, I planted a lavender field at the top of my property — starting with 40 plants.

The crops were consistent. The blooms were beautiful. The scent was divine.

So I planted another 40 below the pool area. Two weeks later, I planted even more — but forgot the gopher baskets to place beneath them. I lost nearly all of that section. Lesson learned.

Luckily, my dry, rocky soil is perfect for lavender. It thrives here.

For the past two years, I’ve been harvesting and creating sachets — dressed in Liberty fabrics, quilting cottons, and vintage handkerchiefs. I tuck them into closets to keep moths away, slip them into drawers to scent linens, and keep one by my bedside to help me sleep.

Lavender has quietly become our favorite friend.

My middle name is Louise — “Renowned Warrior.” It’s my mother’s middle name too. She gave me the name Lavender Lou and helped inspire the logo — lavender hair and all. The overalls and Crocs? That’s exactly what I wear every spring and summer in the garden.

The logo was designed by one of my favorite creative partners, Lais Fonseca.

And maybe most importantly — this lavender reminds me of my sister, who passed away almost two years ago. Her love of lavender was legendary. The last gift I sent her was an oversized sachet she lovingly called her “Support Lavender.”

Gardening is creative — design, scent, color, texture, form. It's a love of nature. Love of bees. Love of memory. Lavender is creative too.

Lavender is love.

Lavender Lou sachets are now available in limited batches. Each one is handmade from my garden to yours.

To order or inquire, please email me at christina.stroeh@gmail.com or send a message through my website at https://www.christinastroeh.com/.