Heath harvests unusual crop

Although the combines are still harvesting wheat in eastern Laramie County, Master Gardener Mike Heath recently finished up harvesting a more unusual crop at his farm.

Heath last week finished his annual lavender harvest.

"I was actually about two weeks late because I had some people who wanted to come out and see the fields," he said. "I started (July 26) and finished up (July 29).

Lavender is just one of the many plant varieties to be found at Heath's place. He grows it to make essential oils and hydrosol or "flower water."

Heath said he has about 1,300 lavender plants that he harvests each...