The acorns are an excellent food source for wildlife since the fruit are one of the first of the landscape oaks to ripen. Herb of the Year Lavender Lavendula sp. The International Herb Association has announced the selection of lavender as the 1999 Herb of the Year. Lavender has been long revered by women and men of all ages for its distinctive, fragrant leaves and flowers. For centuries, lavender has been a key ingredient in soaps, shampoos, perfume, lotions, sachet bags, potpourri, and seasoning blends.
Lavender is an integral part of herb gardens.
It also makes a good addition to perennial borders, annual gardens, and as edging for shrub borders. The flower spikes that appear in summer can range in color from white to pink to purple. The flowers are often used for decorative arts and crafts. Lavender prefers a sunny site and well-drained soils. While lavender thrives in many areas of the country it is not reliably cold hardy in many areas in Iowa.