Lavender

Hi Graham. Unless you can find somebody growing it under glass I should imagine that you would have difficulty buying it anywhere at Christmas. The good news is of course that it dries beautifully and drying even intensifies the smell. You will certainly be able to buy dried lavender, either rubbed off the stalks in sachets or still on the stalk. Best place to try is arty/crafty shops but if you can't find it locally then certainly someone on the web will sell it. Just Google (or whatever) 'buy dried lavender'. I did and got loads of places. Can't recommend one though because I've never bought it. I grow it and give it away but I'm afraid I have none left this year.

I know they grow a lot of lavender in the Channel islands, I once saw a picture of my sister holidaying there and she was sitting in endless fields of lavender. Why not google for lavender plants and perhaps you'll get a nursery which sells it right now. Good luck.