There’s a question I get sometimes from people who’ve noticed our garden or received a bundle like the one that came with this tag: What does lavender have to do with real estate?
More than you’d think!
Lavender is known for it’s fragrance and relaxation qualities. But did you know it is also a hardy, xeric and cold tolerant plant that can withstand almost anything? (except extreme cold.) It also has countless culinary and therapeutic uses, and it one of the most versatile plants grown around the world.
Our family is rooted in Colorado – a state where Lavender grows quite well when many other plants struggle with our often-extreme conditions. We garden. We grow food, cut flowers, and raise bees in our downtime as a family. But the lavender hedges are truly my favorite part of the property.
There’s something about working a piece of ground – reading the conditions, deciding what goes where, knowing when to move and when to wait – that feels so familiar to me in my line of work. It’s the same instinct I use every day in this business.
I’ve spent my career across development, entitlements, commercial and residential brokerage, and investment sales in Douglas and El Paso County. Before that, I was VP at the Downtown Partnership, where I helped drive over $2 billion in downtown Colorado Springs investment, and a development director at Greystar building multifamily across Colorado. A lot of that work is about reading the ground before you plant anything in it – knowing the difference between patience and stalling, and between caution and fear.
What people want in a real estate professional, I’ve found, is the same thing lavender offers in a garden: something that can reliably withstand tough conditions, delivers without drama, can be applied to different scenarios and assets, yet somehow also brings peace and tranquility.
I like to think that surrounding myself with this plant has led me to adopt some of it’s qualities. I figure out what you need and I get it done – reducing your stress in the process and creating something unique and beautiful – a place to flourish.
The bundle came from our garden. Below are three of my favorite ways to use it, because good things deserve to be used, not just kept on a shelf.
-Sarah
THREE WAYS TO USE IT
Lavender Lemonade
A Colorado summer staple. The lavender simple syrup is the real trick – make a double batch and keep it in the fridge all season to add to a latte, tea or seltzer too.
Serves 6 · Prep 25 min · Plus cooling time
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tbsp dried lavender buds
1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
4 cups cold water
Ice, lemon slices, and lavender to serve
Method:
- Combine 1 cup water, sugar, and lavender buds in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves, then bring to a gentle simmer. Remove from heat.
- Let steep 20–25 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing gently. Discard buds and let syrup cool completely.
- Combine lemon juice, cooled lavender syrup, and 4 cups cold water in a pitcher. Stir well. Taste and adjust — add more water for lighter, more syrup for stronger.
- Serve over ice with lemon slices and a sprig of lavender. The syrup keeps refrigerated for two weeks.
Lavender Bath Salts
You can use the dried bundle directly – no extras required. But if you want to make a full batch to keep, here’s the recipe. The Epsom salt is what your muscles are actually after.
Makes 10–12 uses · Prep 5 min
Ingredients:
2 cups Epsom salt
½ cup coarse sea salt
2 tbsp baking soda
3 tbsp dried lavender buds
10 drops lavender essential oil (optional)
Method:
- Combine both salts and baking soda in a bowl. Mix well.
- Add the lavender buds and stir to distribute evenly. Add essential oil if using and mix again.
- Store in a sealed glass jar. Use ¼ to ½ cup per bath — drop directly into warm running water and let it dissolve before stepping in.
- Your dried lavender bundle also works beautifully on its own. Tie it with the string and hang it under the faucet as the tub fills — the hot water does the rest.
Lavender Steak Rub
The unexpected one. Lavender is a culinary herb – it’s floral, yes, but earthy enough to hold its own against beef. It caramelizes on a hot sear and gives a depth you won’t identify right away but won’t stop thinking about. Use it with confidence.
Serves 2 · Prep 10 min · Plus 30 min rest
Ingredients:
1 tbsp dried lavender buds, crushed
1 tbsp coarse kosher salt
1 tsp cracked black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
½ tsp brown sugar
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Method:
- Crush lavender buds and rosemary with a mortar and pestle or the back of a spoon until roughly ground — not powder, just broken open enough to release their oils.
- Combine with salt, pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, and paprika. Mix well.
- Pat your steak dry with a paper towel. Press the rub firmly into both sides. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or refrigerate uncovered for up to 4 hours.
- Sear over high heat — cast iron or a hot grill — 3–4 minutes per side for medium rare. Rest 5 minutes before cutting. Ribeye or NY strip work best, but this rub won’t let you down on a good flank either.
Ready to make your next move?
Whether it’s your home, a commercial space, land, investment, or just figuring out what’s possible or building your team outside this market – I’d love to be the person you call. No pressure, no pitch. Just a conversation.
Sarah Humbargar · Associate Broker · Shift Real Estate
sarah@sarahhumbargar.com · (719) 339-0712 · Castle Rock, CO