Known for their visual and sensual appeal, lavenders have been grown for centuries in the garden and commercially for their essential oils. A free public lecture in Tumbarumba on Wednesday 7 September will introduce some of the 39 species and many hybrids of lavenders. Since 2002 Dr Nigel Urwin from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga has bred high yielding lavenders better suited to the Australian environment. His research, sponsored by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Larkman Nurseries, has produced some novel plants, including the world’s first commercially available ‘polyploid’ lavenders for farm and garden, and led to some interesting insights into the biology of lavenders. The lecture Breeding Lavenders in the Riverina for Farm and Garden will be held from 6pm in the Tumbarumba Shire Council Chambers in Bridge Street, Tumbarumba. CSU wine and cheese will be served after the lecture. Read more about Dr Urwin’s research here.