Fellow Get Growing blogger Craig Sailor and I just sailed back to the News Tribune office after a trip to the Tacoma Farmers Market in search of eggplant starts for Craig and herb starts for me.

It looked as if the veggie starts are starting to cycle out, but there were plenty of herbs.

Attention bargain shoppers: Steve White, co-owner of Morgan Creek farms with wife Donna, had tomato starts (green zebras and a few others) "take 'em please" priced at $2 each.

I bought a tarragon start from Cheryl The Pig Lady's booth (she said business has been good). Then, I popped over to the Ambergardens booth and bought a blue cushion lavender from Laura Pittman-Hewitt.

The Ambergarden booth is the one to hit if you are in search of lavender. Pittman-Hewitt had several varieties: Jean Davis, munstead, gross, silver frost, Spanish and ladden blue today. Her favorite? Royal velvet. "It's the darkest lavender there is. It dries to a nice dark purple. And it's great for cooking," she said.

I am sitting here eating lunch (granola from Marlene's Market, and a peach) sniffing my blue cushion lavender. I suddenly feel better, more calm. Maybe.

Some photos Craigenator shot at the market:

The lavender at the Ambergarden booth.

Steve White, of Morgan Creek farm