My great-grandparents, Charles Austin Edson from Barnston, Quebec, and Elizabeth Barr Edson, from near Londonderry, Ireland, established a farm around 1880 in northwest Iowa. They named it Glenella.

Glenella Gardens, named in my great-grandparents' honor, are being developed to sustain a stand of mostly English lavenders which provide fragrant buds and flowers in mid-summer. Lavender has been held in high esteem for centuries for its relaxing and therapeutic properties. It also is a versatile and flavorful culinary herb, making it a delightful "crop" to grow on Washington Island.