HERMLEIGH - It took Cherisse Flanagan one month to stop laughing at her husband's idea to start a lavender farm.

That was in 2003. Since then, Danny Flanagan's idea has sprouted into the Joyce Lavender Ranch, where the fields are covered with round purple shrubs instead of cotton plants.

The farm, nestled in between Snyder and Roby, opens its gates to visitors several weekends a year. The last open house of the summer season will be held this weekend. During the weekends, visitors can hand cut their own lavender bundles, sample lavender-infused lemonade or buy lavender plants. The farm opened for the season two weeks ago and more than 500 people have visited the ranch, said Danny Flanagan.

Jim and Frances Stephens traveled from O'Donnell , a town 45 minutes south of Lubbock, to pick their bundles Sunday. The couple's love of lavender started five years ago when their organic cotton mill helped a friend make 25,000 eye pillows filled with lavender, flaxseed and frankincense.

''That's a lot of pounds of lavender,'' Jim Stephens said with a laugh.

The Flanagans help their parents, Jerilynn and Gary Yungblut, run the ranch, which is named after Jerilynn Yungblut's grandfather, cattleman R.E. Joyce.

Danny Flanagan said that their land is ideal for cultivating the plant because of the altitude, sandy soil and hot climate, much like the climate of the lavender capital of the world, Provence, France. While the plants from Provence are mostly used for perfumes, lavender also has calming powers, said Cherisse Flanagan.

Lavender oil produces a sense of relaxation and can help with insomnia, Flanagan said.

Joyce Lavender Ranch Open House

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

Lectures will be held both days: 11 a.m. - How to grow lavender and rosemary; 1 p.m. - Aromatherapy and relaxation

Cost: Free admission; lavender bundles $5

Location: About 10 miles southeast of Snyder on County Road 4151, off of U.S. Highway 180.

Web site: www.joycelavender.com