July 9, 2018 - An early start for TCN for one of the must-do things of a summer on the island of Hvar - harvesting lavender. 

There are a few constants in my annual calendar - Christmas, my birthday, and a phone call from Croatian paparazzi, Jadran Lazic, each year in early July. 

"This year's harvest will be on Tuesday, July 9, at 06:00."

Of all the things this Manchester boy did not expect to do when he moved to Dalmatia, getting up at 5am and harvesting lavender was right up there. 

Jadran first took me to his slice of paradise on the top off Hvar six years ago, and this was how his 300 lavender bushes looked ahead of the inaugural harvest in 2013. 

Fast forward six years, and see how his babies have grown. 

And so I found myself setting my alarm for 5am this morning to take part in this lovely summer ritual. Some unexpected overnight rain brought some doubts that the harvest would take place as planned, but I headed off as planned as I had heard nothing to the contrary. Jadran called about 5.30am to say that the rain had sadly delayed the harvest. 

Not to worry, it was a glorious morning and a chance to a little time alone with this most beautiful of islands. As I was not far away from his place, I decided to take in his south-facing view, with Korcula in the distance. 

A view the workers enjoy each year with the grill Jadran puts on. Divine. 

I went off to his field to check out the lavender - such a lovely, aromatic plant. 

And the bees were busy, hopping from flower to flower. 

I was hoping to catch the sound of the bees in the video above, but just looking at the lavender is enough, perhaps. 

And the drive was as magnificent as the nature. 

The view north to the island of Brac, with the small island of Zecevo in the foreground. 

A lovely view of Hvar's UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stari Grad Plain, with the town of Stari Grad to its left on the coast, the village of Vrbanj in front of it. 

And a descent to the 2,000-year-old village of Pitve, the oldest village on Hvar. 

So no harvesting lavender today, but in case you are wondering what it is like, here is a great video of last year's harvest, with footage by Jadran Lazic and (including the drone) Jaksa Kuzmicic, edited by Miranda Milicic Bradbury. 

If you have never been on the top of the island, it truly is magical. The road is not asphalt, but if you go slowly, you will be fine with a regular car. The best road in and out is through the village of Humac, 6km east of Jelsa. Turn right as you enter the village and you will be on the toad which is on top of the spine of Hvar. Literally on top of paradise. 

To learn more about the island of Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.