Hi Rick. Sorry to be so late to the party. I live in Seattle. What part of WA gives you zone 8 you lucky thing?
I don't see a lot of Lavender in pots here on my walks, but it grows like an awesome weed in the ground. Pokes up between steps and all kind of magical things. Of course, if I went to the nursery and paid for it ...... it would perish for sure.
I do know that I bought a little plant at a yard sale in a strawberry jar that was doing just fine thank you, but boy, it flourished when it got to the ground.
I have the same lousy soil and painfully "filtered" sun. I think we have officially entered our 7 months of rain haven't we? Sigh.