Lavender Flower

One of my favorite flowers is Lavender.
The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths .
Lavender has been used to promote a sense of calm for centuries.
Lavender plants are one of the few flowering plants, that require minimal care and maintenance
Lavender requires good drainage and prefers at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

Try to plant from spring until early summer. Plants put in the ground in late summer seem to have a harder time surviving the first winter.
If you are not sure about the drainage, dig a generous hole and mix the soil with sand before returning the soil mixture to the hole.

Pruning can be done either in spring or fall. Simply cut back anything un-shapely. Pruning is to maintain the shape an appearance of the plant. I like to cut back the growth not more than halfway if needed.
This cutting often causes another round of flower blooms and more lovely Lavender!


Start harvesting lavender when the flowers become vivid in color. Harvest early in the morning after the dew has dried. Harvested lavender has many uses; you can make fresh or dried arrangements or wreaths, or process it to use in soaps, candles, and cosmetics.
Lavender is a very special herbal tisane which has calming effects that helps relieve stress, fatigue, headache and insomnia. Drinking a cup of Lavender tea before going to bed is known to promote restful sleep. This tea blends well with mint leaves. Try it.

Queen Elisabeth, who loved lavender, used it in tea to treat her frequent migraines and as a perfume.
Queen Victoria was a great enthusiast in the use of lavender. Fresh lavender was dried and put into muslin bags for wardrobes, used to wash walls and furniture and lavender bags were stuffed between sheets in linen presses.
You can also use Lavender to cook with in "sweet" and or "savory" meals.