Backroads mom

This is perhaps one of my all time favorite herbs to grow, harvest, smell, and make products with. It’s a hardy perennial with a heady smell and the pollinators love it as well. Lavender is quite easy to grow in zones 5-8, however it does need a sunny , warm location with well drained soil.

Space 12-24 inches apart in a well drained slightly sandy soil. For beginners I recommend getting a few established plants from the nursery rather than trying to grow from seed.

Lavender plants do not like wet feet, they prefer a good soaking every now and again but prefer hot and dry conditions.

To harvest cut flower buds when they are just opening and preferably early in the morning when the oils are more concentrated. Avoid cutting into the woody stems.

Lavender has medicinal qualities as well as a calming aesthetic. It’s calming, relaxing and uplifting. It also acts as a mild antidepressant as well as an analgesic. It has antibacterial, anti fungal, and antiseptic properties.

Though lavender flowers are used in all manner of medicinal preparations the essential oil of lavender is often referred to as “first aid in a bottle.”

It’s great in a soothing tea blend. Perfect in a hot bath after a long day. You can make a massage oil or a compress for headaches. Also don’t forget that lavender is edible! It’s great in salads or in desserts. You can make it into syrup for lattes add it to vinaigrette or flavor honey.

Calming lavender massage oil

• 1 1/2 ounces dried lavender buds
• 4 ounces almond, apricot or grape seed oil
• 5-10 drops lavender essential oil

To make the oil

Place the lavender buds in a wide mouth glass quart jar. Pour the oil over the buds, put on the lid, and let sit in a warm, sunny spot for 2 to 3 weeks.

Strain the buds from the oil and add the essential oil drop by drop, until the scent is to your liking. Bottle and store in a cool spot out of direct sunlight, where the oil will keep for at least 6 months.

To use:

Keep a small bottle by your bedside to use for an evening massage and a small bottle next to the tub for a calming moisturizer post bath!

Lavender-lemon Balm calming tea

To make the tea

Boil water in a teapot. To a mug add 1 teaspoon of dried or 1 tablespoon each of fresh lemon balm and lavender buds. Poor hot water over herbs to steep. Cover with saucer to keep volatile oils in the cup. Steep for ten minutes. Strain and add milk or honey to taste.

I hope you are inspired to add this culinary master to your garden!