| Lavender has been around for years, in fact | | | | windows and doorways. |
| several thousand years. Popular with the Greeks | | | | Cuttings of 10 and 20 cm from late summer to |
| and Romans the name in Latin is "lavare" which | | | | autumn can propagate lavender. The cuttings |
| means to wash. It has many uses which include | | | | taken from non-flowering shoots, either by cutting |
| decoration, culinary, cosmetic, aromatic, household | | | | or from heel cuttings. Grown from seed some |
| use, and medicinal. Widely planted it is hardy | | | | lavender varieties can become rampant if left to |
| perennial and well known with English and French | | | | their own devices. In autumn or spring tidy plants |
| varieties, and the lesser-known Dutch and Spanish | | | | by clipping back, prune the hedges and those |
| varieties. | | | | plants that are looking straggly. |
| It is an easy herb or plant to grow in most sunny | | | | The flowers are picked just as they open, but |
| gardens, its silvery blue colored fine leaves | | | | the leaves may be picked at any time. |
| complementing roses, as the bushy plants fill the | | | | Using the flowers for decoration, they are picked |
| gaps under and between the roses. | | | | and hung in bunches to dry, added to floral |
| Lavender likes an open sunny position that is well | | | | arrangements. Dried flowers added to herb |
| drained, sandy and has some lime content. The | | | | pillows, sachets, and bundles for a myriad of uses |
| size of the bushes varies between 30 cm and 80 | | | | around the house, cupboards and drawers. The |
| cm and they may spread between 40 and 80 | | | | flowers can be used as a tea infusion for treating |
| cm. They are evergreen plants and used widely in | | | | stress and anxiety conditions. |
| many gardens. | | | | Oils obtained from L.angustifolia, L.stoechas, |
| They are a feature in cottage gardens, and are | | | | L.intermedia, and L.latifolia are used in baths, |
| indispensable plants for flowering and fragrance. | | | | massage and aromatherapy. Other uses of the oil |
| Their use in the garden should be close to where | | | | are in the soap or blended and used in the natural |
| people can enjoy the fragrance either from | | | | treatment of anxiety, insomnia and depression. |
| brushing past, running hands over the fine leaves. | | | | Oil can be dropped on pillowcases, handkerchiefs, |
| The flowers are in shades of purple or violet, | | | | or added to the final rinse in the washing machine |
| being the most common, and also white and pink. | | | | in order to add to the wonderful scent to clothes |
| The plants look nice as hedges surrounding an | | | | and linen. |
| herb garden, down driveways, or close to | | | | No wonder the Greeks and Romans loved it. |