The absolute best thing about owning an herb greenhouse business is that I can justify spending money for herbs that I might not have been able to afford or justify the expense of before. I've always wanted to "collect" lavender, and now that we're trying to decide what lavender grows best in our corner of the world, I can do just that.
Currently we have about 10 different varieties from Munstead to Lavender Lady to Vincenza Blue. I'm amazed at the difference in each variety. Some of the varieties don't even look like lavender blooms. The first time my Kew Red bloomed, I had to look twice at the tag before I believed it was actually lavender. With its burgundy-ish honeycomb-shaped flower, it was certainly a far cry from the blueish purple spires that my grandmother used to dry... but it has rapidly become my favorite variety!
I have been very disappointed with some of our lavender plants that are growing in gallon plastic pots. The plants look beautiful until you notice that the base of the greenery (silvery?) looks a bit motheaten. I took advantage of the sparse bottom growth to make up several combo pots and I've gotten myriad compliments from the results. The most gorgeous one by far is the Kew Red Lavender with Swiss Mint growing at its base. The Mint winds among the bald branches and fills in with green, so the lavender sprigs and blooms seem to pop out at you. Another favorite is a Vicenza Blue surrounded by a circle of Lamb's Ears. All grey, but such different textures and leaf shapes. I did another combination planting with a striped perennial grass around a French Lavender. With the combo of silvery green and white stripes against the fringed edges (some people call it Fringed Lavender mistakenly) I don't mind that it doesn't bloom as often as some other varieties.
I wish Downy Lavender was a little less tender. I have yet to get mine to go through a winter, although they grow so quickly and so large that it's not really that big a deal to replant every spring. Last year, the butterflies covered the one we had at the entrance to the greenhouse so thick that one of our clients said they thought the plant actually had yellow flowers. They were surprised to see that it was a lavender. One of our beekeeping clients says she plants Downy Lavender near their beehives and have gotten some of the best honey they've had in years.
Lavender isn't just for sachets any more either. There are soooo many things you can do with Lavender. One of the most common craft projects of course is Lavender Wands. I've never tried it, but I think they're gorgeous, and the one that Calera McHenry gave me still smells as wonderful as the day I received it... a couple of years ago. Directions for making wands can be found at http://tipnut.com/how-to-make-a-lavender-wand/
Lavender is now considered a culinary plant and many upscale restaurants include dishes featuring lavender on their menus. While there's no doubt that lavender can add a special something to many recipes, you have to be careful or your dish can end up tasting as if you've doused it with perfume. Lavender must definitely be added with a light hand!
Lavender has astringent properties, and long before alchohol was available in the first aid kit for cleansing wounds, nurses knew to include lavender in their patients' bathwater and as they cleansed wounds. The scent of the lavender had the added benefit of calming patients and allowing them to get much-needed sleep. Many baby bath-wash and powder products include lavender for that same reason. Dusting your pillow with a bit of lavender powder can help ensure sweet dreams to come.
Queen Victoria is probably the one person most reponsible for increasing the herb's popularity; during her reign lavender was used in everything from mop water to linen sprays. Ladies-in-waiting used lavender perfume to mask the body odor that invariably is present when you live in a society that does not include bathing as part of a daily ritual. Victoria wasn't the only queen to prefer the scent of lavender. Over the centuries lavender has become the scent of choice for many queens so it has the reputation of royal significance.
Although I can't bring myself to eat lamb, I am told that European shepherds still feed lavender to lambs before harvest because it makes their meat more tender and sweeter. And lavender is used sparingly in many lamb recipes. Personally, I'll stick to the breads and scented sugars.
I'll keep you posted on how our various lavender varieties are doing and I love for you to share your experiences with the varieties you have purchased from us. We keep a log of what plants and varieties appear to be more hardy in our Zone 7 gardens. At the moment, our Hidcote is blooming, and is giving Kew Red a run for its money as they vie for top spot in my heart (and garden).
Until next time, happy herbin'!
0 comments:
Post a Comment