Lavender Dreaming

I can tell that summer has arrived when I look out of the kitchen and office windows and see vibrant purple lavender swaying in the breeze!  Brushing past the plants and catching their beautiful fragrance is simply delightful. The plant is known for its calming and relaxing properties and it has so many uses.  The flower buds have the highest concentration of essential oils and are the most fragrant part of the plant.  Here are a couple ideas that I tried with my plants last year:

​Dried Lavender
The best type to dry is English lavender as it contains more oil than other varieties.  I cut longish stems as soon as the buds opened and when they were completely dry.  I hung them in small bunches, upside down in a warm, dry place (out of sunlight so they didn’t fade) You know when they are dry enough when you can rub the buds off the stems between your finger tips.  I made little fabric bags, filled them with lavender and tied the tops securely. I keep mine on my pillow for a relaxing sleep!  If I gently rub the fabric and activate the buds I can still inhale the fragrance from last summer.

Lavender Bath Salts
1 ¼ cups Epsom salts
1 ¼ cups of dried lavender flowers
Few drops of lavender essential oil
Combine in a glass jar
(enough for two baths)
​
Lavender in cooking
​I haven’t used lavender in cooking, but I went for an afternoon tea where lavender scones were served and they were very tasty.  In a shop I’ve seen lavender shortbread, lavender infused oil and lavender lemonade. Lavender certainly has endless uses.

My Lavender Dreams candle is one of our bestsellers.  It’s soothing and relaxing and I love to burn this one in the evenings.  Along with a lavender soap in the bath it’s definitely my time for some peace and quiet!