Friday's Flowers ~ Lavender


 Lavender!

Culinary lavender is usually English lavender, the most commonly used species in cooking (L. angustifolia 'Munstead'). It is also the type most visited by bees.

Bees

By bees, we mean all bees! We love our honey bee but the world of bees is huge and this lovely plant is appealing to many of them. Supporting all insects can only serve to strengthen the world of our loved honey bee. 



Uses

Lavender has many uses beyond the garden.If you are into aromatherapy you might try your hand at drying some for use in the home. Known for it's stress reducing effects, putting a sachet in the bedroom may bring sleep to the sleepless. Are you a culinary artist? Lavender is a treat in all courses not just desserts! If you are lucky and have lots of land, lavender can be grown as a cash crop. 

Organic

Remember to keep it as organic as you can. Buy organic or sustainable seeds or plants. Many fertilizers and herbicides and pesticides are endemic once on the plant. This means the chemicals are in the pollen and nectar of the plants! Then the bees harvest compromised forage. Do the best you can to buy or grow sustainably.


‘Planting lavender - and other flowers - in city areas could help to support populations of pollinators in those habitats.’







 

Grow it!

  • Easy to grow shrub

  • Flowers in late spring and summer

  • Evergreen foliage, usually silver-grey or grey-green

  • Best planted in spring, in free-draining soil

  • Thrives in full sun and is drought tolerant 

  • Many types are hardy, but avoid planting in cold, damp spots

  • Prune annually to keep compact

  • Easy to propagate from cuttings

  • Leaves and flowers used for drying, eating and aromatherapy

  • Flowers are very attractive to bees and other pollinating insects



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