Lavandula officinalis
Lavender is our herb of the month this month. Since it is part of our logo and one of my all time favorites, I felt that it was the perfect choice. Lavender is often my go to herb for pretty much everything. The smell, the colors, the calming vibe, what’s not to just love about this amazing plant teacher? Not only is lavender a delight to have in the garden, it is also super easy to grow. It is drought resistant, loves the sun, does well in different types of soil, especially the sandy kind, and draws in our favorite pollinators. Lavender spreads out and shows us how to fill space in a sweet and unimposing way. From a small start, lavender grows and expands to a hearty shrub up to three feet tall. They do grow large so try to plant lavender where it has room to become the showy plant that we love. We have much to learn from the lovely lavender.
Lavender plants grow plentiful flowers in a beautiful pale purple or lilac color. They are easy to harvest and dry and hold their scent for a long time. The flowers are what is used in herbal preparations. The smell is calming, peaceful and inspires joy. The whole plant itself is such a gift to look at. A sea of pale blue green and purple, just feels relaxing. Although we are now reaching the end of the lavender flowering season, as I sit here with the lavender plants that live in my yard, they are still filled with visiting pollinators. These plants are still drawing in the bees and butterflies in a mutually beneficial dance of nature.
This amazing plant is an antiseptic, antibacterial, anti fungal, anti inflammatory, anti convulsive, and antidepressant.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy lavender is in tea. It adds an extra feeling of comfort and calm to any tea formula, especially a nice evening blend of lavender, oat straw, and lemon balm. I love using teas as a way to truly get to know a plant and its characteristics. I also find that it is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience nature. Taking a little time out of the day to get to know yourself and a new plant ally is one of the most sincere and heart opening ways that I have found to connect with our natural world. When I make tea I make sure to use that time to step away from any stresses or concerns and just be fully present. I like to breath the steam in deeply and take some time to fully appreciate the moment and the herbs swirling around in my little tea cup. The scent of lavender in particular, instantly transports me to a place of serenity.
I struggle with anxiety so lavender has been an amazing source to remind me that everything is ok. I use it so often in my daily life that I always make sure to have a bottle of the essential oil in my toiletry kit. I always have some at home and travel with a little bottle as well for anytime I feel overwhelmed or stressed. I put a couple of drops on my wrists and my neck and I feel some relief (it also just smells really nice, which is a plus for anyone around me.)
There are just so many things you can do with lavender. It is so versatile it can be used in teas, tinctures, topicals, facial steams, aroma therapy, or any other way you could think of. It adds a little extra to a refreshing lemonade or a kombucha. Lavender can also be quite a savior in the summer time. Not only is it refreshing to drink, it can also be added to a spritz for after sun care or some cooling relief in the hot sun. Peppermint, aloe, and lavender are a trifecta of summer care and relief. Lavender oil is also wonderful for skin care. It is helpful for bug bites and acne. I used a combination of lavender and tea tree to treat acne and shrink pesky pimples.