A particular plant with fragrant small purple
flowers that makes me smile.
You guessed it…it’s lavender.
Lavender is one of my favourite flowers.
My first year of secondary school was when I started
really noticing lavender plants and accelerated my love
for lavender.
There was a long walk to school and different areas
had amazing lavender bushes growing. I also have fond
memories of leisure strolls back from school.
The smell of lavender flowers to me has always been
uplifting, inspiring and refreshing.
Now when I get the chance, I let business owners know how
much I like lavender. Most professionals I come
across adore lavender.
After lavender bushes have grown out, kind Londoners let
me have lavender from their gardens. I then dry out the
lavender flowers.
The dried lavender flowers are put in different containers
at home for lovely aromatic potpourris.
I enjoy making lavender bags to put in cupboards,
drawers, hang in my bathroom and anywhere I can think of!
The name Lavender is derived from the Latin root ‘lavare’,
meaning ‘to wash or bathe’.
There are thirty-nine species of lavender (Lavandula spp.), most
of which are native to Eastern Europe, northern Africa, the
Mediterranean and western Asia. Lavender is in the mint family
(Lamiaceae).
The most common species grown and used medicinally is
Lavandula angustifolia, often called English lavender even though
it is native to the Mediterranean! The species name Angustifolia
means “narrow leaf.” Former scientific names include
Lavandula Officinalis.
Lavender has been used for centuries as an effective herbal remedy,
and does indeed appear to have anti-bacterial, anti-depressant,
anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, as well as antiseptic properties.
The fresh or dried flowers contain the medicinal properties of
lavender. Lavender indeed has many amazing benefits for
wellbeing. For instance, lavender tea is a traditional remedy
for headaches.
Lavender stems with the leaves removed can be burned like
an incense stick. These stems can also be used in crafts.
These crafts include basket weaving and making lovely
fragrant lavender wands for decoration.