Lavender is ubiquitous in the south of France. There are bushes almost everywhere, wild or cultivated. Provence, two hours east, is especially known for its purple fields, but the entire southern half of the country has a climate conducive to their propagation.
They are easy to grow and don’t require a lot of water. That’s a good thing because we’ve been experiencing droughts in many locations. Even my own area is on alert requesting farmers to reduce their water usage to certain times of the day and by 50%.
I think it’s safe to say that lavender is adored by almost everyone. It is used in perfumes, hand and body soaps, laundry detergents, as a home remedy to ward away the common cold, to provide fragrance for one’s clothing, to keep scorpions away, and even for cooking.
I have a friend in Paris who introduced me to the homeopathic use of lavender. She had two young daughters and would apply a bit of lavender oil on their upper lips below the nostrils when they went to bed to fight off a cold.
The soaps here are amazing and I usually buy the lavender-scented liquid hand soaps and laundry detergents. Why not?
Scorpions are apparently quite common though I’ve never seen one, but the trick to keep them out of one’s house is to have a twig of lavender on the window ledge.
And as far as cooking is concerned, I was playing around with culinary (organic) lavender and created a plum & lavender cobbler that was subtle but amazing. I also have recipes for lavender scones, lavender cookies, and a lavender-lemon honey cake. They’re all good.
I have a friend who is a gardener and recently offered me a rather large bag of lavender. I picked up some sachet bags and began to create sachets for my linens and clothing.
I also read recently that lavender is used to soothe the nerves. It was suggested putting a sachet near one’s pillow to insure a good night’s sleep. Normally I sleep pretty well, but there have been nights when, with a lot on my mind, I wake up and can’t get back to sleep. So with all this lavender, I tried it last week.
The lavender is strong so it’s a good foot away from my pillow. But I have to say that I have slept deeply and very well since trying this in the past week. Who knew?
Just like the Universe, Mother Nature also provides.
There’s something so luxurious about “lavender scones, lavender cookies, and a lavender-lemon honey cake.’
The pics are lush, bursting with the color of lavender. It is my favorite scent, actually. Didn’t know about the scorpion application but then again, have never lived in a climate where these insects scurry about. Sweet lavender dreams, Tom!
My wife used to cultivate lavender plants for field plantings in the Texas Hill Country. The right varieties can be quite hardy.
I love lavender, and was delighted that it grows so well in the garden. I use a lavender cream for my hands the evenings, and it soothes the skin for both sleep and my skin.
I would love to lay under that beautiful tree in those lavender fields.
Maybe one day you will…. If you want it to happen, you have to make it happen. I will help you plan.
Lavender is one of my favorite scences and essentila oils. I use a mist I make to also help me sleep and it works beautifully. I love its calmly effects.
Greetings!