I’ve grown fond of lavender in the last year.
While I planted a small bush last season it did not grow back after the winter. Its replacement is a bit deeper, mulched, watered, and doing quite well.
In the meantime, I have no ready source of fresh lavender in my yard. I did discover that one can buy a bag of “lavender flower for crafting” at a price that makes bags of tea at the store look exorbitantly expensive. Simply put, that is because they are.
It is very easy to grow an incredible amount of lavender and chamomile.
While this giant bag of lavender flower is great for cooking and making tea, I have picked up a curious habit on dog walks. There are two spectacular lavender plants outside of a church nearby. Nobody seems to pay much attention to them except for me. When walking the dog I will stop, grab a fresh bud, and toss it into my lip. A lot like chewing tobacco.
Observations:
Tastes great
Makes breath smell like lavender
Might clean teeth and gums?
Relaxing and calming
Flavor lasts for a very long time
Can chew it like gum for a bit if you get bored
In addition to chewing or brewing lavender, you can also smoke it. This is not as pleasant, but again, it smells spectacular. The same goes for dumping some into the bath. A handful makes for a nice scrub. Lavender has a number of interesting properties that humanity has known about for thousands of years and it is neat to experience them first-hand.
It causes me to reflect on our “relationship” with nature in the modern world. I know plenty of people whose knee-jerk reaction would be, “You don’t know what they might be spraying on it! You didn’t wash it? What if you eat a bee by mistake? Why not just get your own lavender from the store?”
Anxieties, all.
The bush I’ve been harvesting every so often is doing better than the one I have left alone. I can’t help but wonder if the plant enjoys the attention, likes being of use and cared for by something or someone in the world. Doesn’t every living thing?
I am beginning to consider a full herbal tea garden in my own yard as a result. One, I would like to find out what other ancient herbs are fun to suck on. Two, I love the idea of wandering outside, picking some leaves and flowers, and making whatever blend I would like every day.
The calming, cleaning, antiseptic, and other properties are not a replacement for modern equivalents, but it sure makes for a fun additive.