GARDENING

Stop and Smellthe Lavender

A mainstay of any herbal garden, By Leigh Burgess

beautiful lavender

is easy to grow and has many household Benefits and Uses of Lavender Growing Your Lavender Relatively easy to maintain, lavuses. Attractive Lavender flowers are very ben- ender is a great herb to add to your to pollinators, eficial with multiple household uses garden. It is often perennial, but in lavender will add beauty to your yard in more ways than one. Hummingbirds, ranging from decorative to aromatic. Dried and fresh lavender sprigs make beautiful, fragrant additions to floral arrangements. Try combining fresh with greenery and flowers shaded humid climates it is grown as an annual. Lavender is best planted outside as plants instead of seeds. Choose healthy plants from your local garden center or pre-start seeds inside bees and butterflies pink, purple and white for stunning around 8-10 weeks before you plan are all attracted to visual appeal. Pair dried flowers with to transplant outside. Pick a full-sun lavender and will be frequent visitors to well-maintained lavender patches. rosemary, sage, or other garden fare for an herbaceously aromatic display. When dried and used aromatically, lavender-filled sachets are known to curb anxiety and improve sleep. Place location with well-drained soil and plant in early spring or summer (see package directions for zone-specific information). Lavender can also be grown in a large container garden if Read on for more sachets of dried blooms in the bed- you don't have optimal yard condiinformation about the room for a relaxing bedtime experi- tions for the plant. Only water when benefits and uses of lavender, as well as care directions for lavender plants. ence, or pour a cupful of dried flowers into a hot bath to release the soothing benefits of a lavender bath tea. soil is very dry as lavender roots will rot if left in wet soil for too long. Lavender is beautiful in the garden, lovely dried or fresh

in bouquets, and attracts a bevy of beautiful pollinators to your garden. It also has multiple herbal applications when dried. This easy-to-grow powerhouse is a great addition to your herbal garden.