Lavender Harvest
and Use:
Use
small hand shears to snip flower spikes. Harvest only when dew is
off the plant. The time of season to harvest is when flowers have
achieved full color and before the buds begin to open. Hang upside
down in small bunches held together with a rubber band in a warm,
dry, dark spot. The faster they dry, the better the color and fragrance
will be preserved. About a week is average, depending on the humidity.
Store dried material in a box as darkness will keep the color from
fading. Culinary lavender can be kept dust-free in a sealed plastic
bag.  Those
who don't appreciate the aroma of lavender are few and far between.
It would be
hard to list all the uses of this herb. The leaves, stems, buds, and
flowers all contain essential oils and
all are valuable for different purposes. It can be a fine air freshener simmered
on the back of a wood stove. A flat sachet tucked into your pillow
can help you to sleep. Tuck one between the sheets in the linen closet
or use in the clothes dryer. Keep one in the car. Lavender holds its
smell for years. Burn the stems as incense. Add drops to the final
rinse for hair. Add sprigs to wreaths or nosegays. In the language
of flowers, lavender represents ardent attachment, devotion, success,
and luck.
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