It's lavender season!
It's beautiful color and inviting smell is my favorite part of our rather plain front yard.
I won't pretend that I am a botanist, herbalist, or even an amateur gardener, though if you indulge me I will share my average knowledge (most gleaned from my plant enthusiast mother) of lavender harvesting.
Once your lavender is sufficiently dry hang it around the house for a welcoming fragrance or include as decoration on summer time gifts :)
Step one:
find a lavender plant. I highly suggest growing one of your own rather than clipping off of store front decor or your neighbors garden sprig
Step two:
acquire a cutting instrument, gardening shears work really well but plain scissors will do just fine.
Step three:
cut off the top half of the "stalks", it should be about 8-10 inches down to the more bushier part of the plant.
IMPORTANT: the plant should be harvested just before the flowers bloom.
(the plants that bloom may be more colorful but they will not smell as strongly)
Step four:
once you have gathered a desired amount split the clipped portions into small bundles and tie together
Step five:
hang these bundles upside down in a dry environment. I simply hang mine in our dining room, but the drier the place the faster your lavender will dry
Cheers,
Cristyn
