Ferida's Wolff's Backyard Series: Lovely Lavender and Pretty Pinks
I went to my local market today and was surrounded by a familiar scent as soon as I went through the door – lavender. There were pots and pots of the plants gracing the flower stand. The flowers were just beginning to open and more buds were peeking out. I passed them by to do my shopping but I went back before I paid. They were just too enticing to ignore.
I had planted lavender in my garden in years past but not recently. I decided this year I would do it again. This is a lovely plant. Tiny purple flowers delicately rise along a thin, green stem. The leaves are subtly elegant with a hint of gentle fuzz that is pleasing to the touch. The smell of lavender can be heady, announcing its presence before the plant is even seen, which must be why it is used in soaps, oils, candles, sachets, even in teas - a treat for the senses.
But then lavender is lovely in other, more important ways. It has a long history of medicinal use and is a staple in aromatherapy. Some is proven, some not, but it is used in a variety of applications for many conditions. One of its uses is for its calming effect. Lavender oil embraces the whole body in the bath. Inhaled, it seems to relax tension and may help with insomnia.
At the very least, lavender is a lovely addition to a garden, as it will be to mine — and maybe to yours?
Look at this lovely plant’s uses:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/838.html
Editor's Note: Considered one of Jackson Pollock's most important 'drip' paintings, Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) can be seen at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC or online: http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/20centpa/20centpa-55819.html
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