Lavender is an amazing plant in the home herb garden. It’s gorgeous, smells incredible, and is very attractive to bees and other pollinator insects. Lavender is more than just a pretty garden face, however; it’s also incredibly useful. Thankfully drying & using lavender is quite easy.
Drying:
It really doesn’t get any easier than this: Hang your lavender in a place out of direct sunlight and dry until good and crispy. Once dried, remove the flower buds from the stalks. I do over this over a large bowl for ease. Store the dried buds in an airtight container until ready to use. Now that you have all that aromatic, delicious, and medicinal herb in your pantry here are some ideas to use it up.
Culinary Uses:
Pesto, seriously. In The Herbal Kitchen, the author uses it in several different pesto recipes including one she calls Anti Plague Pesto because of all the immune building and anti-bacterial herbs like lavender, basil, parsley, and more.
Lavender works well in many meat marinades and tastes super amazing with honey glazes.
Use a teaspoon of dried lavender in cupcakes or cookies for a totally different take but incredibly yummy dessert.
Lavender lemonade served with lavender cookies makes for a delightful afternoon break.
Medicinal Uses:
Lavender has many medicinal properties and can be used in a variety of applications:
In The Essential Herbal for Natural Health, the author suggests combining it with catnip in a dream pillow to help children sleep.
It makes a delightful and calming salve that is anti-inflammatory and soothing to dry skin.
Rosemary Gladstar uses it in a variety of ways including baths and teas to help calm nerves and anxiety.
As you put that garden to bed, think about keeping some lavender on your spice rack and in your medicine cabinet for internal and external health this coming winter.
What’s your favorite way to use lavender?
[sc:Useadsenselarge ]
Darcy
Saturday 21st of August 2021
I recently made lavender lemon ice cream! it was subtle but very good!
Kathie Lapcevic
Sunday 22nd of August 2021
Yum!
Fernanda
Wednesday 6th of May 2020
Is it safe to eat any lavender species?
Kathie Lapcevic
Thursday 7th of May 2020
Yes, though admittedly some taste better than others.
Liisa Kokko
Sunday 7th of January 2018
Thank you for all the new ways to use lavender. I have some dry flowers I was going to plant in pots in spring. Now I'm going to eat them too.
Kathie Lapcevic
Monday 8th of January 2018
Enjoy!
Jaden
Tuesday 16th of September 2014
oooh I learned something new! Lavender Pesto! We're just about ready to plant our Fall/Winter Garden and lavender is always part of the bed. (btw thanks for nice card you sent!)