From the Archives

Lavender’s Less Innocent Side

Lavender is my favorite scent in the entire world. I love the plants, I love the flowers, and I love the fact that it freshens my laundry and keeps my dresser drawers smelling heavenly. I like it so much I even started making my own solid perfume, with lavender as a base scent (we’ll get to that in another post — it’s really easy.) And when I think of lavender, a kind of homey, almost grandma-ish comfort comes to mind.

Little did I know that my sweet-smelling lavender has a much tougher side.

Lavender is able to cure hidden diseases, such as illnesses cast by sorcery, migraines caused by ill-spirited elves, and all types of “passions of the heart.” In Italy, it was commonly believed that lavender, picked on Midsummer’s Eve, would protect you from black magic of all types.

It was not uncommon for women to mix lavender into the food of a man they desired, in the belief that it would make him hers. (Kind of makes you re-think grandma, doesn’t it?)

Finally, I came across this Mother Goose nursery rhyme from the 1800’s, which is not the most innocent rhyme I’ve ever read:

Lavender blue, and rosemary green,

When I am king, you shall be queen,

Call up my maids at four of the clock,

Some to the wheel and some to the rock,

Some to make hay and some to shell corn,

And you and I will keep the bed warm.

(Oh, and that rosemary is not all that innocent, either — rosemary was commonly used to “keep a man young and active and a woman lusty” according to Arrowsmith’s Essential Herbal Wisdom….)

Whether you believe these old-wives cures or not, it’s fun to see how people regarded the herbs that we so often take for granted today. I know that after my winter’s reading (which has consisted of several books about herbs and their history) I’ll never really be able to look at certain herbs the same way again. Just one more way our gardens add color and interest to our daily lives.

The lavender print above is a detail from one of the plates in Deni Bown’s gorgeous book, Herbal: The Essential Guide to Herbs for Living.

9 comments

9 comments to “Lavender’s Less Innocent Side”

Wendi Kelly~Life's Little Inspirations, January 25th, 2010 at 11:53 am:

I love studying the histories of herbs and plants. I have lavender growing all over my yard. It really is a tough plant in a lot of ways. Once its in the ground it stays right there for years, happy as a clam. My front walkway garden is lavender and roses.

jodi (bloomingwriter), January 25th, 2010 at 6:31 pm:

I’m with you, Colleen! I just redid our bedroom in a lavender and cream colour scheme, with lavender plant accents whenever possible. I’d like to find a duvet cover with lavender flowers but so far, no joy. I have a nice big bottle of locally distilled lavender essential oil and dabble it on the bedding, on light bulbs…you know what it’s like…

Shawna Coronado, January 26th, 2010 at 4:13 pm:

LOVE LAVENDER – tried to grow it last year with little success due to our wet season.

Keep it up! WOOT!
Shawna

Tatyana, January 26th, 2010 at 5:36 pm:

Well, now I know what keeps my husband young – rosemary! He loves it! It was fun to read your post. Thank you!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 27th, 2010 at 10:22 am:

Thanks for reading, Tatyana!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 27th, 2010 at 10:23 am:

Thanks, Shawna. I just lost my favorite lavender plant last summer — it was so pretty, full of blooms every summer. I almost cried!

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 27th, 2010 at 10:24 am:

Hi Jodi,

Oh yes! I do the same thing

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen Vanderlinden, January 27th, 2010 at 10:24 am:

Wendi,

Your front garden sounds absolutely beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Linda Russell, January 27th, 2010 at 1:05 pm:

Lavender is one of my favorites and I grow many different varieties and most are quite hardy even in my zone 5 garden. I love the old stories which modern science is finding have some truth to them. Lavender’s many chemical constituents are antibacterial, antifungal and interact with the nervous system to produce a relaxing calming effect. I love to put dried lavender all around the house, especially in the bedroom. Thanks for the post, Linda

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From the Archives

Lavender’s Less Innocent Side

9 comments

9 comments to “Lavender’s Less Innocent Side”

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