l a v e n d e r

With the arrival of summer, the hot weather is here. Our three week delay in blossoms is starting to catch up. I was happy to be able to pick my first bundle of lavender recently. Weeks behind in blooming, it is still more bud than bloom, but the fragrance is lovely! They hybrids are blooming well right now, and the rest aren't far behind. I'm especially enjoying the white and pink lavender blossoms. They are delicate and sweet, giving contrast to the dark blues and purples of the other plants.  It's time to start harvesting lavender for projects.  The ideal is to gather them to dry while they are just about ready to blossom.  Petals are not considered desirable for lavender craft and food projects.  But, they are so pretty in the garden that I have a hard time actually harvesting too many of them.  Even when the blossoms are past their prime, they look beautiful in the garden as the lavender dries on the stalk, creating a contrasting backdrop for other flowers in bloom.  There is such beauty in such a simple plant.