Herb of the Month

It is July, and being that the gardens are in full swing, I thought Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) should be this months featured herb.
Lavender is one of my favorite herbs. To me, the smell conjours up thoughts of an English garden. Run your fingers lightly over the bushes, and the fragrance fills the air.
Although mostly used for it's calming properties, Lavender has many uses. Here at Cloverleaf Farm, we use the dried herb, the fresh herb, and the essential oil quite frequently.
In the early days, Lavender was used quite often as a condiment. It is not used much in cooking these days.
Lavender essential oil can be used on animals to repel fleas and ticks. It is successfully used in the treatment of sores, varicose ulcers, burns and scalds. In Europe it is commonly used by most households for bruises, burns, bites and aches and pains. Lavender essential oil is used in many natural skin creams as a preservative and a fragrance.
Lavender is useful as an antiviral, antibacterial agent, and can be found in many ointments.
No matter how you use lavender, it is one of the essential herbs to have on hand.