Comments on: Three Ways to Use Lavender

By: Cristobal Baus

Cristobal Baus — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:35:21 +0000

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By: Lori Buckner Martin

Lori Buckner Martin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:30:47 +0000

Last summer I filled decorative bottles with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and different combinations of herbs from my garden. I gave them away as gifts, but kept one — lavender and rosemary that I use for moisturizer. Smells great!

By: Suzin

Suzin — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:04:32 +0000

Spray Lavender water on your pillow when you go to bed and you will have a more restful sleep!

By: Pat Behm

Pat Behm — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:53:05 +0000

I love all the info about lavender! Thank you! I’m interested in receiving the recipe for the best ever lavender shortbread cookies that were served at The Tale of Two Farms. Any chance of finding out that recipe?
Thank you.
Pat

By: Desiree

Desiree — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:46:36 +0000

I enjoyed reading all the “lavender” comments. I didn’t attend a Lavender Fesitval this year, but I did get my 3 lavender plants cut, bundled and hung to dry. Over the past few years I have posted a few tutorials on different ways of using lavender, including how to make lavender extract. It’s fairly easy to make and once made it will last a long time.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:14:57 +0000

Can someone give me a suggestion for what variety of lavendar will grow best in zones 5-7, and how to protect it successfully. We live in the eastern Sierra foothills. We have some years with -15 degree nights in the winter and 104 degree days in summer. We have the perfect soil and light conditions but I’ve tried a couple varieties sold in local nurseries unsuccessfully. Just 30 miles away (where the nurseries are) those varieties thrive but our elevation is 200 feet higher and we have wind most of the year. Also, can someone suggest an internet sight where I can purchase plants too? Thank you!

By: Kay Pfautz

Kay Pfautz — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:17:47 +0000

Kindly forward rosemary cookie recipe or the source.

Thank you,
Kay

By: Mary Trout

Mary Trout — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:44:49 +0000

P. Allen Smith served the best ever lavender shortbread cookies with fresh berries at The Tale of Two Farms in May 2011. Anyway we could get the recipe Allen?!

By: Mary Trout

Mary Trout — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:42:20 +0000

Here is a link to the book and author http://blip.tv/chelseagreentv/holy-shit-by-gene-logsdon-large-version-4362404

By: Mary Trout

Mary Trout — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:36:10 +0000

Allen, you forgot to mention those scrumptious, decadent lavender shortbread cookies that was served at with fresh berries at Moss Mountain Farm – Tale of Two Farm in May 2011.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:21:02 +0000

Plastic screw tops can be bought where the canning supplies are sold. I use them on pickle jars after they have been opened.

By: maureen Baranov

maureen Baranov — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:30:31 +0000

Thanks Allen for these tips- but any tip on how to avoid that ugly die back that happens in the center of older lavender plants?

By: Jo Beth McGilbra

Jo Beth McGilbra — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:27:10 +0000

I wish someone would give me some tips for growing lavender in Central Mississippi. I have bought all kinds and tried to grow it for years with no success. I am not sure I have tried the English variety.

By: Sarahfina

Sarahfina — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:01:25 +0000

I live by a couple lakes and spiders really seem to like to breed around here but I am reluctant to use a lot of sprays inside around my animals. How do you make the lavendar spray to keep the spiders away??? Help!!!

By: babs

babs — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:18:28 +0000

i also would love to have the lavender cookier recipe. i have one but do not care for the taste.

By: Susana K

Susana K — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:04:59 +0000

I have two large clumps of lavender in my yard in a hot valley north of LA. (I’ve forgotten what kind, but it’s commonly sold in the big box nurseries, so it’s a variety intended to grow in this region.) A friend sent me the following idea a couple of years ago. Place stems and blossoms of lavender into a glass jar and fill with white vinegar. Let steep for a few weeks so that the lavender fragrance infuses the vinegar—then decant into a spray bottle and use it as ant spray. Ants seem to hate the fragrance like the spiders mentioned above. Not very glamorous, but something we need from time to time. And being food, this product is perfectly safe in the kitchen and around children or pets.

My church had a real problem with ants in the kitchen, and I thought this would be safer to use there than commercial ant sprays. Waited at home to test it for ants that never came, but all I had was red fire ants in the driveway and front yard. A few squirts, and in a couple of days, the nest was gone.

The only problem I haven’t solved yet is that a metal cap on the glass jar will corrode with the vinegar. Not sure if lining the metal cap with plastic wrap would prevent this, but it’s worth a try.

I need to go out tomorrow in the early morning and collect some fresh stems to try some of these great ideas. Thanks to all for great ideas.

By: M. Anderson

M. Anderson — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:39:30 +0000

Lavender is also a spider-repellant. It is very useful
in the home if there are spiders around…. a few
spiders are helpful to keep other small creatures
controlled, as in basements, etc., but when they get
up into bedrooms, that is a problem for people. Just
use some lavender spray or leaves around the room,
and there will be no spiders to bother people!

By: Belina Villanueva

Belina Villanueva — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:04:56 +0000

I enjoy your blogs. I enjoy practicing aromatherapy and use lavender essential oil in all my blends. It is excellent to place lavender oil in your favorite shampoo and conditioner. Lavender is the the best overall plant and oil to use on everything from your teas to helping you capture restful sleep.

By: ric rupnik

ric rupnik — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 23:24:44 +0000

I am not sure if it is mentioned in all the above replies, but I found a middle-ages Polish cookbook. The book was filled with what I’d consider “bad” food, but the one thing I did find interesting is “lavendar vinegar”. I prepared 3 carafes of it last summer. For each, I inverted about 20 lavender flowers with stems inside the carafe, then filled each with white vinegar. The directions suggested a dark place for several months, but I elected the refrigerator. Since then, I’ve been preparing my home-made 4 bean salad using the lavender vinegar. I, and a lot of other family members, have really come to enjoy the special taste it imparts.

By: Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand

Annie Haven | Authentic Haven Brand — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:48:54 +0000

Great recipes to add to my collection…. Make Lavender sugar

Lavender, Rose or Lilac Blooms (about 1 cup)

Place in a bag and gently roll with a rolling pin to help release oil

In a Mason Jar add 4 cups White or Natural Sugar

Add Blooms to Sugar in the Mason Jar

Shake gently to evenly mix Sugar & Blooms

Place in sealed Mason Jar in a dark place for 2 weeks

Sift blooms from sugar and place sugar back in Mason Jar…

Use to sweeten you favorite Summer beverages or sprinkle on your favorite desert…………