Lavender comes from a Latin word that means to wash. This name may have been used because the ancient Romans used the leaves and flowers of the plant to scent their bathwater. Women once routinely stored dried lavender flowers with their linens and clothing. Today, the dried flowers are used in fragrant sachets (powders) and potpourris (mixtures). The flowers also are distilled to make oil that is used in some perfumes.
I have a lavender plant on the side of my house. It's right up against the foundation...so it's a safe place for lavender in the winter in zone 5. I've tried to grow it many times before and just haven't had any luck. This plant was really ignored and it took off without my help.
Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth. If you live in an area where lavender suffers some winter die-back, don't even think about pruning your plants until you see some new green growth at the base of the plant. If you disturb the plants too soon in the season, they give up trying.
The above from the internet. My lavender is kind of wild looking and not a tidy shrub like plant. I think it needs a haircut, but I'm afraid that I may have waited too long for this. I searched for pictures of this plant, but I couldn't find any...so I put a picture from the internet here. I have two terra cotta pots that need something planted in them. I was going to do rosemary, but I'm leaning toward lavender.
I love the Yardley's Lavender Soap. I was told once that it's an old lady's fragrance. So....
Balisha
