HomeAboutRuby LaneHouse TourFeatured

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Drying Your Own Lavender

The lavender looked so pretty this year.  It is one of my favorite things to grow. 

lavender (3)

Although I’ve had a few plants that didn’t make it, the ones I have now bloom well every year.  I usually harvest it in early to mid-July.

lavender (2)

 

It certainly attracts the bumblebees!

lavender (4)

It is so fragrant when you walk by. There is something about lavender that makes it sooo romantic. I guess because of it’s French associations! Ooh la la!

lavender


SOME of the bundles that I gathered to prepare  for drying. 

lavender (7)

  I  grab a bunch of lavender with my left hand and cut them to the desired length using herb shears with my right hand.   I’ve found this way is easier to make bundles than cutting it all off a bush at once and having to pick it up.   Now tie them with string, and hang them somewhere warm and dry.

lavender_how_to

My potting bench is coming in handy already!!!

IMG_9954

 

 

IMG_9958

 

 

IMG_9967

 

 

IMG_9969

 

Now it’s time to capture the fragrant buds to use in sachets.

IMG_3464

 

IMG_9993

 

IMG_9994

When they are somewhat brittle, you can remove the purple buds easily.  Be careful…lavender can be messy and readily falls apart.  After spending a lot of time at this task, the best way I have found to remove the fragrant pods from the stems is to place a bunch of lavender between the palms of your hands and rub your hands together as though you are trying to keep warm. 

IMG_9995

 

This can be very time consuming depending on how much lavender you have.  I compare it to shucking corn or stringing & breaking beans!

IMG_9996

 

IMG_9997

The dried buds will fall right off.  Be sure and have a container below to catch the fruits of your labor.

IMG_3466

I  ended up with a decent amount of lavender harvested by “moi”.  Not quite enough to fill my large French tian, but it will do.

IMG_3462

Do you know how much cut lavender it takes to get the small amount you see in the bowl?  I now have a new appreciate for lavender farms.

Can you smell it?

Au Revoir,

Kim

14 comments:

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

How nice to grow your own lavender. I just receive three bundles yesterday that I ordered from Maria at Dreamy Whites blog. Smells so good.

pam {simple details} said...

I've never planted lavender, but this is making think I definitely need some! So pretty!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

I have a few plants and never really "harvest" it - I cut little bits here and there for my needs but not in huge bulk......this was an informative post, and well done.

Thanks, Kim.

Maureen Wyatt said...

How many years did it take for your spikes to get so tall? My plants are a couple of years old and don't reach anywhere near that height. That bowl is to die for! ~ Maureen

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

Oh yes, I love the smell of lavender. I always have it around. The lavender I won from your garden in the giveaway is heavenly.

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

Oh I can smell the heavenly scent from here.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Kim...you have such gorgeous lavender....Your yard must smell wonderful!....beautiful Kim!...oh and I love the bowl!!!

Cynthia said...

I love lavernder. I have many lavender plants in my yard too. Hence my blog name Cloches and Lavender. I love the smell and the use of it in the home.

Cynthia

Nothing But Blue Skies... said...

I bet it smells just heavenly! How wonderful that you grow and harvest your own!

xo-Lisa

Candy said...

gorgeous pics.....I can almost smell it. 8-)

Unknown said...

Thank you very much for posting this informative points.
packers and movers kalyan

Frugal Boganista said...

Thanks for this post, I have French Lavender in my garden & just don't make enough use of it, this will give me some more options. I don't know if u get the French variety where u are, but I chose it because it's so much more plump & succulent than English, which was my only other option at the time. I'm sure you would like it :)

Priceless said...

I love lavender! They're one of my favourite herbs. I have them planted all along our front walkway so when we brush by to and from the house we're treated to it's lovely smell. I also harvest them and hang them to dry in our basement. I love the process of taking the buds off the stalks when they're ready, the smell is just so heavenly. Have you ever tried to make Lavender Lemonade? It's delicious! Because I don't spray any pesticides on my lavender, I'm able to cook with the buds I dry and harvest.

Unknown said...

ME ENCANTA LA LAVANDA DESDE NIÑA , DE HECHO HAGO PLANTINES ES MUY BELLA ASI COMO NOBLE , GRACIAS 💖🇦🇷

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...