Do more with lavender

This beautiful plant is often used as an infusion (the dried flowers and leaves steeped in water) or as a dilution of essential oil. You can also use it in potpourri or add flowers to perfume biscuits, honey and sugar. Handfuls of dry prunings make great kindling for scented fires. Prunings can also be squashed into netting bags and tossed into ponds in spring where they’ll release a mild algaecide as they rot. Dry the flowers of English lavender to make a fragrant tea, which can be used to lift the spirits and soothe indigestion and headaches.

To dry lavender, harvest blooms as they are opening so they won’t drop flowers. Hang in a well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight.