Tuesday 23 June 2009

Lavender blue dilly dilly

If I could only have one type of flower in my garden, it would be Lavender. I love blue flowers, and its fragrance fills the air on a summers evening. It also keeps the garden buzzing with bees and other mini beasts. I use the flowers for crafts, and also in baking. When summer has gone, I cut it back and burn the stalks on my Chimenea to fill the air one last time with its wonderful scent. If you could only have one thing in your garden, what would it be?

15 comments:

Michela said...

That's a very hard choice!
Lavender is so romantic!
Do you really use its flowers in baking?
Have a nice day (even if your job is boring...I really understand you!)

Diane said...

I infuse sugar with some petals and use it in cakes and biscuits and also in ice cream. xx

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

I would have to agree with you on the lavender Diane ..... one of nature's antisceptics, it makes a lovely foot bath and I dry what's left at the end of the season for lavender bags .... and of course it is just such a pretty classic cottage garden plant.

Lisa said...

Lavender is such a good choice.
Maybe geraniums as they are so bright and cheerful.
Lisa

Caroline said...

Aaah, lavender, I really love it, the smell is summer for me and I always imaging myself somewhere in rural Southern France.

At the moment I am completely obsessed with marigolds though, which is an odd choice for me, as I do not even like the colour orange...

Zinnias are the one thing I can not get enough off if I had to make a choice...

noelle said...

I'd have my horse in the garden!!!! I have done actually and he ate the roses ha ha ha ha !!!! sorry , yes i agree with you i love lavender too x x x

The Ample Cook said...

Lavender always reminds me of my dear Mum. She used to have sets of Yardley lavender talc and bath cubes for Christmas and birthdays.

I tend to only plant blue flowers in my garden.

I think I agree with you, it's got to be lavender. I can never ever pass a bush without running my hands through it.

...Nina Nixon... said...

Lavender 'yum' from fragrance to medicinal - it has to be one of my favourite too.

Nina x

ps. thanks for your lovely comment, the girls are getting back to normal and everything crossed I will escape the dreaded lurgy!

Lyn said...

I so love Lavender but I think I would have to pick Dahalias, so sunny and cheerful!
Love
Lyn
xxx

Rosie said...

In my perfect imaginary garden it would be lavender every time but - you knew there was a but didn't you? -in my claggy, damp, clay 'potteries' soil I have to grow lavender in pots and the edges of the raised beds so for my garden now I would chose my hardy geraniums because they love the soil and come back every year in profusion and cheer us up with their vivid colours.

Beki said...

I too love lavender and have a big bush in the garden.
I've yet to try it in cooking, can you use it straight out of the garden or do you have to buy specialist?
((hugs))
Beki xxx

Julia said...

Hello

Lavender is gorgeous, the scent of it is pure summer to me - but you know this is a hard question, and Im torn between that and roses, a sweet scent that takes me back to the safe and carefree world of childhood - theres nothing nicer than plunging your face into a large bloom and getting the perfume.

Roses or lavender....roses or lavender...

Cant I have both? :)

Love J xxx

noelle said...

Hi diane, thanks for the comment over at mine. Sorry you are working everyday. I am working most nights this week , i don't know which is worse, although i get to have the days to myself, but then i have to get in the car and battle my way round town and out to carbis bay then back in to town and so it goes on till all my lovely little old folks are all tucked up safe in bed!!!! Weekend off this week inc. monday yippeeee ! x x x

Gilly said...

Lavender is lovely, and foxgloves, and all sorts of daisies and .....

I could go on and on! But have you noticed Diane, that there are not so many bees around this year? Our catmint is usually full od them, but they are there in just ones and twos now.

Where are they all?

Michela said...

For lavender-addict :

http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/2009/06/lavender-chocolate-cake.html

Hope you'll enjoy it!