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Lavender, traditions, uses

Every garden should benefit from the nostalgic scent of lavender wafting on the breeze. If you plant it close to seating areas you can't help but feel relaxed and at peace with the world. From purr-sonal experience the calming properties of lavender seem to work equally well for cats. On warm sunny days my cat Peugeot spends many happy hours curled up on her lavender log, (pic below) a lovely way for a lady of a certain age to spend her days. When she and comes indoors she is relaxed and smells delicious too.

Photo here of my cat Peugeot relaxing on her lavender log: [28.7 KB opens in a new window]

Lavender is an ancient scent used for love, protection, relaxation, happiness and healing. What more could you wish to bestow upon your cat as she curls up in her sweet smelling hiding place.

Make a relaxing lavender log:
Place log on prepared ground. The log I used is roughly 3 inches (7 1/2 cm) high x 14 inches (35 1/2 cm) width. Plant lavender around the log leaving a gap for your cat enter. This evergreen perenial does best in an open, sunny site. Add organic fertilizer to the planting hole. Set 3 plants 12 inches apart, and 12 inches away from the log to allow for growth. Place plants no deeper than they were growing in the containers. Mulch around but not on top of the plant with organic compost. Water well until the soil is completely moist. Cut back by at least a third in the autumn, to encourage plenty of flowers and also to keep it in a neat shape. Do not cut into old wood - it will not make new growth.

Photo here of lavender log: [23.4 KB opens in a new window]

Makes Scents:
Smells good, looks good and does you good. Lavender can be used in a variety of ways. Planted along your house under the bedroom the lovely lavender aroma will waft through your window on a warm summer night. Fresh and dried flowers look good in arrangements, and the dried blooms can be put into muslin bags among your clothes to give fragrance and deter moths. Put fresh leaves in bath water or use them to stuff a pillow to aid a goodnight's sleep. Pick bunches of flowers just as they open and dry loose on a flat tray, or make small bunches to hang up to dry. An Irish tradition is to put lavender into a bridal bouquet as this is supposed to bring good fortune and make all your wishes come true.

The colour lavender have the power to release our memories and gently take us back to a time of grace and gentility.

Top tip: Lavender is a natural flea-repellent; use the dried herb to make a cat cushion.