Note from the editor - Lavender continues to amaze me. From the easy to grow plants that are great for landscaping, gardens or commercial farms, to the healing properties of the essential oil, there is something for everyone. This month's issue of Lavender Essentials covers a variety of lavender topics, but you'll find even more at our website: what-about-lavender.com. Enjoy. - Jimmie

Lavender Tip of the Month Did you know that lavender adds a unique flavor to lemonade? Try this recipe for summertime refreshment.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
• 1 cup lemon juice - freshly squeezed (about 5 lemons)
• 1 cup sugar
• 5 cups water

Combine 2.5 cups of water and the sugar in a medium sauce pan and bring it to a boil. Stir the mixture to ensure that all of the sugar is dissolved. Stir the lavender buds into the sugar water and remove from heat. Cover the pan and allow to steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Strain the lemon juice into a non-metal pitcher. Strain the lavender sugar water into the pitcher and discard the lavender buds. Add another 2.5 cups of water. Stir and serve over ice or refrigerate.

Feature Article This is Part 1 of a 2 part article on Lavender Plant Care.

Lavender is quickly gaining popularity as a beautiful, easy, and useful garden or landscape plant. This is the first of a two part series that will give you the most important tips for caring for your lavender plant. You will learn about watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pruning your plant. In part two of the series you will get advice about protecting your plant, planting a new plant, transplanting an existing plant and propagating lavender plants.

• Watering One of the most common mistakes of lavender plant care is over-watering. It's difficult for many people to realize that lavender does not like to have continually wet roots. The soil needs to be well-drained so that it doesn't hold water. Water only when the soil is dry, but before the plant begins to show signs of stress. How often that turns out to be will depend on your soil and weather conditions.

• Fertilizing If your soil has a fair amount of decomposing material, you may not need to fertilize your lavender at all. However, if your soil is poor, fertilizing will definitely benefit your lavender plant growth and bloom production. Choose a slow release organic fertilizer such as bone meal or fish emulsion and follow the directions on the package. Fertilize in the spring when new growth is apparent, and again in early summer during the heavy blossom production period.

• Harvesting Some people just want to enjoy their lavender blossoms by leaving them on the plant until the season is completely over. But many others will choose to harvest their lavender blossoms and buds for use in sachets or other crafts. Some may want to harvest their lavender for cooking or even for distilling to obtain the lavender oil. The best time for harvesting depends some on the lavender variety and the intended usage, but in general harvesting can begin after a few blossoms have opened on most stalks. Simply grab a handful of stalks and cut them off with a knife or sharp pair of shears where they protrude from the plant body. It's best to tie the stalks in bundles for convenient handling or to facilitate drying by hanging the bundles upside down.

• Pruning One of the most commonly overlooked tasks of lavender plant care is pruning. It is important to cut your plant back each year to keep it healthy and keep its shape. Use garden shears or clippers once a year and cut one third to one half of the plant. The lower part of the branches will become woody over time and you should avoid cutting into that part of the plant. What works best is to trim an individual plant in the shape of a ball, but a lavender hedge can be cut straight on the sides and rounded on top. Prune in the spring or late fall.

By following these basic lavender plant care tips you can expect many years of enjoyment from your healthy and productive lavender plant. Look for part two of the series to learn even more about caring for these wonderful plants.

Lavender Fun Fact - Lavender Essential Oil is an amazing pain reliever when applied topically, particularly for joint pain. Whether it is minor arthritis pain, sore joints due to over exertion, or children's "growing pains" in their knees and ankles, simply rub the oil directly on the joint and the pain will subside in just a couple of minutes.

Click here to purchase massage oil

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