Lavender in the Garden, Lavender in the Pharmacy, Lavender Everywhere!

August is the end of lavender flowering in Quebec. I know: it’s sad. It’s a bereavement every year to see this magnificent purple carpet receding…

BUT! There’s no need to cry for too long, for three reasons: firstly, lavender leaves smell just as good as the flowers. Unlike most plants, your plant will smell good, whatever the season.

Secondly, you should know that lavender is a medicinal plant that keeps very well in various forms and whose benefits are undisputed. You can enjoy it all year round in herbal teas, essential oils, soaps, etc.

Finally, I visited Bleu Lavande to write this article and was pleasantly surprised to learn that three species dominate their fields, extending the purple flower season… into August!

The Experts

Before I go any further, you should know that I’m a lavender junkie. I can’t pass by a plant without running my fingers over it, rubbing my face over it, giving it a big hug, and then I’m left for half an hour feeling my forearms.

But here’s my misfortune: it’s impossible to keep a plant alive in my house. And I promise it’s not because I smother them with my love! Rosemary and lavender, I just can’t do it. So I consulted the experts to write this article.

Discover Bleu Lavande

Bleu Lavande is celebrating its twentieth year of existence this year, and they’ve seen it all! Losing hundreds of plants during harsh winters, finding the right soil, the right varieties… But with all this experience, they have become a reference in the field.

Four years ago, they moved to Magog to be more accessible, and it’s worth the stop!

Their new site is so, so well laid out! You can walk, read, work, nap… And even though lavender dominates, several colorful flowerbeds brighten up the site to ensure year-round beauty. Best of all, it’s the wild plants that define the site. No walls or fences, just a secret clearing in a forest.

In terms of lavender species, there are three: Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula x intermedia (a hybrid between the angustifolia and latifollia species), and an impostor: Perovskia atriplicifolia. And why? Because the flowering stem of this plant resembles that of lavender, but it’s not. It’s sometimes known as Afghan lavender or Siberian sage: it smells delicious, like a mixture of sage and lavender, but above all, it blooms later, allowing visitors to enjoy flowering fields even in August.

The Visit

I know, you want to know how to keep your lavender alive: I’m getting there! But first, I have to tell you about three really great things about my visit (besides the fact that it smells like heaven!).

With the move, improvements have been made to the customer experience. A “museum” section lets you learn more about lavender and the company itself. It’s interactive, well done, and the little cinema room is really interesting.

Secondly, the boutique is gigantic. It’s the largest lavender store in Canada, with a variety of interesting products ranging from body care to food products to dog shampoo! The decor is magnificent, you can try out all the products, and the sales assistants are very welcoming and helpful.

Finally, my last point, which is my number 1, the most astonishing fact of this article, THE thing that I find FANTASTIC and that makes me want to go back: I was able to live this experience as a family.

Didn’t you notice in the previous photos that there were two intruders? Yes, dogs are welcome. In Quebec, it’s very hard to find attractions where we can bring our pooches, but at Bleu Lavande, not only are they allowed, but there are water bowls everywhere, bags to pick up their smelly little pooches, and they’re accepted everywhere, even in the boutique and the cinema!

The Crop

Okay, okay, I’m getting there: how do you keep your lavender alive? First, get a plant with good genetics and from a good species. Some plants or hybrids may be less resistant to our winters; after all, lavender is a European plant. So the first step is to have a variety that has been grown here.

A seed, cutting or offshoot from a well-established plant here is likely to be much more winter-tolerant than a mature plant from southern Europe. Ask your nurseryman, or better still, buy a plant directly from a local lavender grower.

Next, you need soil with good drainage. We recommend sandy soil with a slope to prevent water from stagnating after a rain. Ideally, lavender should be planted on the south side of the slope for maximum exposure to the sun. Good air circulation is also essential, since lavender prefers dry air to humidity… but it also needs to be sheltered from winter winds!

Winter

During the cold season, lavender needs protection, and that’s often when mine (or my rosemary) dies. In theory, a good blanket of snow is the ideal protection. But in Quebec, as the weather warms up, the snow melts and the lavender gets the full brunt of winter at the next -40°C (-40?). As far as I’m concerned, the southern exposure where I planted mine is almost never covered with snow in winter. So the best solution is to put a protective canvas over the plants for the winter.

That’s all there is to it! According to the experts, it’s quite simple to keep a plant once you’ve found the right spot. It’s a plant that requires no fertilizer and very little maintenance… Put that way, it sounds easy… I’ll have to try again!

Using Lavender

You can say anything and everything when it comes to the medicinal aspect of plants. Luckily for you, your favorite biologist is a stickler! So I’m only going to tell you about the benefits that have been verified and confirmed by science, and not about ancestral beliefs or esotericism.

Sorry if you were looking for directions on how to purify your soul during a lunar bath with your amethysts charged with the right energies!

The Virtues of Lavender

Lavender’s main scientifically-proven properties are its antimicrobial, physical and mental calming properties.

Bacteria, fungi and even certain insects can be baffled by lavender. Some illnesses can be treated internally with lavender, but I advise you to consult a health professional for more information.

Applied topically, the essential oil is an effective local healer and analgesic for minor wounds, insect bites, burns and lesion-causing skin diseases. The essential oil is highly concentrated and can be harmful to sensitive skin: dilute a few drops in a vegetable oil to enjoy the benefits of lavender without worry (I like coconut oil as it doesn’t remain greasy on the skin and is very moisturizing, and it’s easy to find in pharmacies).

Finally, lavender’s calming and relaxing action has been demonstrated in several studies, notably to facilitate sleep and relaxation, and in patients suffering from anxiety and depression. Studies have also shown that it can calm agitation in Alzheimer’s and dementia.Finally, lavender’s calming and relaxing action has been demonstrated in several studies, notably to facilitate sleep and relaxation, and in patients suffering from anxiety and depression. Studies have also shown that it can calm agitation in Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Sensitivity to the effects of lavender differs from one person to another, and it’s not a magic remedy either. Please don’t write to tell me that you sniffed lavender powder and still couldn’t sleep.

In the Wild

In Quebec, it’s hard to grow lavender (at least, it requires the intervention of gardeners!), but that’s not the case everywhere. The plant grows wild in France, particularly in Provence (in the south)! I know where I’m moving for my retirement!

It’s a plant of great importance. For a start, it’s prized by bees, who love its nectar. It’s an exceptional melliferous plant, and since the honey bee isn’t native to Quebec either, why not give its honey a taste of its homeland by planting a few lavender plants near your hives?

But the importance of this plant doesn’t stop there! Many birds feed not only on the insects attracted by lavender, but also on the seeds it produces.

For the Birds

For the blue tit (which lives in Europe), it’s even an anti-parasite plant to include in the nest. Yes, lavender’s properties are used by species other than humans – that’s how effective they are! Integrating aromatic plants into nests helps to keep parasites away: bacteria, fungi and insects. Some plants, like lavender, release their fragrant essential oils for longer than others, and as protection must be maintained throughout the brooding and rearing period, the female chickadee (who builds the nest alone) regularly replaces the branches and flowers she places in it.

In fact, you can make sprays, soaps and conditioners for your dog with lavender. It’s gentle and can keep ticks away. But beware: your pooch’s sense of smell is much more sensitive than yours, so make sure you have a recipe or product made for pets. Spraying them with pure essential oil is toxic for them! Dog-friendly Bleu Lavande has a range of products for dogs in its boutique. The scent is very subtle: I tried the dry shampoo on my dog (it’s a nice lather, not a big noisy spray!). I didn’t even know that existed for dogs!) and he didn’t try to lick or rub himself as he sometimes does when it smells too strong.

For the Gardener

Some other animals don’t love lavender as much as bees and blue tits. In fact, the strong scent of lavender has the effect of keeping certain garden pests away. Cats, rodents and even birds such as starlings shun the plant.

Speaking of cats, many of you have asked for tips to keep your felines away from your plants: have you tried essential oil on the planter? Does it work? I’d like to know!