Drying Lavender

Hey everyone-Happy Fresh Cut Friday! I have a little different spin on it this month, I just picked lavender to dry. Here are my first two bundles!

There will be a few more cuttings from this first crop and then I'll get a second smaller bloom.

I dry it to make sachets, but mostly I like to crumble it up and use it as a vacuum cleaner freshener.

I'd love to make lavender water to spray linens but it looks like that has to be made from the essential oils, not just the flowers. If anyone knows differently please do share!

What do you do with lavender?

Have a happy day:@)

PS-Some folks are asking about the lavender:

• I buy it as an established plant and they sell it as an herb.
• I plant it outside in the garden in well drained soil, it likes full sun and not too much water. Kinda thrives on abuse actually.
• The biggest key is to prune them in the fall, keep them mounded. I did not do that and they have "sprawled", this does not seem to hurt the plant but they are much prettier and take up less room in the mound shape.
• Harvesting, as soon as the first few flowers on the bottom of the stem begin to open they can be picked.
• Pick them mid-morning after the dew has evaporated off and before the hot afternoon sun.
• Tie the ends together and hang them upside down in a dark dry place until the flowers dry. Depending on the humidity it can take a few weeks or longer.
• Keep a piece of newspaper or something under them to catch any buds that fall off so you can use them.
• After dry simply rub the buds off gently. Add to sachets or use in cooking.
• The stems and leaves can either be broken up and used with the buds in sachets or you can toss them into your chiminea or onto the grill for a smoky lavender flavor. 
• Or suck them up in the vacuum as I do:@)

Also joining:

Inspiration Friday
Farmgirl Friday