Lavender's Red, Dilly-dilly

"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember . . . " (Ophelia in Shakespeare's "Hamlet")

Rosemary may have traditionally been for remembrance, but lavender to me is the flower associated with memory. Lavender always reminds me of my great-aunts Ida, Dena, and Lil. There's something very genteel about its scent that whispers of Victorian secrets and long rainy afternoons and huge houses with odd nooks and corners and intriguing old knicknacks from long-departed relatives. It's an old-fashioned sort of plant; a scent free of modern blends and trends. Lavender is a memory of an era long past.

But the number of cultivars show that this isn't simply a plant for a cultural heritage spot. This fragrant plant is naturalized throughout northern Europe, though it grows well in other areas of the world. It's often used in landscaping, to provide a dense, mildly fragrant border - and it's available in a variety of sizes. It's a perennial and to keep it looking nice you'll want to cut it back each spring to just above the previous year's point of growth. Some varieties have striking silvery green leaves that add a soft contrast to an herbal border.

This easily grown plant is a member of (you guessed it!) the mint family, with all the delightful attributes of the mints. It's a good nectar resource for pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies - and a staple of many bee and butterfly gardens. Lavender grows well and quickly (a bit TOO well sometimes), and it's fairly tolerant of neglectful gardeners. It's not fond of heavy soils (so if your yard could double as a potter's clay field, add sand and mulch!) and it likes a slightly acidic environment. For the best lavenders, work a handful of lime into the soil before planting. It is, however, a forgiving plant and does fine in "good old yard dirt."

There are actually 28 different mints called "lavender" and if you choose your species carefully, you can have lavenders blooming in your garden almost all year around (or all year around if you live in a generally snow-free zone) - a true resource for your local wildlife. Check with your local garden shop to see which kinds are most suited for your area.

Remember when you plant it that it's a mint. Forget all that genteel Victorian stuff. It will layer well in the garden and if you bury the stems, they'll root along their length and can then be dug up, separated from the parent, and replanted on their own.

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