#lavender

#lavender

There's no better neighbor for it than marjoram. Companion plants - like rosemary and thyme, or tomatoes and marigolds - are plants that thrive under the same growing conditions. They like the same type of soil, amount of sunlight, and general temperature. Marjoram and lavender make terrific companion plants, stimulating each other's growth and improving their flavors as their shared soil is symbiotically enriched.

When life gets stressful, one of the oldest tried and true remedies comes from the calming scent of flowers. Lavender is at the top of that list, and when it's an entire field of lavender it can waft our troubles away with both the sight and aroma. Petaluma residents can see and enjoy such a visage on Chapman Lane where the Lavender Bee Farm has been enchanting locals and international guests for many years.

Every time my mom would bring home loose lavender or chamomile flowers, she would mix two teaspoons of either herb to a half cup of baking soda in a plastic baggie, shake it vigorously to mix, and then sprinkle it all over the living room rug. I was confused the first time I saw her do this, but once she began vacuuming the rug, I could smell the difference.

In the 19th century, English lavender fetched a much higher price than its French counterpart, often selling for 16 times more, being deemed the purest in the world.