De-stress, right here, right now!!! (Lavender)

Member Name: scattyredhead

Product:	Lavender
Date:	21/06/01 (764 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Such a versatile plant

Disadvantages: None

Lavender is well known for its stress relieving, and calm inducing qualities. I have had the cra******t day at work today! I could easily overdose on the stuff right now! So DooYoo (groan!!) know what I am doing now? I am burning Lavender joss sticks…and all is lovely..well nearly!

Right two things have encouraged me to write this op:
1. The very fact that I am using these joss sticks at this precise moment and,
2. Hubby took me to the Norfolk Lavender Farms for my birthday the other weekend. He took his little plastic friend too, hence the “purple” haze chez moi” today! Well its grey smoke to be truthful but it doesn’t sound nearly so restful!!

I aim to give you a little bit about the history of Lavender.
Along with some facts that I have found out about whilst doing some research on it. I am quite getting into all this research lark y’know! Then to finish off (No not yet..come back here!!!) I will tell you about some of the wonderful lavender products you can buy. As well as some of the more interesting things you can do with it! Right that got your attention didn’t it!!

Lavender was bought into the country by the Romans I guess that makes perfect sense seeing as Lavender is well-known for its medicinal properties, as well as being an insect repellent. By the 16th century Lavender was well established as an herb of calm (see, told you!) and cleanliness.

It was scattered over beds to deter vermin (nice:0() and mixed with charcoal to clean teeth (ooer!!).
Did you know that Queen Elizabeth Ist loved Lavender conserve? Yes you can cook with it! I didn’t know that until we visited Norfolk Lavender for the first time. We sat in the quaint little tearoom eating Lavender scones and sponge cake! Trust me it really is delicious!

Interesting Fact No.1
In 1826 Nicephore Niepce captured a visual image chemically through the use of Bitumen of Judaea (type of
asphalt) which changes it’s solubility in Lavender oil depending on its solubility to light. Thus modern photography was born, I didn’t know that!
Check out the web site for more information: www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk.

I guess Lavender is mostly associated with the Victorians for perfumes and the scenting of linen and clothes. Also during the First World War it became necessary to revive old methods of treating the injured due to the lack of “modern” disinfectant. Lavender was gathered and its oil was used with sphagnum moss as a dressing. Lavender was burned in the streets during the plague to cleanse the air.

In 1932 Linn Chilvers founded Norfolk Lavender, right in the nick of time as the fields were about to be ploughed up! He planted 6 acres of Lavender thus ensuring the continuation of Norfolk Lavender, the recipe for the Lavender perfume made for King George IV was owned by a chemist by the name of Mr Avery from Leicester. In 1933 he agreed that the new Norfolk Lavender partnership could use his formula. Mr Avery used to visit the Norfolk and mix the essences himself right up until he died, it was then bought outright by Norfolk Lavender Ltd.


Interesting Fact No.2
It takes 550lb of Lavender to make just one pint of the oil!


I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the Norfolk Lavender Fields up in (or down in, depending where you live!) Heacham, North Norfolk. 150.000 people visit there each year and admission is free! If you go between the months of May and September you will be able to take a coach trip out to some of the outlying Lavender fields.

We went the first time in June and although the Lavender wasn’t in full bloom it was really quite a treat to stand in the field surrounded by row upon row of purple lines! It smelled divine too, I defy anyone not to feel some sense of calm amidst all that. The bloke who talks to you while driving to the fields is a bit if
a laugh too, he likes to regal you of tales of the Royals that he has met whilst being so near to Sandringham, which we all know is one of the Royal residences.

If you visit in the months of July and August you will also be able to take a trip to the distillery and watch the actual Lavender being processed. Caley Mill, which is the actual site that Norfolk Lavender is situated on, isn’t that big a place so I think you would be hard pushed to find enough to do to occupy you for the whole day. Both times we have been we have combined it with a trip up the coast a bit further and sampled the wonderful Cromer seafood, the crabs in particular!

Before you leave the Lavender fields though you simply must pay the tearoom and the gift shop a visit! One is obvious isn’t it? To try out the Lavender scones silly! And then the gift shop is a must too. It is filled with all manner of Lavender goodies from the predictable lavender sachets, oil, candles etc to the rather more obscure items such as, purple teddies filled with lavender (Yes Squiggs I had to have one of these!) Lavender marinade and Lavender marmalade. We bought some of the latter; it has to be sampled to be believed! Trust me! It is good!

Naturally there is an extensive array of Lavender plants to purchase too, you can browse through some that are actually growing on site and then go and buy the same thing to recreate your own little bit of Norfolk when you return home, we did!

Interesting Fact No.3
Lavender oil, mixed with carrier oil, makes the most heavenly massage oil! If you can stay awake long enough to enjoy it that is!

There you go, I told you that there were interesting things that you could do with it! So why I am I sitting here sniffing the stuff instead of getting a full body massage?? Byeee……
Kazzie!!

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