How Can I Preserve Lavender?

Lavender can be harvested when the lower flowers have opened and the blossoms have turned purple.  The sun will tend to cause the flowers to wilt, so for the freshest specimen, it's best to cut the lavender in the morning.

In drying the lavender, the main thing to remember is ventilation.  The lower stems can be fastened together with string or a rubber band and hung upside down in a dry room.  Alternatively, the stems can be placed on screens so that air flows around them.  Keeping the stems in a dark room as they dry will help to preserve the flowers' purple colour.  

There are many uses for dried lavender. It can be broken and used to fill muslin sachets for placing in dresser drawers. The flowers look lovely interwoven in wreaths. Simply stored in bowls as potpourri or hung around the house, lavender is welcoming with its delicate, soothing scent.