Lavender is a timeless classic in the world of gardening. With its sweet aroma and delicate purple flowers, it is a beloved plant that can add beauty and charm to any garden. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of growing lavender and offer tips and tricks to ensure your lavender thrives in your home and garden. Growing lavender at home is not only a delight for the senses but also a rewarding experience.
Choose the right variety of lavender - The first step in growing lavender is to choose the right variety for your region. Lavender thrives in warm, dry climates with plenty of sunlight but also requires a cold dormancy period. We find French lavender (Lavandula intermedia), our most fragrant lavender, the variety best suited for our region (7A). English lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) is another popular variety that has vibrant colored flowers and a sweet smell but tends to be more sensitive.
Prepare the soil - Lavender thrives in well-drained soil that is slightly alkaline with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. If your soil is heavy and clay-like, add sand or gravel to improve drainage. Lavender also likes soil that is low in nitrogen, so avoid using fertilizers high in nitrogen.
Planting lavender - Lavender should be planted in the spring or fall, in an area that gets full sun for at least 6 hours a day. Plant your lavender in a location that is protected from strong winds, as lavender can be prone to damage from strong gusts.
Watering and care - Lavender is a drought-tolerant plant that prefers to be on the dry side, avoid overwatering as it can lead to fungal infections. Water your lavender deeply once to twice a week during the growing season. Avoid planting by sprinkler heads. You may need to water more often if you've potted your plants as the limited soil will dry out quicker.
Pruning - Pruning or a haircut is essential to keep your lavender healthy. In the spring, prune back any dead or damaged branches. In the fall, prune back your plant 2/3 of its size leaving 4 to 5 inches of green from the woody base.
Harvesting - Harvest your lavender when the flowers are in full bloom, but before they start to fade. Cut the flowers with a sharp pair of scissors, leaving a small stem attached. Hang the flowers upside down to dry.
Growing lavender in your home and garden can be a rewarding experience. With the right variety, soil, planting, watering, pruning, and harvesting, you can enjoy the beauty and aroma of this timeless classic. So, go ahead and plant some lavender today!
Dried lavender looks and smells great, and the best part? It lasts for months to years; the essential oils are locked in the flower buds. You can reinvigorate the scent by gently pressing the buds to release the fragrance into the air. If the buds fall off, simply place them in a bowl to have a beautiful bowl of lavender.
In 2014 and 2022 we built two magnificent timber-framed structures at our East Marion and Calverton locations. Our goal was to create a serene and relaxing space for all to take in the beauty of the lavender fields. We recently interviewed David Yasenchack, the master carpenter behind the timber pavilions.
When was each pavilion built?
What does your process look like– what went into the planning/drafting stage and what is the concept behind each pavilion?
How long did it take from conception to final construction/raising the structure?
Watch below to see how to care for your lavender, with our founder and expert farmer, Serge.
There have been many studies that have proven the effectiveness of lavender on the quality of sleep. Some examples show that lavender improved sleep quality in fifteen healthy students 1, in sixty-four heart disease patients 2, and in thirty-four midlife women with insomnia 3. Therefore, it has been clinically proven across a wide range of people that lavender does really help you sleep.
Lavender essential oil contains potent chemical components such as linalool, linalyl acetate and camphor4 that act as anxiety relievers and sedatives. These components interact with the brain and nervous system to reduce agitation, restlessness, and aggression. This is why lavender helps you relax and makes drifting off to sleep easier.
Lavender is rapidly absorbed through the skin, so this is the quickest and most effective way to use lavender to help you sleep5. Place 2-3 drops on your temples or on the soles of your feet. Generally speaking, lavender is safe to use directly on your skin, however, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult with your doctor. Never ingest lavender oil, put it in your eyes or on broken skin.
Our Pillow mist contains steam-distilled Lavandula Angustifolia essential oil. Spray it directly on your pillow or use it as a room mist. With lavender essential oil, a little goes a long way. If you make your own, include no more than 1ml of lavender essential oil per 120ml of pillow mist. Using too much oil can stain your pillowcases.
If you prefer not to spray anything directly onto your pillowcase, you can place a few drops of essential oil onto a tissue or handkerchief. Place the tissue inside your pillowcase.
Diffuse lavender essential oil in the room before going to bed. We recommend an electric mist diffuser that automatically turns off. Mist diffusers don’t use heat and so, don’t destroy any part of the oil. A timer will give you peace of mind that the diffuser will not be running all night.
Lavandula angustifolia has had the most research done on it and has consistently been proven to aid sleep. Other types of lavender, such as lavandin, contain the same constituents, however, the relative levels vary with each species. Therefore, although lavandin will help with sleep, Lavandula Angustifolia has been proven more effective. Discover more benefits and uses of lavender and lavandin here.
Most essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin because they are so potent and no essential oil should be applied directly to an open wound. However, there is a growing body of evidence that lavender essential oil is safe to use directly on the skin. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before use.
Essential oil is the most potent form of lavender, however, lavender in other forms can help sleep too.
Consider keeping some dried lavender sachets with your bedsheets. They impart a subtle lavender scent to your linens and can also help repel moths. Another way to use lavender sachets is to put them in the tumble dryer with your sheets. Just make sure they are securely tied closed!
A hot bath 90 minutes before bed has been proven to help people get the best quality sleep6. Combine your bath with lavender bath salts for even better results. Our bath salts contain relaxing Epsom salt, as well as lavender essential oil and lavender buds.
Use a lavender eye mask to completely block out light and help you drift off to sleep. Our eye masks are filled with flaxseed and Lavandula Angustifolia buds. The masks can be chilled in the freezer and the flaxseed retains the cold. The cool eye mask helps to relieve tension in the face and makes falling asleep easier.
Lavender essential oil is a proven, gentle way to fall into a relaxing sleep. It can be used in a variety of different ways, including putting a few drops on your temples or spraying it on your pillow as pillow mist. Lavandula Angustifolia is the best type of lavender oil to use to help you fall asleep.
Sweet dreams!
Have you tried any of these ways to use lavender oil? Did it work? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
About us
Lavender by the Bay, is a family-owned and operated lavender farm established in 2002 and located in East Marion & Calverton, NY. The Rozenbaum Family, the visionaries, brought together their love of agriculture and art to create a beautiful lavender farm on the North Fork of Long Island. The Lavender by the Bay story begins as a small family hobby that turned into two farms totaling over 30 acres and over 100,000 plants.
]]>Ease into your evening by sipping on lavender tea.
Start by preparing your utensils. If you have a tea strainer and tea pot, you may place the lavender buds into the strainer as you would with any loose herbs.
Alternatively, if you do not have access to these tools, you may mix one teaspoon of lavender with one cup of water in a pot and bring it to a steam. As the lavender infuses into the water, notice the change in color. Before the water comes to a boil, take it off of the heat and strain it through a strainer with small wholes to separate the lavender buds from the liquid.
Wala! You have made lavender tea!
For cooking and baking, English lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) is the best variety to use because of its sweet flavor completion.
Be mindful of the variety of lavender that you are using for your creations in the kitchen. Lavender by the Bay's English lavender is culinary-grade, safe and delicious to use for tea time!
Signature Lavender Gift Bundle | This set comes boxed and includes our best selling lavender products: Lavender liquid soap, Lavender lotion, Lavender shea butter, and a Lavender bar soap.
A great gift for the lavender lovers on your list!
Honey Gift Bundle | Our bees worked really hard to prepare the satisfyingly sweet Honey Gift Bundle! This bundle includes our amazing honey products: Honey liquid soap, Honey lotion, Honey shea butter, and a bar soap.
A sweet gift that comes boxed special for the 'honey' on your list!
Lavender Spa Gift Bundle | Our Spa Gift Bundle includes all the tools one needs for the most relaxing lavender experience at home! We could all use a bit more relaxation in our lives and this set is perfect for just about anyone on your list. It includes our most popular lavender products: lavender hydrosol, lavender pillow mist, lavender essential oil, lavender massage oil, lavender bar soap and a lavender eye pillow. (*Eye pillow fabric may vary due to availability.)
Maybe you need one for yourself too!
Lavender Gift Set | This is the ultimate gift set for anyone on your list, especially those lavender lovers. Our gift set comes with Lavender liquid soap, Lavender lotion, Lavender essential oil, Lavender lotion bar, and a Lavender Sachet. (*sachet may vary due to fabric availability)
A unique gift set for that special someone on your list!
Lavender Bath Set | This gift comes with Lavender Bath Salts, Lavender Bar Soap, & Lavandin, or Lavender Essential Oil. It's a perfect treat to create a spa-like experience in the comfort of your own bathroom! The combination of these products helps ease sore muscles, exfoliates and hydrates the skin, promotes relaxation! Who could say no to that?
This set is great as a gift for your loved ones or a simple way to treat yourself.
Lavender Craft Bundle | The Craft Bundle is the perfect set for the crafts-person on your list! It includes a bag of our Long Island, farm fresh dried French lavender, a pack of empty sachet bags to be filled with dried lavender, a bottle of lavender essential oil, and a lovely lavender sachet.
Let your creative energy flow with this bundle!
Include a special card for the gift recipient by including a note when placing your order. Contact info@lavenderbythebay.com with questions.
We grow both English lavender and French lavender which come into flower and peak at different times. The best time to visit is in early July when the French lavender is at its height.
Our English lavender blooms first, typically in mid-June. Although this bloom is quite small there is a wonderful variety of lavender plants. Did you know lavender comes in many different colors? We grow over 20 varieties in all types of color such as white, pale blue, pink, purple, light purple, dark purple. This lavender grows to about 2 feet tall but some varieties are even taller and they all have varying traits. At its peak bloom, we harvest them for fresh and dried bunches.
The most spectacular time on our farm is when the French lavender blooms in early July. This is the opportune time to visit. Our fields flower to become a magnificent sea of purple and make for the most gorgeous photos.
French lavender grows taller than English lavender. It is the classic intense purple that is seen in the fields of Provence. When the lavender is at its height we call this ‘Peak Bloom’. This is the best time to visit.
We cut the lavender at this time so our fresh and dried bunches look as beautiful as possible. This means that the later you come to see the bloom, the smaller the section of lavender will be. Towards the end of July, a lot of the lavender will have been cut back and what's remaining will have dulled in color and be past its prime. With that being said the flowers will still be bursting with fragrance.
Although the French lavender bloom is by far the most impressive, there is a very small third bloom that is just enough for fresh bunches. The third bloom comes in late summer/early fall when some of our English lavender comes into flower for a second time. Its second bloom is even smaller than the first and not all varieties bloom twice. We harvest this lavender for fresh bunches very soon after it blossoms.
Each bloom lasts for 2 - 2.5 weeks. However, to ensure our dried lavender bunches look their best, we normally start harvesting after the first week.
Please note that these dates are approximate. It’s all up to Mother Nature when the lavender actually blooms. To stay updated on the bloom, follow along on our update page, Facebook, and Instagram.
Through April and May, we’ll be open Saturday, and Sunday from 10 AM - 5 PM. If the weather is nice we try to open during the week, please confirm with us before making a special trip during the week. Both locations will be open 7 days a week from 9 AM - 5 PM June-September.
In order to facilitate an enjoyable experience for all, entry to the fields will require a timed ticket. Time slots are 1.5 hours and tickets will be available as we get closer to the bloom. Sign up to our email list at the bottom of this page to be the first to know when the tickets are released. Updates will also be posted on our update page, Facebook, and Instagram so make sure to follow us there. There will be a ticket entry fee.
We have two locations: Calverton and East Marion. Check out our Directions page for full info on how to find us.
We first planted lavender here in 2002. These are the original 'Lavender by the Bay' fields. Our plants here have had a chance to mature and become well established. There are 17 acres of beautiful fields to enjoy at this location. There is also a shop where you can treat yourself to all your favorite lavender goodies!
Of course, the lavender isn't the only thing to see when visiting East Marion. We don't use chemical pesticides on our lavender farm, so how do we deal with pests? Our trusty chickens help us! We allow them to roam throughout the fields so they can eat bugs which might harm the lavender. We put them in their coop at night to keep them safe from predators. Please do not try to touch our hardworking chickens when visiting the fields. They want to chill out in the lavender just like you.
The fields are surrounded by residential housing. Please be mindful of our neighbors when visiting us.
Our fields at Calverton are much bigger in acreage than East Marion. When the lavender comes into bloom here it seems like it stretches off in the distance! We have been growing lavender in Calverton since 2018. The plants here are young and very vigorous. The fields are surrounded by other farms, so tranquility, peace and quiet reign.
We have placed Adirondack chairs throughout our fields at East Marion and Calverton for you to sit back and breathe in the calming fragrance of lavender. They're called Adirondack chairs because the style originated in the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. They are low to the ground and extremely comfortable. Take the opportunity sit back and relax!
Picture taking is always welcome. Please note that professional and extensive photo shoots will require a reservation and a site fee. Please contact us to make photo shoot arrangements. We are a no drone zone! As always, please remember to tag us on Facebook and Instagram with hashtag #lavenderbythebay.
Spring honey should be available in July. Lavender honey hopefully by mid-August.
We're pet friendly, but as we have chickens who free range in our fields, we ask that you ensure your dogs are leashed at all times and that you clean up after them.
In order to maintain the beauty of the fields, food and picnics are not permitted on our property.
NO BUSES PLEASE
While you’re on the North Fork, don’t forget to check out all the other awesome things to do in the area! Come for the lavender, stay for the food and drink, scenery, and vineyards. Our full list of recommendations can be found here.
Lavender honey lemonade is one of our favorite drinks when the sun is shining during the summer. There's something wonderful about the bees helping the flowers, the flowers feeding the bees and getting to enjoy the fruit of their work.
The subtle floral twist on lemonade is great at summer barbecues, baby showers or any other reason to celebrate! Just double or triple the recipe quantities according to how many guests you have.
Note: Depending on the sourness of the lemons you're using, you might want to add more or less honey.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients:
Juice of one medium-sized lemon
1 tsp lavender culinary extract
1 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)
2 cups of water
Ice
Method:
1. Mix the lemon juice, honey and culinary extract in a glass until the honey is dissolved.
2. Taste, and add more honey if necessary.
3. Divide between two glasses, add ice and fill with water.
4. Relax and enjoy!
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The Union Square Greenmarket is a great local farmer’s market with a New York City twist. It offers the best of both worlds - regional farmers drive in and give millions of city dwellers access to farm-fresh produce. Open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday offering fruit and vegetables, great pretzels, flowers and more, here are 10 good reasons to shop at the market.
In Union Square, farmers literally stand beside their products, so you can bet we’re proud of them! At Lavender by the Bay our lavender is naturally grown without the use of herbicides or pesticides, just like the fruit and vegetables grown by Caradonna Farms.
Come down and meet the farmer who grows what’s in your shopping basket! The farmer’s market gives you the opportunity to talk face-to-face with those who grow/raise/catch what you bring home. You can ask questions, get to know us and even become friends. Together we are a community.
Vendors at the farmer’s market are genuinely grateful for your purchase. So much of our success is reliant on you. You’re supporting small businesses and families around New York and helping to build strong communities. When we say ‘thank you’ we mean it!
The special thing about buying something at the Greenmarket is that you not only get the product, but you also get the story that goes with it too. Since 2002, we have been making specialty lavender products.
The Union Square Greenmarket is one of the busiest farmer’s markets in New York and the world. On average about 100,000 people pass through every day, the energy is electric and makes it an experience to remember. There is a hugely diverse range of people working and shopping at the Greenmarket. Be sure to grab some food and chill out on one of the benches in the park to soak up the vibrant atmosphere!
It’s not only the farmers who work at the Greenmarket but also all the wonderful Grow NYC staff who coordinate it! These guys start at 4 am to organize where each vendor will set up, they make sure the vehicles get in and out safely, and they provide information throughout the day. They are so helpful, any questions you have, just ask them!
You don’t have to come to us, we come to you. Anything sold at the Greenmarket must be grown within a 250-mile radius of NYC. This means that the fuel cost to transport it is significantly lower than produce flown in from overseas. Most products are not pre-packaged in plastic, so the amount of waste generated is lower too. You can get delicious food and wonderful products all the while helping the environment too.
The farmer’s market is a team effort with many people who play a part. Of course, there are the farmers but there are also the people who help to transport and sell the products, the city cleaners who come through before and after the market. And not forgetting, the Greenmarket staff!
By shopping at the Union Square Greenmarket you’re also supporting low income New Yorkers. SNAP benefits can be used at many stalls. At the end of the day, a lot of produce that’s not sold is donated to food kitchens around the city. You’re playing a part by doing your shopping here too.
You can have a more active lifestyle by shopping at the farmer’s market. Carrying bags and walking around counts towards your daily steps. So, in addition to eating healthily and getting relaxing lavender goodies, you get your exercise too! That’s a win-win.
So, when you’ve made your shopping list come down, meet the farmers, and we’ll make sure you have a great experience!
]]>Dried lavender looks and smells great. And the best part? It lasts for months! The essence is locked in the flower buds. You can reinvigorate the scent by gently pressing the buds to release the fragrance into the air. If the buds fall off, simply place them in a bowl to have a beautiful bowl of lavender. Your mother will think of you every time she looks at these gogeous blooms. Throw in some chocolate and you can’t go wrong!
We all know moms work really hard. Treat her with the Relaxation Gift Bundle. She can splash a few drops of essential oil on the tiles in the shower to create her own steam room. When she gets out, she can use the moisturizing massage oil to relax tired muscles. A spritz of hydrosol after washing her face and before putting on her serum will leave her feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. (Bonus: this comes in a gift box!)
The lavender bath set includes Epsom and Dead Sea salts which can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints. They’re great after working out or for someone who has been on their feet all day. She can lie back in the bath, take a deep breath and inhale the soothing scent of lavender while the aches from the day melt away.
Whether she’s a dog lover or a cat lover, there’s a cute sachet for her! She can put them in her bed to fill the room with the intoxicating scent of lavender or keep it in her car to remind her of her pretty pooch or cute kitty.
Help her to keep her clothes looking and smelling wonderful. French lavender has been known to act as a natural moth repellent, so give her a few sachets to put in her drawers and closets. Her clothes will smell fresh and look great!
Sleep is at a minimum with a new baby around. Our neck and back wrap promotes relaxation and soothes sore muscles. Even when the baby sleeps 12 hours straight and everyone is well rested (if ever!) the neck wrap has many other uses. Used as a hot compress it works great for cramps. By putting it in a ziplock bag in the freezer overnight, it can be used as a cold compress to relieve sprains and bangs. Lavender is an anti-inflammatory so it can also reduce swelling around the area. It's really useful to have around!
For the woman who likes to work with her hands, the craft gift bundle is a fun way to spend an afternoon! She can fill her own sachets with lavender and stuff them into her pillow or put them in her purse so she can carry the scent of lavender everywhere. This is also a great project to do with the kids or grandchildren. The whole family can benefit from the soothing effects and make fun memories together too.
These handy little sheer sachets are great to place in a suitcase. They keep everything smelling great. When she finally gets to her accommodation after the stress of getting through airport security, delays, traffic and everything that goes with traveling, she can open her bags and inhale the calming scent of lavender.
Show her how much you love her and give her a monogrammed pillow with the first letter of her name. It's personal and thoughtful!
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1. Food & Drink
Check out First and South in Greenport for a great ambiance, a great setting and delicious American food. Stop by The North Fork Shack in Southold for mouth-watering, local fare. We highly recommend the shallot dusted fries! We start every single morning with a cup of Aldo's coffee. No joke! He's been roasting coffee since 1987 and his biscotti is famous. Drop into his old-world-style cafe in Greenport. Trust us when we say it doesn't get any fresher than Southold Fishmarket! It comes straight off the boat and onto your plate.
2. Scenery
Disconnect and embrace the beautiful nature of the North Fork. Visit Inlet Pond County Park and Orient State Park for a peaceful setting - you'll forget the hustle and bustle that exists a few hours away.
3. Farms and Vineyards
Fruit and vegetable stands from local farms line the roads. For fruit grown on some of the oldest, continually cultivated land in the country visit Wickham's Farm.
We're situated in great wine country. Why not visit Long Island's oldest vineyard Castello di Borghese? The tasting room is open daily!
When will the lavender bloom?
Our lavender fields are typically in bloom from June into July, with our largest bloom expected in early July. Please double check the status of the bloom before visiting, by checking our Bloom Update page and/or Facebook.
7540 Main Road. East Marion NY 11939
Take 495 East to Exit 71. At ramp make a left onto Edwards Ave. Travel approx. 3.5 miles. Turn right onto Sound Ave. (CR48). Stay on Sound Ave. for 25 miles. After Greenport CR48 becomes NY25, Main Road. We are 2 miles east of Greenport on the right side of the road.
The journey can take about 2-3 hours from NYC so we recommend you make a pit stop at the Long Island Welcome Center. Take exit 51-52 Eastbound from the Long Island Expressway on your way out.
Drive west for 6 miles. We are on the left side of the road.
Farm Hours:
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
7-Days a week
Check out our live farm updates on Instagram.
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At Lavender by the Bay we steam distill lavender right on our farm on Long Island. We then bottle the essential oil, again on the farm, providing a 100% pure Lavender essential oil experience.
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Lavender by the Bay hasn’t always been the 17-acre North Fork farm with 80,000 plants that it is today. It started many years ago as a small family hobby and gradually grew to its current size due to one man’s interest in agriculture, his passion for art, and his vision in combining the two, culminating in the beautiful lavender fields and products you find here today.
The story began many moons ago with Serge, who was born in France, and naturally drawn to farm life. He spent his childhood summers tending to a herd of cows in the South of France, and his joy for the farm life didn’t stop there. As a young adult, Serge moved to Israel to continue working the land. It was there that he met and married his wife Susan. The two spent 10 years on Kibbutz together where they started a family. Susan was teaching English at the time, while Serge worked in the apple orchards specializing in agriculture and drip irrigation.
In 1979, the young family returned to Susan’s hometown of New York City. In the late 80's, the family purchased a modest weekend and summer getaway property in Southold, NY. Their sons, Micha and Chanan, grew up enjoying the Long Island Sound surf, fishing on Peconic Bay, and helping their parents spruce up the rustic lakeside home. Serge wanted his weekend refuge to evoke the lyrical beauty of the south of France, so he designed a lavender-dominant landscape for his new yard. This was just the beginning!
After a few years, the lavender grew profusely in the North Fork’s salty sea air. As an elementary school art teacher, Susan began crafting the extra flowers into sachets, lavender wands, and rustic bouquets. They would leave the wonderfully scented products on a bench at the end of their driveway and walk with their children to the beach down the road. Each day when they returned, the bench would be empty and the cash jar they had left would be full.
This summer tradition continued for many years, with the addition of an occasional weekend spent selling lavender products at regional farmer’s markets and craft shows. Serge soon delved into beekeeping as a side hobby, which dovetailed beautifully with lavender. The demand for the lavender and eventually for the lavender honey grew so strong that he and Susan began searching for a piece of land on which to expand their passion-turned-business. Fortunately they found the perfect location in East Marion, NY and established Lavender by the Bay, the farm you visit today.
Through the years, the entire family has grown along with their efforts in the business. Customers can find a small selection of lavender culinary products made by daughter-in-law Jen, while granddaughter Talia enjoys running the cash register. Elder son, Micha, lends a hand in the fields when not chasing after his son Sammy and dog Willy. Susan and Serge’s younger son, Chanan, enjoys focusing on business development, while Chanan’s wife, Miriam, when not busy raising future Lavender by the Bay helper, son Jonah, is the official product tester. Their dog Linus sticks to what he knows best - barking his greetings to the customers.
Thanks to their loyal customer base (you!) as well as the family’s ongoing passion for all things purple, Lavender by the Bay continues to grow. The farm store, New York City Greenmarkets, as well as the website carry new and refined products including: lavender essential oil, lotions, soaps, bunches, as well as Susan’s ever-changing designs in sachets.
The farm continues to be family (and dog) operated. We look forward to seeing you all for the 2018 lavender bloom on the North Fork! Learn more about visiting the farm here.
Have a lovely lavender day!
]]>We're keeping it simple today by answering the question 'what is lavender?' We like to think of lavender as one of the loveliest gifts from nature with the most intoxicating fragrance. It offers many benefits to the mind and body and can be used in multiple forms for many reasons.
To get a little more scientific, Lavandula (lavender!), is a genus of 42 species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Although it is native to the Old World, it is cultivated globally in temperate climates for gardens and landscapes, for use as culinary herbs, and for the extraction of essential oil.
Lavender is an herbaceous perennial plant that typically blooms in late June to mid July here in our Northeast climate. And it is when the lavender blooms that the magic happens! A delicate flower with a shade of purple, blue, violet or lilac emerges. This flower holds the essence of lavender. When the plants are in bloom, our North Fork fields are filled with the intoxicating aroma of lavender! With just a gentle rub of the flower bud, the lovely, relaxing scent of the oil is released.
Lavender has been used for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans were known to have used lavender for its beneficial purposes. Today, lavender is widely embraced for its soothing and relaxing benefits which help with sleep. The potent smell of lavender is known to affect one's mood by calming the nerves and promoting relaxation. As one of the very few essential oils that is safe to apply directly to the skin, lavender can soothe burns, cuts, acne, and other skin irritations as it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
With many benefits and applications, here are a few of our favorite ways to use lavender this season from the experts at Lavender by the Bay:
Just as the ancient Romans were known to use lavender in public baths, its use in baths is still just as good today. Mixed With Epsom salt, Dead Sea Salt and lavender essential oil, our Lavender by the Bay Bath Salts soothe the mind and body for a refreshing bath experience, especially on a cold winter day!
The alluring fragrance of our Lavender by the Bay sachets comes from dried French lavender flowers. At Lavender by the Bay, all of our sachets are sewn and filled by hand, and they can be used to freshen up absolutely anything. Sachets are most commonly used as a way to refresh linens, closets, and dressers as well as a natural moth repellent. When winter is over, store your sweaters with a sachet or two to keep the bugs away and retain a fresh, delightful smell. Remember to give your sachets a gentle squeeze to reinvigorate the fragrance.
As always, we strongly advise using lavender with care and following proper instructions. We don't claim that everyone can experience the benefits. However, it's hard to argue with the therapeutic aroma of lavender.
Thank you for reading! Check back for more and let us know in the comments what you'd love to hear more about from Lavender by the Bay.
Have a lovely day!
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