I admit I’m a bit of a flower freak. I’ll be talking or writing about a particular one or another in our yard and inevitably say “that’s my favorite flower”.

But there are different reasons for my love of different flowers. I love crocus because they can peek their tiny heads out of the ground while the snow is still falling, giving me my first sign of a long-awaited spring.

I love tulips for the wide array of colors they come in and they make beautiful, albeit short-lived, bouquets on my table.

I love columbine because they’re so unusual and beautiful, and I like the way they spread in my gardens.

I love Jacob’s ladder for its tiny simplicity and gorgeous color, and especially love that it grows in shade.

I love cosmos for their tall, leggy foliage and the sunny colors they come in that bloom all summer long.

I love Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ for its sharp green leaves and exotic red flowers that the hummingbirds love.

Do you see my dilemma here? Trust me, I could go on and on.

Ahhh…and then there’s lavender. We planted 2 small scraggly plants that I bought from the clearance rack at Lowe’s in 2009 and, since then, it has flourished – continuing to grow and become more and more lovely.

The scent alone is amazing, and it’s great to have if you battle deer eating your flowers all year. (Me and my lilies are talking to you, pretty doe and your sweet, hungry little fawn). Lavender is something that deer won’t eat – at least, that’s what I’ve been told and so far, it’s worked.

I often add lavender to my cut-flower arrangements, because even though their beauty is short-lived, the scent is worth it. You can also dry it and use it in an arrangement and the scent definitely still lingers. To dry it, just cut a healthy chunk of lavender off, including a good length of stem, tie the base together with some twine, and hang upside down until dry.

One of my favorite ways to use it this way is to sprinkle it in my baths come winter. There’s something decadent about being surrounded by floating lavender blossoms and their scent in the dead of winter. If this is too messy for you, just wrap the dried blossoms in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with some string & then put it in your bath. The smell alone will transport your mind and relax your body…lavender is well known for its relaxing properties.

I’m rambling again, aren’t I? Well, speaking of rambling and lavender, a favorite blogger of mine at the blog Roscoe Ramblings also grows lavender. She’s much more talented in the craft department than I am and she ended up making this gorgeous wreath with hers. And how great is it that she found the wreath on sale at Hobby Lobby for only $1.50?

Lavender is not only a beautiful perennial, it’s also a favorite landing spot for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. And one day I plan to make this Lavender Honey Simple Syrup. Happy gardening!