not martha

to make: lavender experiment


week 1 cut


week 1 dried


week 2 cut


week 2 dried


week 3 cut


week 3 dried


week 3 and five days cut


week 3 and five days dried


week 4 cut -- Don't cut it yet.

week 4 dried

week 5 cut -- Cut it now.


week 6 cut -- Cut it now.


The difference in buds between the second and sixth week (week 1 was too early and difficult to get buds off of).

It was summer of 2005 and surprise, that stuff growing in my front yard is lavender. I wasn't sure when to cut the blooms to get the best smelling buds, and not being a person that can learn anything unless I do it myself, I decided to cut some each week and keep track.

After week 6 the plant was blooming all over and the bees were making sweet love to it. Not being one to ask to get stung I decided I had enough lavender and didn't cut anymore.

We did a sniff test using coffee as our between week cleanser. Weeks 2 through 4 were deemed "weak". Week 4 and 5 days was "more floral" and "soapier". Week 5 was "more ripe", and week 6 "delicate yet lavendery".

So there it is, cut when it looks like the picture for week 5 or 6.