It s believed that lavender, which has held medicinal qualities for centuries, originated in areas of the Mediterranean where the climate is arid, the soil is alkaline and allows good drainage. Sound familiar? Our desert climate, which is often compared to the Mediterranean, is a haven for growing lavender.

In the landscape lavender has many good qualities that make it an easy choice. The plant itself forms a small to medium sized shrublet that remains ever-gray in mild winters, it smells fantastic and with some light pruning will bloom for months. The most common varieties you ll find here in Albuquerque are English (Lavandula angustifolia) of which there are purples, pinks and whites, and Lavandin, a hybrid (L. angustifolia X L. latifolia) which tend to be larger.

As I mentioned, lavender is highly regarded as a medicinal herb often used to quell the itch of insect bites and stings, to sooth burns and is most commonly known for its calming affects. Perhaps it s my Greek roots but my bath just isn t complete without lavender floating in my tub

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