Lavender has been described as mystical, magical, spiritual, therapeutic, seductive and intoxicating. It is all of these and more. No other plant elicits such a wide range of visions or emotions. Native to the Mediterranean, lavender is grown all over the world. In the United States and Canada it was the Shakers who first grew lavender commercially when a strict sect of English Quakers, upon their arrival from England, developed herb farms to sell products to the "outside world."

Lavender is rich in history and myth with documented use for over 2,500 years including its use in mummification and perfumes by the Egyptians. Through the ages, it has been recognized both as a cosmetic herb as well as one to soothe the nerves. Romans used lavender oils for bathing, cooking, and scenting the air, and they most likely gave it the Latin root name (either lavare — to wash or livendula — livid or bluish) from which we derive the modern name. Today, lavender is considered the premier of all perfumes while also containing disinfectant and antiseptic properties. Most recently, lavender has achieved the status of being the most versatile and popular of all the essential oils used in aromatherapy due to its well-balanced scent that blends well with other notes.

Lavender's uses are as varied as the hues of the blooms found in its many cultivars while each cultivar is often most suited to a particular use. Provence, a cultivar considered suitable for culinary purpose would be less desirable for use in cut flower arrangements as the buds separate (shatter) from the plant very quickly. Grosso, a cultivar grown for its ability to produce an abundance of oil, would produce a very bitter flavor in cooking. Still other lavender are prized for not being lavender at all. Alba and Edelweiss are wonderful landscape plants where white blooms are preferred. Regardless of the intended use, a field of lavender set against the Texas Hill Country is magical and mystical and spiritual and therapeutic and seductive and intoxicating!