Ontario Chapter

Contact: Barbara Furlong
26 Alcaine Ct.
Thornhill (Markham), Ontario
Canada L3T 2G7

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Ontario Chapter and "The Joy of Lavender"

Between the Vines • Newsletter of The American Ivy Society, Inc. • Fall 2011 Vol. 23 No 2
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There is a synergy between hedera helix and lavender. Not only are both classified as herbs with medicinal qualities but they also harmonize beautifully together in our gardens and in floral designs.

In April, the Ontario Chapter invited the Canadian Herb Society to join them to hear a fascinating presentation on the "Joy of Lavender" by Susan Steed. Susan and her husband own a 45 acre horse farm in Sparta, Ontario. After living there for a few years Susan realized that lavender was the one plant that would thrive in the sandy dry soil and survive the harsh Canadian climate. Thus her passion for lavender was realized when she was able to grow fields of it and develop her business as grower and creator of fine lavender products – Steed and Company’s Discover- Indulge-Escape.

History shows us that over the years lavender became known internationally. Egyptians used it to cleanse their dead in mummification and as an antiseptic to fight bacterial infections. In 1922 King Tut’s tomb was discovered to contain urns of lavender that still smelled 3,000 years later! The Romans brought it to Bath, England for relaxation and bathing in their spas. Then in 1500, Queen Elizabeth 1st discovered that lavender tea alleviated her tension headaches and relieved upset stomachs and the Monks also used it for medicinal purposes so the English planted fields of it during her reign. Queen Victoria – in late 1800’s – loved the smell of it and had it incorporated into furniture polish and laundry detergent. It soon became a status symbol and a trend that can be credited to the English who love it to this day in so many ways.

Prior to WW1, France experienced a social economic depression with people leaving the perfume houses. The government realized the economic benefit of lavender so they planted it on the hills replacing many almond tress to become the world’s #1 producer of lavender.

The Quakers brought it to North American to develop wellness gardens where they couldn’t grow anything.

Susan presented many tips for growing and harvesting lavender successfully. A few hardy varieties that grow well in our severe Canadian climate are: Munstead, Hidcote (deep purple), Rosea (pale white) and Buena Vista. It is best to prune the plant in April by 1/2 - 1/3 and to harvest the buds and not the flowers. Steed and Co. harvest 10,000 plants by hand by the end of June so the plants will repeat bloom. They are easy to dry by bundling with an elastic hanging upside down in a dark cool basement.

Lavender is not only a remedy for burns promoting healing but its appealing scent has been found to be calming for humans and dogs. It repels moths and I can attest to it as a bug balm as it repels the pesky black flies that haunt us in May/June in Cottage Country! Susan brought many of her products for us to purchase – lavender jams, hand and body lotions, sachets and bug balm.

After a delicious luncheon, Barbara Furlong, President of the Ontario Chapter, chaired the Annual Meeting discussing plans for two topiary and terrarium workshops to be held in June and August. It was a most interesting afternoon enjoyed by all.