Lavender Flower

Many people appreciate lavender (Lavandula angustifolia, or Lavandula officinalis) for its fragrance, used in soaps, shampoos, and sachets for scenting clothes. The name lavender comes from the Latin root lavare, which means "to wash." Lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit.

However, this herb has also been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue. Research has confirmed that lavender produces slight calming, soothing, and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled.

Lavender is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States. Lavender is a heavily branched short shrub that grows to a height of roughly 60 centimeters (about 24 inches). Its broad rootstock bears woody branches with upright, rod like, leafy, green shoots. A silvery down covers the gray green narrow leaves, which are oblong and tapered, attached directly at the base, and curled spirally.

The oil in lavender's small, blue violet flowers gives the herb its fragrant scent. The flowers are arranged in spirals of 6 - 10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.

Sources: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lavender-000260.htm

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Anemone Flower

Anemone gets its name from “anemos”, the greek word for wind. It is sometimes called the windflower and the botanical name is pronounced a-NEM-o-nee.

Description

These perennial flowers have long stems and petals that flower in a variety of colours. The petals are small and round and most flower heads have about five or six petals. 

Habitat

Anemones grow wild in countries as diverse as Israel, Japan and Britain, and the flowers will grow well in any loamy soil, particularly when slightly acidic and enriched with compost.

Availability

Planting in October will typically provide flowers in May and June of the following year. Anemones are grown commercially all over the world and can be grown cheaply from bulb or seed.

Species

Anemone species are members of the Ranunculaceae family. Estimations vary on the exact number of known species, but it is certainly in excess of 150, with popular varieties including Snowdrop Anemone (Anemone sylvestris), Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) and Greek anemone (Anemone blanda).

Care Tips

When growing anemones from bulbs, always soak them overnight in a small bowl of water to prepare them for growth. If growing in outdoor beds, give your anemones direct sun for anything from half to a full day, and plant in 1-2 inch holes. Anemones can also grow successfully in tubs, barrels and urns if placed in good quality soil with adequate drainage holes.

Did You Know?

• Legend has it that the Greek goddess Aphrodite’s tears gave life to anemones as she wept in mourning for the death of the god Adonis. Anemones are linked with anticipation, and are thought to close their petals as a signal that rain is coming.
• Some myths claim that magic fairies make their beds under the petals of anemones after sunset.

Source: http://www.flowers.org.uk