Everything Lavender
Presented by
The Webster Groves Herb Society
at Missouri Botanical Garden
June 17, 2017
Lavender Wands
Gather an uneven number (11, 13, 15) of fresh-from-the-garden lavender stems (from Lavandula x intermedia varieties such as ‘Grosso’ or ‘Provence’) in a bundle. The freshest stems are most pliable. Choose the longest, sturdiest stems.
Tie a knot with ribbon (2 yards of ¼ inch satin ribbon) around the base of the flowers, the shorter length being about 18 inches long. Gently bend the stems over the lavender heads one by one, being careful not to break them. Enclose the short end of the ribbon inside the stems.
Look at the top of the flower head. The pattern should remind you of umbrella spokes, as smooth and evenly spaced as possible.
Weave the longer length of the ribbon between the lavender stems using an over-under pattern. Weave the ribbon tightly, as the lavender shrinks as it dries. Keep the stems evenly spaced around the flower heads. Continue to weave the ribbon over and under each stem.
A pattern emerges, encasing the lavender flowers in your ribbon like a pretty cage. When you reach the bottom of the flower heads, they should be completely wrapped in ribbon. Pull the shorter end of the ribbon out from the lavender cage. Wind the ribbon around the stems a few times and tie a knot, then a bow.