flowers Archives - Very EATalian

It’s almost time to go back Stateside…and finally be with my husband again! I can’t believe I’ve been in Italy for almost a year.

As I’m trying to wrap things up at work and I’m starting to get ready to move across the ocean again, I find myself dragging at the idea of doing things that keep me away from the people and the places I love and I’ll dearly miss one month from now.

One of the things I am trying to avoid these days is spending time in front of my computer. Up until not too long ago, the thought of not posting regularly on this blog would make me feel restless and inadequate. These days I’m “more” okay with leaving the blog hanging to give priority to other things that may seem trivial to most people, but that are SO important to me. I’m talking about simple things such as building train tracks with my almost-3-year-old nephew, paying a visit to a friend I haven’t seen in forever, having a cup of tea with my aunt, helping my mom plant flowers in her beautiful garden, or simply going for a long walk with my cousin in the country roads near my house.

Speaking of which, mid-spring is one of the times I enjoy the most here in Italy. It’s not too cold and not too hot, and walking in the countryside is so beautiful. The flowers of Acacia trees are in bloom now and their sweet scent attracts gazillions of bees. I love the fact that this plant not only gives us, through the precious work of bees, a delicate, clear, and floral honey, but also gives us flowers that can easily be fried and turned into delicious savory appetizers or sweet treats….

Easy Lavender Sachets | www.veryeatalian.com

About 2 months ago, I had a close encounter with this fearless butterfly in my mom’s garden. I was at less than 2 feet away and she couldn’t care less about my harassing curiosity; she was too busy sucking nectar from those vibrant lavender flowers. If only my little nephew could hold still like that when I take photos of him!

My mom loves lavender and it’s no surprise she planted it in three different spots in the garden. A pretty smart move, considering it attracts beneficial insects, who, in turn, keep the undesired ones in check. Lavender is colorful and provides necessary nutrients for wildlife; it’s drought tolerant, it blooms in early spring and continues until late summer. If this wasn’t enough, its benefits are extended all year around thanks to its moth-repellent properties. Lavender buds can be dried, put in little sachets, and placed in the drawers where you keep your wool or cashmere sweaters (i.e.: the finest natural fibers moths love so much).

If you want to dry lavender, you should cut a big bunch, and hang it upside down in a warm, dark and dry place. Once the flowers have dried completely, you can easily remove them from the stems with your fingers. This year, I was late at harvesting lavender; my mom gave me a couple of reminders but when I was ready to do it, the flowers had just become dry – so I just picked them as they were…and their scent was still powerful! Since I kind of suck at sewing (let alone embroidering), I thought tea filters would be a perfect and easy recipient for my lavender buds. The filter material is thin enough to let natural aromas transpire and it can be easily closed with a string, some glue or a couple of staples. I filled each little bag with 3 teaspoons of lavender buds, then I folded it and I stapled a piece of construction paper on it. SO easy.

My cashmere sweaters are now happy and moth-free. I’m sure all the bees, bumblebees, and butterflies of the garden must have been very thankful for letting them enjoy the lavender flowers to the fullest. Everybody’s happy! Hurray.