Lavender and bees

The bees and I have an agreement where lavender is concerned. I only take a small amount this time of year and I ask permission to take stems from the various bushes. I'd guess that there is less than 2% of the total lavender crop here. I take some now for drying and more later in the season.
While we cut the stems they buzz around quite cheerfully, even landing on the stems and me. Almost as if they are checking the quality and the ammount of stems we have.

This will hang in Mr Mog's new workshop for a few weeks then most will go in the incence cupboard for mixing with other incense ingredients and for lavender bags for the fibre chests to help keep moths at bay.
The next lot will be dried for cooking and some used fresh.
I love lavender in biscuits, cupcakes,scones, sugar and lemonade to name but a few.
You can also infuse it in oil, make soap with it ,or my favourite, fizz bombs for the bath. The list is endless. Give it a try.
I never take too much at this time of year, or indeed any time. I leave a lot over the autumn as it still receives lots of  visits from the insects around at that time.
The house and workshop smell delightful with this fresh picked harvest.

Introducing Sylva, femme of the forests

Introducing Sylva,her name means from the forest and she truly is.
She spends most of her time on the outskirts of the greenwoods. Her clothes reflect the lighter areas that you get when you step deep within the mystery of the ancient woodlands. Her name came about from listening to the Nigel Shaw, Carolyn Hillyer CD Riven Inside and specifically the track "Be wary of lovers who come from the Greenwood" She asks that we consider all actions before we make them. It is too easy to be hasty and miss out on the actual journey.

The oak leaf necklet symbolises her love of the trees and nature and her wish to help care for it. That means caring for people as well as things. Do you perhaps need to care for yourself before others? The bird on her wrist tells us we can fly, nowhere is too far to aim for. We have wings should we choose to use them.Do you?

Her cloak has a bee and her hive, there is a mystery within beehives, talk to the bees and they may share a little of it with you.